Haiku Review: Blue Jasmine (2013)

Starring: Cate Blanchett, Alec Baldwin, Sally Hawkins, Bobby Cannavale, Andrew Dice Clay, Louis C.K. & Peter Sarsgaard
Written & directed by Woody Allen

A New York socialite suffers a nervous breakdown and moves in with her lower-class sister after her husband is imprisoned for financial fraud and their assets are seized by the government.


Blanchett is the queen,
but you’ll just be surprised that
Dice Clay doesn’t suck.

Grade: B+


c2013
By Daniel J. Hoag
Blue Jasmine is playing now in select cities.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2334873/?ref_=sr_1

Haiku Review: The Great Gatsby (2013)

Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Carey Mulligan, Joel Edgerton, Elizabeth Debicki, Isla Fisher & Jason Clarke
Written by Baz Luhrmann & Craig Pearce
Directed by Baz Luhrmann

A mysterious millionaire seeks to rekindle a romance with the woman he loves, even though she is now married to another man.


Luhrmann wouldn’t know
subtlety if Daisy mowed
it down with his car.

Grade: C+


c2013
By Daniel J. Hoag
The Great Gatsby is playing now in theaters nationwide.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1343092/?ref_=sr_1

Haiku Review: Anna Karenina (2012)

Starring: Keira Knightley, Jude Law, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Matthew Macfadyen, Kelly Macdonald & Olivia Williams
Screenplay by Tom Stoppard
Directed by Joe Wright

In 19th-century Russia, an aristocratic woman risks everything she has when she begins an affair with an affluent calvary officer.


Costumes, staging mean
little without sympathy
for your tragic lead.

Grade: B-


c2013
By Daniel J. Hoag
Anna Karenina is playing now in select theaters.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1781769/

Haiku Review: A Royal Affair (2012)

Starring: Alicia Vikander, Mads Mikkelsen & Mikkel Boe Følsgaard
Screenplay by Rasmus Heisterberg & Nikolaj Arcel
Directed by Nikolaj Arcel

In 18th century Denmark, a young queen’s affair with her mentally-ill husband’s doctor leads to political and cultural revolution.


At least leaders back
then had mental illness and
inbreeding to blame.

Grade: A-


c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
A Royal Affair is playing now in select cities.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1276419/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1

Haiku Review: Arbitrage (2012)

Starring: Richard Gere, Susan Sarandon, Tim Roth & Brit Marling
Written and directed by Nicholas Jarecki

A corrupt business tycoon finds the sale of his company threatened while trying to cover up both fraudulent bookkeeping and a scandalous accident.


Hey, it’s hard out there
for a corrupt, entitled
corporate sleazebag.

Grade: A-


c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
Arbitrage is available on Blu-ray and DVD on 12/21/12.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1764183/

(Blu) Haiku Review: The Deep Blue Sea (2012)

Starring: Rachel Weisz, Tom Hiddleston & Simon Russell Beale
Adapted & directed by Terence Davies

Shortly after World War II, the wife of British judge finds herself trapped between her passionless marriage and an affair with a troubled Royal Air Force pilot.


Great expectations!
Being happy’s hard when you’re
repressed and oppressed.

Grade: A-


c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
The Deep Blue Sea is available now on Blu-ray and DVD.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1700844/

(Blu) Haiku Review: Jeff, Who Lives at Home (2012)

Starring: Jason Segel Ed HelmsSusan Sarandon Judy Greer
Written and directed by Jay Duplass & Mark Duplass.

A thirty-something slacker searches for a sign that will point towards his destiny while trying to help his brother, who suspects his wife is cheating on him.


For those who believe
in destiny… or just like
to smoke lots of pot.

Grade: B


c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
Jeff, Who Lives at Home is available now on Blu-ray and DVD.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1588334/

Haiku Review: Take This Waltz (2012)

Starring: Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen, Luke Kirby & Sarah Silverman
Written and directed by Sarah Polley

A married woman struggles to remain faithful after meeting her charming and handsome neighbor.


Life often has the
grace of one with two left feet
(and so does this Waltz).

Grade: B-


c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
Take This Waltz is now playing in select cities.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1592281/

Haiku Review: Moonrise Kingdom (2012)

Starring: Bruce Willis, Edward Norton, Bill Murray, Tilda Swinton, Jason Schwartzman, Frances McDormand, Harvey Keitel, Bob Balaban, Kara Hayward & Jared Gilman
Written by Wes Anderson & Roman Coppola
Directed by Wes Anderson

On an island off the coast of New England, two lovestruck adolescent outsiders runaway together while a search team of eccentrics pursues them.


Wes Anderson makes
a Wes Anderson movie,
if you’re into that.

Grade: B+


c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
Moonrise Kingdom is playing now in theaters nationwide.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1748122/

(Blu) Haiku Review: The Hour (2011)

Starring: Romola Garai, Dominic West, Ben Whishaw, Anna Chancellor & Oona Chaplin
Written and created by Abi Morgan
Directed by Coky Giedroyc, Harry Bradbeer & Jamie Payne

In this six-part British mini-series set during the Cold War of the 1950s, the producer of a newly-launched topical news program and her best friend, a passionate journalist, become embroiled in a controversial story that involves politics, murder, espionage, and dangerous international conspiracies.


If they thought the news
was biased then, they didn’t
live to see Fox News.

Grade: B+


c2012
By Daniel J. Hoag
The Hour is available now on Blu-ray and DVD.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1778108/