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In Bruges (2008) -vs- The Matador (2006)

April 22, 2008 Bryce Zabel 2

The Smackdown Two writer/directors have given us their film takes on hit men with existential doubts about their chosen profession who work out these issues sitting in touristy hotel rooms. In Richard Shephard’s The Matador, […]

21 (2008) -vs- Lucky You (2007)

March 29, 2008 Mark Sanchez 0

The Smackdown Movies offer the risky pleasure of transporting us someplace beyond our regular lives. Often they touch down in Las Vegas. It’s a neon backdrop for stories that are fun (Oceans 11), quirky and […]

It Was No Contest for NO COUNTRY!

February 24, 2008 Beau DeMayo 0

The Power of Two  The Oscars did not break form. They joined the enthusiastic worldwide embrace of No Country For Old Men. Critics and the creative community bestowed 79 awards on this film and another […]

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (2007) -vs- My Left Foot (1990)

January 31, 2008 Bryce Zabel 5

If you’re looking for a film that will make you feel a little better about your own life, try either of these. They’ll also make you feel better about the “human spirit” and other noble thoughts but, basically, you will realize that all the crap you complain about every day really is just crap and that you should take a chill pill and try to realize how good things really are. Both “The Diving Bell and the Butterfly” and “My Left Foot” which preceded it by almost two decades feature lead characters who are suffering through horrific physical challenges which make it nearly impossible for them to communicate but, because they are just as alive inside their brains as any of us and maybe more so, they rise above their fear, pain and sadness to communicate anyway. In the end, in both films, it turns out to be less about what they say than the fact that they said anything at all that is so inspirational.
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