READ: ‘The Artist’ explores the need to evolve by Brent Marchant

Who would have thought that a silent, black-and-white film would stand a chance in today’s demanding movie market? But the decision to go with it has paid off handsomely in terms of critical acclaim and numerous accolades.

READ: Life and death collide in murky ‘Melancholia’

Perhaps forcing viewers to consider this unnerving possibility is the point of this film, pushing us to examine a consciously created probability that’s just as valid (even if not as palatable) as all the others we might manifest for ourselves. Then again, given the dispiriting nature of this picture, one might also wonder why anybody would want to sit through a two-hour exploration of the idea that “life sucks and then you die.”

Overlong ‘Tree of Life’ needs its branches trimmed

As ascendant beings who ultimately seek the source from which we came, not unlike the trees that so patiently yet determinedly reach for the life-sustaining sunlight of the sky, we’re innately committed to the search for meaningful guidance that will assist us in this journey.

Finding a Way Home

“Amreeka” (2009). Cast: Nisreen Faour, Melkar Muallem, Hiam Abbass, Yussef Abu Warda, Joseph Ziegler, Alia Shawkat, Jenna Kawar, Selena Haddad, Andrew Sannie, Daniel Boiteau, Brodie Sanderson, Glen Thompson, Miriam Smith. Director: Cherien Dabis. Screenplay: Cherien Dabis. www.amreeka.com. Anyone who has ever gone hunting for a new house or apartment knows how taxing it can be [...]