Maggie Gyllenhaal

Review: Crazy Heart

"I used to be somebody, now I am somebody else" sings Bad Blake, Jeff Bridges' veteran country singer, through liquor-hardened vocals. He used to be a highly regarded country star, but his crumbling career has turned him into a hard luck story more akin to blues music than country: he's tired, broke, an alcoholic and down on his luck. Blake's star has dimmed to a status that his agent can only use to illuminate such small-time venues as bowling alleys, where he reluctantly plays to a handful of loyal fans.

Crazy Heart trailer hits all the right notes

The Dude is getting all up in everyone's Oscar predictions this week now that the trailer for his new flick Crazy Heart has hit the web. The film sees him play a down-on-his-luck country singer who tries to rediscover his former glory. Think The Wrestler with guitars and snakeskin boots.

Review: Away We Go

For a British director, Sam Mendes sure is hung up on the American dream. American Beauty and Revolutionary Road both exposed the façade of American domestic bliss, leaving behind a pretty bitter aftertaste. Mendes carries the technique of examining American life at close proximity by zooming in on one couple, from Revolutionary Road to Away We Go.

Review: The Dark Knight

"Now, take this guy: armed robbery, double homicide. Got a taste for the theatrical, like you. Leaves a calling card." Before the casting rumours, the trailers, the endless posters, the death of Heath Ledger, the internet virals… before all that, way back in 2005, in the final moments of Batman Begins – that’s when the...

Review: World Trade Center

Are we really ready to see a film about the fall of the Twin Towers? Earlier this year we had Paul Greengrass’ United 93, which told the ‘forgotten’ 9/11 story of the hijacked passenger plane forced to crash land in Pennsylvania; the reason no review was written on this site is because this reviewer found it a thoroughly draini...