Frank Capra held America in the palm of his hand for awhile; for many he is still the quintessential maker of movies of hope.…
Andrew H. Trotter, Jr.
Drew Trotter is an occasional contributor to Critique and the Executive Director of the Consortium of Christian Study Centers. He lives with his wife, Marie, and their dog, Fenway, in Charlottesville, Virginia.
In The Bedroom (Todd Field, 2001)
In the Bedroom, the writing and directing debut of actor Todd Field, is one of those character-driven, intricately plotted, so-called “small” films which has…
The Hours (Stephen Daldry, 2002)
Critics often speak of the layers of a film, but I don’t believe I’ve ever understood what they were talking about until I saw…
Gladiator (Ridley Scott, 2000)
A new kind of macho superhero appeared on screens this summer, a kinder, gentler version than the Stallone/ Schwarzeneggar soldier we remember so well…
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (Michel Gondry, 2004)
Movies resist philosophical speculation. Experimental films like Alain Resnais’ Last Year at Marienbad, an attempt to write existentialism into film in the early sixties,…
Dead Man Walking (Tim Robbins, 1995)
Dead Man Walking, the four-time Academy Award nominated film of writer and director Tim Robbins, deeply troubles the soul. It is a film that…
Crying Game (Neil Jordan, 1992)
Neil Jordan’s The Crying Game has become a social phenomenon. Starting off in art houses in major metropolitan areas, it broke all box office…
Changing Lanes (Roger Michell, 2002)
Hollywood is not exactly known for films that explore the difficulty modern man has with concepts like repentance or forgiveness. Changing Lanes is a…
American Beauty (Sam Mendes, 1999)
American Beauty, the first effort of director Sam Mendes and writer Alan Ball, is a remarkable production reminiscent of the best-made films of the…
The Age of Innocence (Martin Scorsese, 1993)
In The Age of Innocence, Martin Scorsese (the well-known director of Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, and Goodfellas) has made a film pitting expectation against…