Tag Archives: William H. Macy

Magnolia - * * * 1/2*

Posted on December 17, 1999 by Madeleine Williams

Exodus 8:2 – And if thou refuse to let them go, behold, I will smite all thy borders with frogs Paul Thomas Anderson, director of such films as Hard Eight, and Boogie Nights, examines the accidental intersections of life in … Continue reading →

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Mystery Men - * * *

Posted on August 6, 1999 by Madeleine Williams

Do we really need a superhero spoof? The last two Batman films were comic enough, and the filmic landscape is littered with the likes of Blankman and Meteor Man. Yet, with sharp writing and a fine cast, Mystery Men confidently … Continue reading →

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A Civil Action - * * *

Posted on December 25, 1998 by Madeleine Williams

Not your typical legal drama, A Civil Action eschews grandiose cinematic gestures in favor of a slightly more grounded (and definitely more cynical) interpretation of the legal process. It provides an always interesting, and sometimes fascinating, glimpse inside the workings … Continue reading →

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Psycho - * *

Posted on December 4, 1998 by Madeleine Williams

I’ll admit it up front. I’ve never considered the original Psycho to be one of Hitchcock’s best films. Although a good film, it should be celebrated more for its groundbreaking elements than for its quality. That leads us to what … Continue reading →

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Pleasantville - * * 1/2*

Posted on October 23, 1998 by Madeleine Williams

Pleasantville is, of all things, a pleasant little film. It asks the question, what would the world be like if everything was perfect? And then it uses that, not only as a launchpad for social commentary on contemporary values, but … Continue reading →

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Wag the Dog - * * * 1/2*

Posted on December 25, 1997 by Madeleine Williams

Director Barry Levinson has crafted a wickedly funny political satire, that, while consistently tickling your funny bone, rings astoundingly true. The President of the United States has a problem. The election is only a few days away, and a devastating … Continue reading →

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Boogie Nights - * * * 1/2*

Posted on October 12, 1997 by Madeleine Williams

Director Paul Thomas Anderson has created a sweeping saga of an unlikely subject: the adult film industry. Technically brilliant, and with good acting, Boogie nights is a very good, but not great, film. The film follows the meteoric rise and … Continue reading →

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Ghosts of Mississippi - * *

Posted on December 20, 1996 by Madeleine Williams

Rob Reiner’s latest film takes the tragedy of the murder of Medgar Evers and turns it into a watered down Grishamesque southern lawyer story. In very quick opening scenes, we learn that the racist Byron De La Beckwith (James Woods) … Continue reading →

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Fargo - * * * 1/2*

Posted on March 8, 1996 by Madeleine Williams

Fargo is the latest film from Joel and Ethan Coen, and their most realistic, if not quite their best. William H. Macy is a used car salesman in Minneapolis. When he is overwhelmed by debt, he hatches a scheme to … Continue reading →

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