Blog — 3 Brothers Film

Playing the Viewer like an Organ: Norman Bates as the Protagonist of Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho

Exploring the ways Alfred Hitchcock makes the audience root for Norman Bates in Psycho.

(Re)Viewing the Canon, EssaysAren BergstromApril 2, 2012Alfred Hitchcock, Anthony Perkins, hero, horror, Janet Leigh, killer, manipulation, Marion Crane, Norman Bates, protagonist, Psycho Comment

Review: Friends with Kids (2012)

Good actors and funny lines undone by a preposterous script.

Reviews, The Current: In Theatres, Aren's ReviewsAren BergstromMarch 30, 2012Adam Scott, Chris O'Dowd, comedy, Friends with Kids, Jennifer Westfeldt, Jon Hamm, Kristen Wiig, Maya Rudolph, romance Comment

Thursday Rethink: The Usual Suspects Is Massively Overrated

Bryan Singer’s Oscar-winning thriller is a fraud.

Features, Thursday RethinkAnders BergstromMarch 29, 2012Bryan Singer, Kevin Spacey, Keyser Soze, overrated, The Usual Suspects, thriller, Thursday Rethink, twist ending, Verbal Kint Comments

Review: The Hunger Games (2012)

The young adult best-seller makes a decent, if half-realized, adventure.

Reviews, The Current: In TheatresAnton BergstromMarch 22, 2012Donald Sutherland, Elizabeth Banks, Gary Ross, Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Liam Hemsworth, Stanley Tucci, Suzanne Collins, Wes Bentley, Woody HarrelsonComment

Review: Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)

A funny and authentic exploration of the American teenager.

Reviews, Overlooked and Under-Appreciated, Aren's ReviewsAren BergstromMarch 18, 2012Amy Heckerling, Cameron Crowe, comedy, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, high school, Jennfier Jason Leigh, Judge Reinhold, Sean Penn, teenager Comments

Thursday Rethink: John Carter is Not a Failure

Disney’s epic adaptation of Edgar Rice Burroughs’ sci-fi adventure may be a commercial flop, but it’s an artistic success.

Features, Thursday RethinkAnders BergstromMarch 15, 2012adventure, Andrew Stanton, Barsoom, blockbuster, Dejah Thoris, Disney, John Carter, John Carter of Mars, Lynn Collins, Mars, Taylor Kitsch, Thursday Rethink Comments

Thursday Rethink: Nicolas Cage is a Good Actor

Nicolas Cage is one of the most dedicated actors working today.

Features, Thursday RethinkAren BergstromMarch 8, 2012Nicolas Cage, The Bad Lieutenant, Thursday Rethink Comments

Review: Goon (2012)

This rough and rude hockey comedy knows the game.

Reviews, The Current: In TheatresAnton BergstromMarch 3, 2012Alison Pill, Canada, Evan Goldberg, Goon, hockey, Jay Baruchel, Liev Schreiber, Marc-André Grondin, Michael Dowse, Seann William Scott, sports comedyComment

Thursday Rethink: The Phantom Menace is a Good Movie

Contrary to popular wisdom, the first Star Wars prequel is an exceptional work of entertainment.

Features, Thursday RethinkAnton BergstromMarch 1, 2012George Lucas, Liam Neeson, Star Wars, Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace, Thursday Rethink Comments

Review: Anatomy of a Murder (1959)

This is the film that ushered in the cynical courtroom thriller. It’s a classic.

Flash Back, Reviews, The Current: At HomeAnders BergstromFebruary 21, 2012Ben Gazzara, courtroom drama, George C- Scott, James Stewart, Otto Preminger Comments

Medieval as Modern: The Historical Accuracy of Kingdom of Heaven

Examining the historical sources behind Ridley Scott's medieval epic.

Essays, Jump Cuts: Random EssaysAren BergstromFebruary 20, 2012accuracy, Balian of Ibelin, Crusades, epic, historical, Kingdom of Heaven, Liam Neeson, medieval, Orlando Bloom, Saladin Comments

Review: Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close (2011)

The precocious absurdity of the film's protagonist does 9/11 a disservice.

Reviews, The Current: In Theatres, Aren's ReviewsAren BergstromFebruary 17, 20129/11, drama, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, Jeffrey Wright, Max von Sydow, Oscars, Sandra Bullock, Stephen Daldry, Thomas Horn, Tom Hanks, Viola Davis Comment

Review: The Woman in Black (2012)

Radcliffe succeeds in the new Hammer horror film.

Reviews, The Current: In TheatresAnton BergstromFebruary 16, 2012Ciaran Hinds, Daniel Radcliffe, Hammer, horror, James Watkins, mystery, The Woman in BlackComment

Review: The Artist (2011)

Great art or just good fun?

Reviews, The Current: In TheatresAnton BergstromFebruary 10, 2012Bérénice Bejo, comedy, Hollywood, James Cromwell, Jean Dujardin, John Goodman, Michel Hazanavicius, Oscars, silent film, The ArtistComment

Review: Chronicle (2012)

An innovative superhero film whose found-footage format is both its strength and weakness.

Reviews, The Current: In Theatres, Aren's ReviewsAren BergstromFebruary 9, 2012Chronicle, found-footage, Josh Trank, Max Landis, superhero Comments

Review: The Grey (2012)

An intense, unrelenting survival thriller.

Reviews, The Current: In Theatres, Aren's ReviewsAren BergstromFebruary 3, 20122012, Alaska, Joe Carnahan, Liam Neeson, survival, The Grey, thriller, wolvesComment

The Best Films of 2011

Anders and Aren give their individual picks for the 10 best films of 2011.

Review: They Live (1988)

Like Occupy Wall Street, but with more shotguns.

Reviews, Overlooked and Under-AppreciatedAnton BergstromJanuary 12, 2012action, financial crisis, John Carpenter, Keith David, Meg Foster, Occupy Wall Street, Roddy Piper, science fictionComment

Review: The Adventures of Tintin (2011)

Fun adventure and a solid adaptation of the comics. Capt. Haddock shines!

Review: Like Crazy (2011)

A shallow, predictable indie romance.

Reviews, The Current: In Theatres, Aren's ReviewsAren BergstromDecember 24, 2011Anton Yelchin, Drake Doremus, Felicity Jones, independent film, Jennifer Lawrence, Like Crazy, romance, SundanceComment