James Ponsoldt

The Spectacular Now Review

James Ponsoldt's The Spectacular Now is the most authentic depiction of what it means to be a teenager since Cameron Crowe's landmark Say Anything. It's so adept at conveying youthful awkwardness, petulance, and regret, and how every moment in a teenagers life could signify the end of their comfortable world that it could practically incite post traumatic stress memories in those who watch it. The aching and longing at the heart of this bracing work is the kind that informs the rest of a young person's life for better or worse, and it's all done entirely free of cliche or artifice.

Contest: Win SMASHED on DVD!

It’s spring cleaning time! Okay, maybe we should have done this last month, but we have a ton of great stuff courtesy of the great folks at Sony Pictures Home Entertainment to give away on DVD. Enter for a chance to win one of five copies of SMASHED on DVD. Kate (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and […]

This Week in DVD: 3/12/13

This week brings out some heavy hitters at the video store including Life of Pi, The Master, Hitchcock, Smashed, Playing for Keeps, This Must be the Place, and A Late Quartet.

Smashed Review

It might not be the most original addiction narrative ever created, but James Ponsoldt's Smashed succeeds thanks to some painful moments of intimacy, dark humour, and excellent performances.

TIFF 2012 Reviews: Part 5

Since we don't get days off on weeks like this, here's part five of our TIFF 2012 coverage with looks at The Place Beyond the Pines, Seven Psychopaths, Hotel Transylvania, A Royal Affair, Thermae Romae, Smashed, Rebelle, and Laurence Anyways.