Drama Archive

Hotel Rwanda - More than a million people slaughtered in l00 days. "The fastest, most efficient killing spree of the twentieth century," as Samantha Power describes it in her prize-winning book, "A Problem from Hell." And

In America - “Game of Thrones” was one of those series that bestrides the world like a colossus, becoming an instant legend. It won 59 Primetime Emmys. Including four for Outstanding Drama Series.

In a Better World - "In a Better World" won the 2011 Golden Globe Award for Best Foreign Language Film as well as the award for Best Foreign Language Film at the 83rd Academy Awards.

Into the Wild - My wife and I stumbled out of a Manhattan theater in stunned silence. So did my stepson. So did everyone I urged to see "Into the Wild." The film is

L’Atalante - This is on almost every major critic's list of the "best 100 movies of all time." I've never seen it ranked lower than #15. After Renoir's "Rules of the Game,"

Late Summer 2023: The Best Films - SUPPORTING BUTLER: You can become a patron of this site, and automatically donate any amount you please — starting with $1 — each month. The service that enables this is

Let the Right One In - What an amazing, strange and tender love story --- and, yes, I’m talking about the Swedish vampire movie Let the Right One In.  It’s out on DVD in the United States,

Magic Mike - “Magic Mike” is the most enjoyable American movie I saw in 2012. The film about a male stripper grinding a few inches from women’s faces and thrusting his package as they

Margin Call - "Margin Call" was conceived in the throes of the 2008-2009 Wall Street crisis. Firms like Lehman had been coining fortunes packaging subprime mortgages. Individually, many of them were handed out

McCabe & Mrs. Miller - Robert Altman liked to say he hated Westerns. He didn't much enjoy working with Warren Beatty. He was silent about directing Julie Christie. He probably disliked her too. But in the

Michael Clayton - "When somebody says it’s not about the money,” H.L. Mencken wrote, “it’s about the money.” John Barnett, a prominent Boeing whistle-blower, testified last week about the company’s safety policies at its 787

Million Dollar Baby -     Million Dollar Baby directed by Clint Eastwood Ever since the credits rolled after "Million Dollar Baby," I've been wanting to write about it. But all

Movies for a summer weekend when there’s nothing new to see - Going to the movies this weekend? To see what? The $200 million, DOA sequel to “Independence Day?” Kevin Hart and Dwayne Johnson in a film titled, surely ironically, “Central Intelligence?”

My Neighbor Totoro - When I met our then eight-and-a-half year-old at the camp bus, I'd ask about her day. A pointless exercise. Perfunctory answers escaped her ecosystem. But not much more.  This is, after

NO - In 1973, in a coup supported by the CIA, the Chilean military overthrew the country’s first Socialist government.  President Salvador Allende committed suicide (or was killed); Augusto Pinochet, General of

Off the Map - Starring the great Joan Allen, with Sam Elliott. An independent film, set in New Mexico in l974. Directed by Campbell Scott, an actor we adore --- if you haven't seen "The

Once - There are movies that friends tell you about, and if those friends are forceful or more people make the same recommendation, you rouse yourself and stream it or

Oscar Special: Best Foreign Films - Despite the absence of nominations for African American films and actors, I’ll watch the Academy Awards. For Chris Rock. And because a few of the films I liked – “The

Rainy Day Butler: 9 films for winter’s first storm. Ryan O’Neal. A Hanukah story. And more… - First, something NOT for you --- here’s where much of America’s online attention will be focused: the trailer for Grand Theft Auto VI trailer. It has 135 million views in

She Said - Neither of the two best movies I saw last year was nominated for an Academy Award. One is "Emily the Criminal" (New York Times review. To watch the preview, click