Tag: Movie

Mikkelsen carries the torch in ‘Arctic’

Jeff Mitchell

“Arctic” – Mads Mikkelsen’s character kneels on a narrow path of black rock and chips away at ice and snow with a pick and a serrated piece of sheet metal.  For anyone who has ever shoveled a driveway when the temperature hovers around zero, the opening scene of “Arctic” is a stressful reminder of Old Man Winter and his associated, compulsory chores. The difference between Overgard (Mikkelsen) and John Q. Public scrapping coagulated powder in the frozen suburbs of Minneapolis, Chicago, Buffalo, Toronto, Boston, and Spokane is the latter poor…

10 Bad-Relationship Movies: 8. ‘Smashed’

Jeff Mitchell

8. “Smashed” (2012) – Alcoholism tortures the soul by compelling one to share their existence with a drug, and Kate (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and Charlie (Aaron Paul) both perfectly fit the profile.  They struggle with alcohol, but director James Ponsoldt keeps much of the focus on Kate, as her addiction greatly impacts her job. She’s an elementary school teacher. Kate eventually hits rock bottom and decides to get sober, but her uphill climb becomes considerably steeper, because Charlie does not share her goals.  Their marriage has drifted apart in only…

10 Bad-Relationship Movies: 9. ‘Nebraska’

Jeff Mitchell

“Nebraska” (2013) – Woody Grant (Bruce Dern) is delusional.  He repeatedly attempts to walk from Montana to Nebraska to collect an alleged lottery prize, and finally, his son David (Will Forte) decides to save his dad from the continued pedestrian torture.  He drives him to Nebraska, and they make a dysfunctional road trip out of it in one of Alexander Payne’s (“Election” (1999), “Sideways” (2004)) signature dark comedies. Even though Woody and David’s father-son despondent bond is in dire need of some cheer, his marriage to Kate (June Squibb) has…