Mat Brewster

Amour Is the Pick of the Week

Amour seems much more accessible than the rest of Haneke’s work and I suspect I’ll be watching it soon

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The Mindy Project: Season One Is the Pick of the Week

The Mindy Project is very silly and has not a inch of real depth but it’s tons of fun.

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The Sapphires Is the Pick of the Week

Thanks, Technology, for making me interested in films like The Sapphires.

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Detective Inspector Irene Huss, Episodes 7-9 and 10-12 DVD Review: Cliched Plots, Excellent Execution

You could call it the Swedish “The Closer” if you wanted.

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Annika Bengtzon, Crime Reporter: Episodes 1-3 and 4-6 Review: By-the-Book Swedish Crime Drama Needs a New Author

I found myself wishing each episode was done by about the halfway point.

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Banshee: The Complete First Season Is the Pick of the Week

I’m ready to let Cinemax show me they can make good quality original programming just like their sister channel.

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Twixt Blu-ray Review: Imagined in a Dream, Should Have Stayed in Bed

Coppola still knows how to shoot a beautiful film; it’s just too bad he’s forgotten how to write one.

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Laura (1944) Blu-ray Review: The Sum Is Better than Its Parts

An odd film that never really should have worked, and yet it does.

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Trance Is the Pick of the Week

I’m totally on board and looking forward to seeing what Boyle has in store.

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Evil Dead (2013) Is the Pick of the Week

Word is director Fede Alvarez took the basic story ramped up the adrenaline and gore and made a terrific, no-frills horror flick. That’s enough to get me on board.

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Spring Breakers Is the Pick of the Week

I don’t expect to really like the results, but I’m definitely interested.

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The House I Live In Is the Pick of the Week

It features David Simon a great deal and I’ve never been disappointed in anything he’s ever been involved with.

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Upside Down Is the Pick of the Week

How did I let this slip through?

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Wilfred: The Complete Season 2 Blu-ray Review: Disgustingly Funny

The show is crass, rude, disgusting, and very, very funny.

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Stoker Is the Pick of the Week

If you like films at all, you’ll likely find something to enjoy from this week’s releases.

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Wild Strawberries Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: A Beautiful, Complex, Symbolic Film

A fully rewarding film with great emotional wealth and intellectual grace.

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Wild Strawberries Is the Pick of the Week

Criterion has created a masterful presentation with their Blu-ray.

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Breaking Bad: The Fifth Season Is the Pick of the Week

Walt finally sets the pieces in place to be the kingpin he was born to be but it never seems enough.

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The Grass Is Greener Is the Pick of the Week

This is the sort of week where the Pick of the Week is less a real decision and more of a “yeah, this will do.”

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Rick Steves Europe: All 100 Shows (2000-2014) Is the Pick of the Week

I prefer the middle-aged comforts of Rick Steves.

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Detective De Luca DVD Review: He’s Not a Fascist, He’s Just a Cop

For fans of crime dramas, detective shows, or just really good television.

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Cloud Atlas Is the Pick of the Week

I’m probably not going to like it, but it just looks too damned interesting to not at least try to like it.

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Band of Outsiders Is the Pick of the Week

I’ve seen more movies in French than your average American filmgoer.

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Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country Review: Retirement is Truly the Final Frontier

A perfectly good send off for the classic characters.

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Star Trek: The Next Generation: Seasons 1-3 Are the Picks of the Week

Mat lets you know why he’d be happy to have it on his shelf.

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The Impossible (2012) Is the Pick of the Week

What’s worth watching this week.

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Maigret Set 7 & 8 DVDs Review: Well Made Dullness

Maigret is perfectly serviceable television.

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Django Unchained Is the Pick of the Week

Ready to grab it up and give it a go.

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Hyde Park on Hudson Is the Pick of the Week

The transmogrification of Bill Murray from the crazed goofball to the wonderfully dramatic actor has been nothing short of a thespian miracle.

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Marvel Cinematic Universe: Phase One: Avengers Assembled is the Pick of the Week

Mat has assembled his latest column for your reading pleasure.

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Lincoln Is the Pick of the Week

Daniel Day-Lewis simply lived, breathed, and embodied the very soul of the 16th President.

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With a Friend Like Harry…Movie Review: Dark French Thriller Keeps You on Edge

The atmosphere is kept dark and tension filled.

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Les Miserables Is the Pick of the Week

This week is full of Oscar nominees and award winners.

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Life of Pi Is the Pick of the Week

So many good choices this week.

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Cinema Sentries

Wreck-It Ralph Is the Pick of the Week

I’ve heard nothing but good things, and the arcade nostalgia love has done nothing but grown on me.

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Chronicle of a Summer Criterion Collection Blu-ray Review: A Fascinating Glimpse into Paris in 1960

A unique portrait of a very specific time and and a very specific place.

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The Master (2012) Is the Pick of the Week

P.T. Anderson is one of my favorite modern filmmakers.

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Game of Thrones: The Complete Second Season Is the Pick of the Week

Season Two ventures a bit away from the source material but remains an excellent bit of fantasy television.

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Maigret (1992) Complete Collection DVD Review: Does What You Expect and with Great Satisfaction

The French detective is played by an Englishman and filmed in Budapest.

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Cinema Sentries

Skyfall Is the Pick of the Week

I might not be able to stream it, but I’m definitely watching Skyfall soon.

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Picks of the Last Three Weeks

Due to a series of unfortunate events I was unable to write about new releases for a few weeks, so I’m catching up.

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 To Rome with Love Is the Pick of the Week

I always go with Woody.

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The Hour 2 DVD Review: Some of the Best Drama from Either Side of the Pond

This Cold War drama keeps getting better and better.

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The Man Who Knew Too Much (1934) Criterion Collection DVD Review: See the Master of Suspense Invent Himself

An early Hitchcock classic gets cleaned up and looks better than ever.

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The Hour 2 Is the Pick of the Week

More than just a Mad Men clone.

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