Author Archives: Jack Mirkinson

The best thing about “No Country For Old Men” is that nothing stands out. To watch it is to give yourself away to a work of art that is so complete and precise and accomplished that it leaves you breathless. It is a gem of a movie and a real thrill to see. It is »

“Lions for Lambs” marks another installment in the series of movies about our current national nightmares. It comes on the heels of “In The Valley Of Elah” and “Rendition,” which examined the traumas of war and America’s use of torture, respectively. “Lions” takes a step back to challenge the national character during the “War on »

Steve Carell and Juliette Binoche almost save “Dan In Real Life” from its many flaws. These two actors have what film critic Pauline Kael called the “value of stars,” that ability to lift a movie away from its imperfections and turn it into something satisfying. In the intermittently funny “Dan In Real Life,” they work »

When I first saw the trailer for “Michael Clayton,” I found it to be an impenetrable mess. After seeing the movie, I understand why. It’s too complicated to squeeze into two minutes, and for that, we should be thankful. “Michael Clayton” starts with a fevered torrent of words and doesn’t let up. It’s a dark, »

Approaching the sanctuary is easy. Go through the heavy Dwight Hall door, travel up the stairs and take a left. You have now entered the Eli shrine to leftist history: the Social Justice Network Room. What looks like a quilt patch covered in buttons adorns the wall: “Women strike for peace.” A banner that says »