In Camera Review

In our 19th episode, we look at all the little things that went wrong in 2020's 'The Little Things' starring Denzel Washington and other Academy Award winners that ruined the movie. Would this film have better if there we some checks and balances? Or should this movie just not have been made? The career of two-time Academy Award nominee Michael Shannon goes under the ICR microscope......

In the 18th episode of ICR, we review a lawyer movie: Michael Clayton. The actors are great, but is it a realistic depiction of high-dollar litigation at big law firms? Also, we examine Halle Berry's career and her distinction in the history of the Academy Awards. And 2016 may be the best year of the decade for five-star movies. But which film should have won Best Picture? Plus, we pick a new...

Our 17th episode covers the David Fincher's 'Mank' (2020) and the year 1942 when 'Citizen Kane' did  not  win Best Picture at the 14th Academy Awards.  Why did 'How Green Was My Valley' beat out not only 'Citizen Kane,' but also 'The Maltese Falcon'?  Why has the story of 'Citizen Kane' endured over the years? And will 'Mank' win Best Pic...

we review 'The Good Shepherd' directed by Robert De Niro. Mike and Logan are not fans, but Matt dissents. We also examine the journeyman acting career of Amy Adams. Will she ever win an Academy Award? Then, the Best Picture Oscar went to 'The Shape of Water' in 2018 at the 90th Academy Awards. Is this movie an example of what Best Picture winners and nominees will look like in the...

We review 'The Trial of the Chicago 7' and discuss the some of the legal issues in the film. Why did their convictions get reversed on appeal? And the prolific Willem Dafoe is our favorite actor so far - but why hasn't he won an Oscar? We also go back to 1987 and the 59th Academy Awards when Oliver Stone's 'Platoon' won Best Picture. Plus, our picks for next week include a...

the In Camera Review Podcast is full of legal talk, even though our movie of the week is 'Lawless.' We talk about Prohibition and Amendments to the Constitution, as well as some changes that were needed for the 'Lawless' screenplay. And we look at Tom Cruise and ask: could he not handle the truth that he would never win an Oscar? Also, in 2010, "The Hurt Locker' won Best P...

we revisit the movie Goodfellas, as well as a number of other movies that use narration or a voice over. Using the two-part strict scrutiny test from constitutional law, we ask (1) was there a compelling interest  to use narration in the movie? and (2) if so, was it narrowly tailored to serve that interest? In other words: Was there a really good reason to use narration? Was it only used when nece...

We review the 2006 movie 'Children of Men' Mike and Matt love it, but Logan dissents. And then Matt reminds us why Christopher Walken's career dipped into B movies before Quentin Tarantino and SNL gave him a comeback. Plus, we look at one of the best years at the Oscars where one of the best movies ever made wins Best Picture: 'The Godfather Part II' at the 47th Academy Awards...

we review 1991's 'The Silence of the Lambs' and unanimously agree that it's a 5-star movie. And we love Woody Harrelson, but does he have range as an actor? Next, the year is 1999 and the 71st Academy Awards are filled with World War II movies and films about Elizabethan England. So, how was 'Shakespeare and Love' able to declare victory over 'Saving Private Ryan'?...

In this Special Edition of the In Camera Review Podcast, we review the movie "Zodiac" from 2007.

We review 2019's 'Joker' and it did not leave us with a smile... Also, we look at the iconic career of Denzel Washington. But does he play the same flawed-man-against-the-world-seeking-redemption character in every movie? And the 67th Academy Awards in 1995 saw 'Forrest Gump' win Best Picture. We don't think that should have won, but we have a theory as to why it did... Plu...

our review of the British caper film, 'Sexy Beast,' from 2000. How does it compare to movies like Snatch or Lock, Stock, and Two Smoking Barrels? And we look at  two-time Academy Award winner Frances McDormand. How has her personal life affected her movie career? Then, we go to the most recent Academy Awards in 2020 where 'Parasite' made history as the first foreign film to win Bes...

1995's 'The Usual Suspects' Does the twist ending hold up after more than 25 years? Also, we examine why Benicio del Toro seems to not get the big roles worthy of his talent... Plus, the 2006 Oscar for Best Picture should not have been awarded to Crash. But which movie should have won? And what wasn't even nominated? The we make our picks for next week: A British heist film; a two-...

'Black Mass' from 2015. Can lots of Johnny Depp acting make up for a bad script? And why does Matt think Jake Gyllenhaal is great? He's not so sure... We go all the way back to the 49th Oscars in 1977 to look at the underdog winner: 'Rocky" Mike brings up Raging Bull again... Plus, our picks for next week: a movie with an ensemble cast of typical people; an actor that can flip...

we look at the 2004 film 'The Machinist' starring Christian Bale. And Mark Wahlberg was nominated for an Academy Award for 'The Departed,' but is he better at comedy than drama? We go back to 2011 and the 83rd Academy Awards where 'The King's Speech' won Best Picture in a very good year for movies. Plus, we reveal Logan's movie pick (a Johnny Depp film), Matt's...

Here's a bonus episode from the ICR vault... enjoy!

In our third episode, we discuss 2016’s ‘Hell or High Water’ and ask: Is the movie only about America in a post-Great Recession world, or is there more? We talk about what Melba Toast has packing in our segment on Matthew McConaughey. And how did he go from  doing Rom-Coms to winning the Best Actor Oscar? We go in the way back machine to  1990’s Academy Awards where ‘Driving Miss Daisy’ won Best P...

Zero Dark Thirty

Goodfellas is reviewed.