I wasn’t a great moviegoer in 2007, and I have yet to catch up with many of the Oscar-nominated films.

In fact, I’ve seen only six. And, frankly, the two “biggest” left me feeling a little chilly.

Few very well-made movies have made less of a lasting impression on me than No Country for Old Men and There Will Be Blood.

I don’t demand a happy ending, but I do like, y’know, character arcs and just a little more understanding of the human condition along with my popcorn. Rich cinematography, bravura acting, and the muted-if-epic presence of directors whose work I’ve absolutely loved before don’t, for me, make up for a deficit of storytelling and meaning.  Read more