Crowd of Full Pockets

Movie and Music Analysis from One Lacking Any Credentials to Provide It

Tag: Benedict Cumberbatch

  • Movie Review: “Black Mass” (Scott Cooper, USA 2015)

    In 2011, when James “Whitey” Bulger was arrested, tried, and sentenced, I was in law school. As a result, I didn’t pay very close attention to the story. I remember Tony Kornheiser talking about it a few times but mostly just saying, “Wow–this is incredible! And now he’s so old! He looks like me!” and…

  • Movie Review: “12 Years a Slave” (Steve McQueen, USA/UK 2013)

    Sometimes, I diagnose films with what I call “Holocaust* Movie Syndrome,” which means that they are being judged on the basis of the importance and power of their subject rather than their own merit. I call it “Holocaust Movie Syndrome” because holocaust movies are often given this treatment, receiving universal, almost unthinking praise simply for…