Psychiatric Help $0.05: Lucy, reviewed.

It's Lucy star Scarlett Johannson's year.

My NPR review of Luc Besson's wiggedy-wack but truly, madly, deeply watchable Lucy. 

I'm still feeling pretty good about the summer movies I recommended (then) unseen in the Village Voice back in May, though Dawn of the Planet of the Apes -- which I still haven't caught with -- probably should've made the list. And I arbitrarily excluded documentaries, even though Life Itself is the only film that's made me cry so far this year. Though I haven't seen Boyhood yet, either.

French (Double) Dip: Brick Mansions, reviewed.

View fullsize

David Belle and Paul Walker in Brick Mansions, a not-as-good remake of the French action film District B13.

When I was sixth grade I was in a terrible musical wherein the lady who would become, some years later, my first real girlfriend sang a song called "It always sounds better in French."

My review of Brick Mansions, the subpar American remake of the Francophone parkour movie District B13, is on The Village Voice now. Rest in peace, Paul Walker.