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Movies Too Long, Life Too Short

Anthony Minghella, a film director adored by critics and liked by audiences, has died at 54. Minghella (link goes to his IMDb page), who directed The English Patient, The Talented Mister Ripley, and Cold Mountain made movies that always seemed serious. He got good performances out of his actors and established an arresting visual style. My main problem with him was simple: like a lot of directors more popular with critics than audiences, his movies were too long. Even the rather slight Mr. Ripley came in at nearly three hours. I’m sorry to see him pass. He had talent and probably would have improved with age. But all of his movies could have used just a bit more editing.