Shallow Grave (1994)
Shallow Grave (1994) – Danny Boyle has made his mark on modern cinema. He’s directed horror (28 Days Later…), science fiction (Sunshine), romantic comedy (A Life Less Ordinary), true-life drama (127 Hours), and a family film (Millions). He’s won the Academy Award for Best Director for the Best Picture-winning Slumdog Millionaire. He’s made an impact … Continue reading
La Belle et la Bête (1946)
La Belle et la Bête (1946) – Il était une fois… So fairy tales have become vogue once again at the multiplex. Not just for the young ones, but apparently for the still-young-but-desperate-to-be-more-grown-up-not-really-comprehending-all-that-that-entails ones too. We’ve been treated to new angst-ridden versions of Snow White and Little Red Riding Hood that borrow directors or stars … Continue reading
The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976)
The Man Who Fell to Earth (1976) – So I have never actually seen a Nicholas Roeg film, except for The Witches and I last saw that over 15 years ago. He’s a director held in a fairly high regard; he has several films in the Criterion Collection (this one included). Now in the six … Continue reading
12 Angry Men (1957)
12 Angry Men (1957) – For decades upon decades we have seen courtroom drama after courtroom drama. There’s something compelling about our justice system (well… in movies anyway). Coutnless movies and even more TV shows have taken us into the courtroom to watch lawyers do their thing to defend or prosecute some defendant (or in … Continue reading
Tiny Furniture (2010)
Tiny Furniture (2010) – Humor is a weird and pretty personal thing. Some things you find funny. Some things you don’t. We like to make these guiding principles of “oh this type of thing is what I find funny and that type of thing I don’t” but really it’s whatever random shit hits our fancy … Continue reading
Fish Tank (2009)
Fish Tank (2009) – You know some of us work at becoming actors. I mean learning the craft (and learning how irritating it is to non-actors hearing you talk about the “craft”) and technique and all that. It’s easier than digging ditches or running a textile mill for sure, but it’s not as easy as … Continue reading
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998) – “The only chance now, I felt, was the possibility that we’d gone to such excess that nobody in the position to bring the hammer down on us could possibly believe it” For seven too-brief decades, Dr. Hunter S. Thompson walked this planet. The man had issues, for … Continue reading
M. Hulot’s Holiday (1953)
M. Hulot’s Holiday (1953) – Was I just having an off day or what? I feel like I should have liked this movie much more than I did. All I really got out of it was a sense of detached amusement for some parts. I was a big fan of Sylvain Chomet’s The Illusionist, which … Continue reading
The Great Dictator (1940)
The Great Dictator (1940) – Short version: I love this movie so, so much. Longer version: It goes to figure that when Charlie Chaplin finally decided to talk, he really had something to say. Picking on Adolph Hitler may seem like going after low-hanging fruit. I mean, we live in the post-Mel Brooks era. Making … Continue reading
Antichrist (2009)
Antichrist (2009) – So Lars von Trier of Dancer in the Dark and Dogville fame set out to make a horror movie. From his résumé it should be obvious that a standard jump-out-and-scare-you thriller was not in the cards. Instead von Trier wants to scare you in your soul. Willem Dafoe and Charlotte Gainsbourg play … Continue reading
Persistence of Vision 