People often complain about the modern state of cinema (or music, or whatever) and it’s easy to look around and say, “They just don’t make ‘em like they used to.” Especially when you’re regularly inundated with a barrage of crap. But we shouldn’t forget that it’s the one percent of exceptional work that will be… Continue reading The War is for the Planet, but These Apes are After Your Heart
Tag: cinema
Isolation and Sex Tie these Two 1964 Japanese Films Together
This article contains major spoilers for Onibaba (1964) and Woman in the Dunes (1964). This weekend Liza (who has contributed to this blog) and I sat down to watch a movie. We aimlessly scrolled through the seemingly endless options our streaming services presented. We ended up on FilmStruck (essentially Netflix for the Criterion Collection) where… Continue reading Isolation and Sex Tie these Two 1964 Japanese Films Together
More like Kong: DULL Island, am I right folks?
King Kong has always been about spectacle. The 1933 original isn’t great because of it’s storytelling. This isn’t to say the storytelling isn’t great, it’s a tight and effective thriller. But that’s not the point of the film. The story works because it is in service to the astounding visual effects. It was about looking… Continue reading More like Kong: DULL Island, am I right folks?
Dueling Reviews: Logan Transcends the X-Series / the Superhero Genre
Sam and Chris write back-to-back reviews of Logan.
Lion has a Big World and a Big Heart
With creative framing Lion tells a story about small people in a big world.
Doc Sportello is a Real Human Being and a Real Hero
Chris talks about a character arc in a movie that he loved but that confused a lot of people (including him).
We go Gaga for La La Land
Sam and Chris discuss their mutual love of musicals and how La La Land mines the tradition to its advantage.
From Anchormen to Businessmen
Friend Tessa Duke discusses The Big Short and Adam McKay’s approach to an economic crisis film.
Captain Fantastic Shows Us an Ideal Life, and the Costs
Captain Fantastic invites us to experience passion and loss as one family tries to understand their place in the world. The film asks when is going to extremes going too far? And what does it mean to understand truth? Is it possible that real truth may not be as objective or universal as we would like it to be? When are we pursuing our own truths, and when are we selling out?
We Were Both Underwhelmed by “Moonlight,” but Disagree Why
Moonlight is a critical darling and a likely Oscar contender. Sam and Chris discuss the film, the coming-of-age genre, and narrative structure.
Friends on Flicks 