Adam McKay’s film Vice follows the life and political career of Vice President Dick Cheney, and it has been received with truly polarized reactions. The success of The Big Short was so resounding that I almost forgot that before that movie McKay films were gonzo comedies starring Will Ferrell. Anchorman, Talladega Nights, Step Brothers, and The… Continue reading Is Vice a Bad Film? Or is it Not Trying to be a Film?
Tag: filmmaking
Hereditary is Scary
There’s one scene in Hereditary that unnerved me unlike any other movie I have seen. I remember clutching my breath and wanting to cry. I can’t spoil it and giving my reaction feels like a spoiler. It was almost as if the film pluck an extremely personal deep fear from my brain and plopped on… Continue reading Hereditary is Scary
Tommy Wiseau and Tonya Harding: What it Takes to Succeed
The following contains spoilers for The Disaster Artist and I, Tonya This past week I’ve seen The Disaster Artist and I, Tonya, which proved to be strikingly complimentary films. This unintentional double feature paired nicely because each tackles the concept of the “American Dream,” the idea that the United States is a unique environment where… Continue reading Tommy Wiseau and Tonya Harding: What it Takes to Succeed
Painting a Passion: Loving Vincent
Form and story merge in this ambitious film, offering us a glimpse into Vincent Van Gogh’s world.
The Beguiled Beguiles These Guys, But at What Cost?
Christopher Maher: Hey Sam, hope you’re enjoying this rainy day. Is it cold out? I don’t think I’ve even been outside yet. Is it misty? Because The Beguiled by Sofia Coppola sure was, and also we saw it yesterday and we’re talking about it today. What’d you think? Samuel B Russell: The Beguiled wasn’t so… Continue reading The Beguiled Beguiles These Guys, But at What Cost?
Atomic Blonde is Very Cool
Every now and then a movie comes out that proves “style over substance” isn’t the awful thing it’s believed to be. We’ve discussed this in past reviews, but when style is all-consuming, when it is the primary purpose of a film, it becomes the substance. And when that style is good enough to sustain an… Continue reading Atomic Blonde is Very Cool
The War is for the Planet, but These Apes are After Your Heart
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
A Ghost Story is an Intimate and Cosmic Masterpiece
David Lowery has become one of my favorite up-and-coming directors. I remember enjoying his art house western Ain’t Them Bodies Saints (2013), but he really earned my interest with his decision to direct a Disney children’s movie, Pete’s Dragon (2016). Lowery executed a potentially soulless mission with care and grace. He didn’t sell-out, Disney bought-in.… Continue reading A Ghost Story is an Intimate and Cosmic Masterpiece
Nineteenth-Century Modernism within Ruben Östlund’s Force Majeure
Our crazy smart friend and guest writer Jason Patel offers an in-depth look at Scandinavian Modernist Theater and Force Majeure.
Would You Kiss Your Robot Twin? (Alien: Covenant review)
Samuel Russell: Hey Chris, how’s it going? So after we saw Alien: Covenant last night I was thinking about the series it belongs to. My first encounter with the Alien franchise was through the 2004 b-movie Alien versus Predator, which is a good example of lowest common denominator sci fi slashers. Even my 10 year… Continue reading Would You Kiss Your Robot Twin? (Alien: Covenant review)
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