When will people stop letting M. Night Shyamalan adapt work into a screenplay? Did studios learn NOTHING from Avatar: The Last Airbender? Old is adapted from the 2010 graphic novel Sandcastles by Pierre Oscar Levy and Frederik Peeters. And, in true Shyamalan fashion, he adds his own twists and explanations that, I assume, he thinks are clever. Old finds three groups of people traveling to a … Continue reading Old (2021)
A seemingly timid but secretly ruthless ingénue insinuates herself into the lives of an aging Broadway star and her circle of theater friends. You know, I don’t think there will ever be a time where All About Eve will be irrelevant. In powerhouse performances from both Bette Davis (Margo) and Anne Baxter (Eve), All About Eve follows young Eve as she inserts herself into the life of … Continue reading 28. All About Eve (1950)
The early life and career of Vito Corleone in 1920s New York City is portrayed, while his son, Michael, expands and tightens his grip on the family crime syndicate. Many have argued that The Godfather Part II is better than The Godfather, but I think that Part II helps us to have a better appreciation for the first film. The Godfather Part II follows both a young Vito Corleone, … Continue reading 32. The Godfather Part II (1974)
Where, oh, where do I begin? Mommie Dearest is a biographical drama based on the memoir of the same name written by Christina Crawford about her mother, the famed screen legend, Joan Crawford, and the troubling relationship that the mother and daughter pair had. The film was directed by Frank Perry, a man who definitely did not have enough experience with actors to helm this … Continue reading Notoriously Bad Films: Mommie Dearest (1981)
Talk about a well written film. The Talented Mr. Ripley, released in 1999, was written and directed by Anthony Minghella, based on the novel by Patricia Highsmith. The film starred Matt Damon as the titular Mr. Tom Ripley, Jude Law as Dickie Greenleaf, Gwyneth Paltrow as Marge Sherwood, Cate Blanchett as Meredith Logue, and the late great Philip Seymour Hoffman as Freddie Miles. The film follows Tom … Continue reading 90s Flashback: The Talented Mr. Ripley (1999)
The Nightmare Before Christmas is a film that I have always been reluctant to say I enjoy. Does that have to do with the film itself? Absolutely not. It does, however, have to do with the culture surrounding the film. I’ve noticed a trend. Those that love The Nightmare Before Christmas really LOVE The Nightmare Before Christmas and it seems to become nearly their entire personality. The diehard … Continue reading Revisiting Disney: The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
I remember watching this film when I was young and I remember loving it. However, it’s not a film that I have rewatched as an adult, until now. And, it was not easy to find this film online. But, I managed to dig through the internet until I was successful, and I watched this nearly two hour film so you all wouldn’t have to. For … Continue reading Notoriously Bad Films: Super Mario Bros. (1993)
Even though the film Heat was released in 1995 and uses some dated technology, the film itself is weirdly timeless. For those unfamiliar with the film, Heat is about a group of bank robbers who unknowingly leave a clue at their last heist and are beginning to feel the heat from the police. Hence, the title. Written and directed by Michael Mann, Heat could easily be a masterclass on … Continue reading 90s Flashback: Heat (1995)
An insane general triggers a path to nuclear holocaust that a War Room full of politicians and generals frantically tries to stop. Stanley Kubrick brilliantly satirized the Cold War tensions between the US and Russia in Dr. Strangelove, a black comedy that he wrote, directed, and produced. Even more brilliant, he criticized the ridiculous idea of mutually assured destruction. The concept of mutually assured destruction, or … Continue reading 39. Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964)
How much does Lars von Trier dislike women? The answer is a lot. In fact, it may be even more than Quentin Tarantino. The House That Jack Built stars Matt Dillon as a serial killer, recounting 5 murders he’s committed to a person named Verge. There’s so much to unpack here. Visually, the film is beautiful. But, that’s to be expected of a Lars von … Continue reading The House That Jack Built (2018)
