Tag: film

Ji-Min Park is broken in her Return to Seoul (2022)

February 28, 2023

Jin-Mi Park delivers a quietly discomferting performance that’s one of the years best … More Ji-Min Park is broken in her Return to Seoul (2022)

“Argentina, 1985” (2022) a striking, incisive look at The Dirty War

January 9, 2023

Incredibly powerful writing, performance,, and story about the trial relating to Argentina’s Dirty War. An all-encompassing look at the corruption, horror, and intimidation that took place, and the sheer and utter lack of humanity prohibited in these acts of pure genocide … More “Argentina, 1985” (2022) a striking, incisive look at The Dirty War

The Enforcer (1951) a mad scientist noir

October 13, 2022

The Enforcer (1951) is a murder for profit affair with a mastermind sitting at the top of the pyramid giving directives to desperate men without a motive, and staying protected from the law. Enter Humphrey Bogart, the lead playing a tough nosed district attorney tasked with the impossible in bringing the massive ring of hired hit men to justice. 
… More The Enforcer (1951) a mad scientist noir

That Obscure Object of Desire (1973) or the last word from Luis Buñuel

February 1, 2022

That Obscure Object of Desire is the last film the great director ever made. The final scene Luie Buñuel ever shot being the bloody, torn dress in the window of a shop, lending his audience one final ambiguous message to interpret or disregard. It’s Buñuel at his most provocative within his most career defining motif: the essence of desire. Seductively reaching the audience through the perverse nature of the concept and the elaborate story device of using two actresses for the beautiful Conchita.  … More That Obscure Object of Desire (1973) or the last word from Luis Buñuel

ASC 2022 Nominees – Nightmare Alley and Tragedy of Macbeth land nominations

January 25, 2022

In the past, the group has awarded the spectacle or artistically driven films, meaning gasping wide-shots and a strong visual component to the overall storytelling, win the award. For instance, Erik Messerschmidt winning for Mank in possibly the weakest year for cinematography ever, was due to Fincher emphasizing the eye-catching compositions. He would go on to win the Oscar… … More ASC 2022 Nominees – Nightmare Alley and Tragedy of Macbeth land nominations

CERTIFIED WEIRD: Silent Night is an unbalanced black comedy with little laughs

December 7, 2021

The concept behind Camille Griffin’s holiday black comedy Silent Night had potential, but the tonal balance of the film betrays the comedy elements, melodrama, and warped sentimentality. It sets out to make a Hallmark moment Holiday extravaganza while looking directly into the eye of impending doom. The ensemble piece takes center stage at the end of the world slash Christmas get-together, as the script slowly but surely reveals more damning plot details.  … More CERTIFIED WEIRD: Silent Night is an unbalanced black comedy with little laughs

The Hidden Facade of Joan Crawford’s Private Life in her daughter’s Memoirs, Mommie Dearest

December 2, 2021

Hollywood starlet, raised to believe that success is earned and handled. She was never naive and her business acumen made her a threat to the structure of society. Not only that, she was a powerhouse of an actress and delivered a number of my favorite performances (What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, Mildred Pierce, Johnny Guitar) ever. She’s an icon, but her public persona hides a dark, personal secret.
… More The Hidden Facade of Joan Crawford’s Private Life in her daughter’s Memoirs, Mommie Dearest