Greetings again from the darkness. Well, it’s not exactly a ‘good cop/bad cop’ scenario, since only one of them is a cop – and he’s suspended and out of his territory. It’s also not a traditional ‘Buddy comedy’ since these aren’t buddies, but rather estranged, grudge-holding half-brothers. Still, the premise is admirable, and the casting […]
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Boundaries are crossed in After the Hunt, a film in which lies come back into play with disciplinary matters at hand. Directed by Luca Guadagnino, this film’s writing is disturbing yetrealistic in a fictional #Metoomovement scenario. This story paints a vivid portrait in a college setting. The film has moments which provide context around egotistical matters some of which get dismissed based upon harsh choices. After the Hunt reminded me of the characteristics of individuals who think they are untouchable. The film involves two professors, and a student. […]
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I often wonder whether Franz Kafka realised that his writing would have such an enormous impact on global culture – not only have his works been formative in the creation of entire literary movements, the very mention of his name evokes particular images and ideas, such as the frustrations of navigating the bureaucracy, endless hallways […]
Continue reading “Mr. K (2025)”
Writer/Director: David O. Russell Co-writer: Eric Warren Singer Starring: Christian Bale, Amy Adams and Bradley Cooper ‘Powerful Period Piece’ In an awards season filled with movies about serious subjects, intense edge-of-the-seat thrillers and dark comedies, “American Hustle” stands out like a bright lightbulb. Yet neither because of the stylish time-period that it aims to capture […]
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In the 1970s, the midnight movie scene primarily catered to bored stoners who wanted to watch exploitative, low-budget films with a lot of sex and carnage while staying up late in a weakened state of mind. Since I was one of them in the past, I should know. However, this scene at the time would […]
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The title of this film comes to mind as concerning in that it implies a parent senses wrongful or disconcerting matters. Thestoryline vibes with housewives’ scenarios going awry discreetly. Mothers’ Instinct tackles the subject matter on an eerie path. It follows the personalities of two friends who are neighbors. In the wake of a devastating event, a series of detrimental consequences are unleashed. Directed by Benoit Delhomme, Mothers’ Instinct is written with an underlying layer […]
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“It’s going to get weirder and weirder and weirder, and finally it’s going to get so weird that people are going to have to talk about how weird it is.” -Terrence McKenna
Continue reading “Liar Liar”
I’m cold, but rowing with this icy current. Embracing The “Wu wei” principle of Taoism.
Continue reading “Engage Intellect (Let Go)”
Natural prehistory comes to life in a series of special effects ‘attractions’ as Zeman’s charming adventure sees four boys enter a cave that transports them back to millions of years ago.
Continue reading “Journey to the Beginning of Time”
1969 is summoned in a pat and predictable yet sincere, excellently acted, frequently moving 1988 drama about two families caught up in and forever changed by events in that wild final year of an extraordinary decade. Ernest Thompson had scored a big win some years earlier writing On Golden Pond; this time out he directed […]
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When Americans leave home in search of meaning somewhere on the European continent, it’s usually a recipe for disaster (at least in the world of horror cinema). Young, brash, naive Americans have to face ancient beasts (The Ritual), human traffickers (Hostel), and even covens of witches (Suspiria). Watching enough horror films might make you think […]
Continue reading “Spring (2014), Romance Meets Body Horror in Italy”
He was the greatest car maker of all time and a visionary like no other. Except, there have been others and we’ve seen their movies too. Ferrari did it most recently, Ford v. Ferrari did it better. It’s hard to make the same story feel fresh and Lamborghini: The Man Behind the Legend falls into […]
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When you think of the 1970s, you probably think of free love, cults, psychedelic drugs, and maybe Jimmy Carter. Giulio Paradisi’s film, The Visitor (1979) has most of these things, but more than anything else, it embodies that whacky, hallucinatory vibe that only 70s films can capture. It seems to me that people back then […]
Continue reading “The Visitor (1979), A Hidden Gem of Insane 70s Sci-Fi”
Frank (Robert De Niro) and Molly (Meryl Streep) meet accidentally in a bookstore in New York whilst Christmas shopping. Months pass, and their paths cross again as they both travel into the city from their suburban neighbourhoods on the same train and so they strike up a conversation. They also find that there is a […]
Continue reading “Falling In Love (1984)”
And so I’ve been on a bit of a Hemingway kick while reading a brand new book (Just released) by favorite author Mark Kurlansky. Kurlansky tracks some of his adventures in journalism alongside those of Hem while on assignments and travels in Europe, Cuba and elsewhere. I didn’t read this particular […]
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Do you know what the term Twin Films means? According to Wikipedia, Twin Films are two films with the same or similar plots produced and released at the same time by two different studios. Examples of this would be: The Warriors and The Wanderers both released in 1979. The Howling and An American Werewolf in […]
Continue reading “Immaculate”
Burt Lancaster described his participation in what would become the first of a batch of 1970s all-star disaster epics as the worst picture he’s ever done. He declared it “the worst piece of junk ever made.” Perhaps because of this assessment we were eventually blessed with the Airplane! spoofs a decade later. Airport […]
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Everyone’s so concerned about her baby, what about poor Rosemary herself?
Continue reading “Rosemary’s Baby (1968)”
Saltburn wasn’t on my radar at all until it seemed to take my workplace by storm. ‘You like films don’t you, Alex? You might like Saltburn. It’s on Prime. Good but proper weird, don’t put it on if there’s any kids around.‘ I’d say that put it on my watchlist, but that doesn’t really mean […]
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Nagisa Oshima’s controversial erotic art film, “In the Realm of the Senses,” as it is known in the United States, has two other titles. L’Empire des Sens (Empire of Senses) in France, and an original Japanese title, Ai no Corrida (Bullfight of Love). For once, I believe that the Americans got it right with their […]
Continue reading “In the Realm of the Senses (1976)”
