Directed by George Pal It's December 31, 1899 when George (Rod Taylor) gathers his friends to introduce them to a device that can travel through time. Before questioning the capability of his invention, they interrogate his motivation. George is disgusted with the ways of the world, mostly the wars, and try as he might, his … Continue reading The Time Machine (1960)
What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)
Directed by Lasse Hallström I'm not sure how to talk about this film, which is weird, because it's not so complex, revolutionary or challenging. It's a nice story with humble aspirations and honest, vulnerable characters. What's Eating Gilbert Grape never tries to do much, and maybe that's why at the end it never feels as … Continue reading What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993)
The Salesman (2016)
Directed by Asghar Farhadi The title comes from Arthur Miller's The Death of a Salesman. Emad and Rana are husband and wife, both in the staged play and in their own lives. Willy Loman's journey parallels Emad's as both men lose their grip on their environment, soon followed by their own frame of mind. When Rana … Continue reading The Salesman (2016)
The Hangman (1959)
Directed by Michael Curtiz There aren't any shootouts in The Hangman, and save for a couple of errant gunshots near the end, there might as well be no firearms in the film at all. The film isn't exactly contemplative either, as it concerns the practical aims of an out of town bounty hunter of sorts, but … Continue reading The Hangman (1959)
Dinner With Friends (2001)
Directed by Norman Jewison There are two couples in Dinner With Friends, Gabe & Karen and Tom & Beth. The four of them have been best friends for twelve years, but the men and women have each had best friend relationships going back further. They spend the holidays together, their kids are close, and for the … Continue reading Dinner With Friends (2001)
Witness (1985)
Directed by Peter Weir Witness is a romance-thriller that prioritizes the romance. When an Amish boy visiting Philadelphia witnesses a murder, police officer John Book (Harrison Ford) must keep the boy around to ID the killer. Soon they discover that the killer is another cop, McFee (Danny Glover), and Book accompanies the boy and his … Continue reading Witness (1985)
Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot (2018)
Directed by Gus Van Sant This is a movie about quadriplegic John Callahan's journey to sobriety. Along the way he enlists the help of a sponsor, Donnie and a budding interest in cartooning. Well, that and forgiving everyone who may have hurt him, including himself. Don't Worry, He Won't Get Far on Foot is concerned … Continue reading Don’t Worry, He Won’t Get Far on Foot (2018)
Better Luck Tomorrow (2002)
Directed by Justin Lin In Better Luck Tomorrow a handful of high school students are too smart for their own good. Ben (Perry Shen) and company embark on a Goodfellas-like rise and fall in a suburban Californian environment. Their early entries in petty crime come from a sense of boredom, but by the end their 'breaking bad' … Continue reading Better Luck Tomorrow (2002)
The Breaking Point (1950)
Directed by Michael Curtiz Once again, crime doesn't pay. Harry Morgan (John Garfield) is a struggling fishing boat captain whose debts lead to criminal activity and a guilty conscience. We meet him as a Leave it to Beaver-kind of character, a happy family man, a gooey loving husband, who always wears that cocked to the side … Continue reading The Breaking Point (1950)
Where Is My Friend’s House (1987)
Directed by Abbas Kiarostami Where Is My Friend's House reminded me of several different children-centric European films: Truffaut's The 400 Blows (1959), Vittorio De Sica's The Bicycle Thief (1948) and another 1987 film, Louis Malle's Au Revoir Les Enfants. The story follows a young boy, Ahmed, as he doggedly searches a small town to return a notebook to … Continue reading Where Is My Friend’s House (1987)
