Directed by Richard Brooks Blackboard Jungle is one of those now cliche-riddled concepts in which an affluent, idealistic young teacher goes to an inner city school and struggles to help less fortunate, wayward young students see the light at the end of the tunnel. It might feel tired, if only because of how many films … Continue reading Blackboard Jungle (1955)
Nine to Five (1980)
Directed by Colin Higgins The first person we meet in Nine to Five is Judy Bernly (Jane Fonda), overdressed and over prepared for her first day of work as a secretary at Consolidated Companies, placed in a fairly intimidating but nondescript office building. It's one of those corporate jungles which would later turn into the mind-numbingly mundane … Continue reading Nine to Five (1980)
Misery (1990)
Directed by Rob Reiner Some of what makes Misery so deliriously wonderful is the detail. This is a pretty straightforward, ruthlessly parodied tale of horror that has surely stood some kind of test of time because of those little details like the typewriter with the missing "n," and the wholesome partnership between the sheriff and his … Continue reading Misery (1990)
Fyre (2019)
Directed by Chris Smith Billy McFarland, the central subject of the fairly recent Netflix documentary, makes for a good villain. He is slimy, mysterious, delusional and, in the end, outright malicious. Just looking at him might stir up feelings of feelings of disgust particularly as he attempts to smother himself with the life he might … Continue reading Fyre (2019)
Smashed (2012)
Directed by James Ponsoldt Smashed is a sweet little independent drama about a woman's sobriety that focuses less on the individual steps to recovery and more on the consequences of said sobriety. Kate (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) and Charlie (Aaron Paul) are a young married couple living somewhere in Los Angeles. They are both alcoholics, but life … Continue reading Smashed (2012)
Cold War (2018)
Directed by Pawel Pawlikowski Cold War is a love story between Zula and Wiktor, told over the course of fifteen years made tumultuous due to Poland's politics of the time. The various difficulties they face, both between each other and with their government, turn them into a modern-er day Romeo & Juliet, two people destined for … Continue reading Cold War (2018)
Detroit (2017)
Directed by Kathryn Bigelow Kathryn Bigelow's Detroit is a scattered period piece ostensibly about the 1967 Detroit riot but which centers around an incident at the Algiers Motel that left three black teenagers dead and more heavily beaten. So much of the movie is limited to the long night at the motel that should just be the entire … Continue reading Detroit (2017)
City Heat (1984)
Directed by Richard Benjamin City Heat is a total dad movie. It stars Clint Eastwood and Burt Reynolds, doing very much Eastwood and Reynolds things, as lawmen mowing their way through prohibition era gangsters in studio backlots. Just about the whole thing takes place at night, like many films noir, but there is something decidedly … Continue reading City Heat (1984)
Venom (2018)
Directed by Ruben Fleischer Okay, so in Venom a parasite takes partial control of reporter Eddie Brock (Tom Hardy) and turns him into a cannibalistic Spiderman type of thing, but don't be fooled (!), this movie is just like every other passable studio superhero movie out there. Sure, there are some interesting choices, Hardy has fun … Continue reading Venom (2018)
Life During Wartime (2009)
Directed by Todd Solondz I love Life During Wartime because I love Todd Solondz's movies. I have no idea where this might rank among his works or how good of a movie it is. All I know is that it is uniquely Todd Solondz and I found several moments either very moving, very dark, very hilarious or all … Continue reading Life During Wartime (2009)
