Directed by Aneesh Chaganty Searching combines the stylistic premise of Unfriended with a prologue as emotionally taxing as Up and a sensational, dramatic kidnapping story with the twists and turns of Gone Girl. The movie's hook, that it's a story told entirely through computer screens, at times stretches believability (do you really FaceTime the detective tracking your daughter's … Continue reading Searching (2018)
Month: January 2019
A Christmas Story (1983)
Directed by Bob Clark A Christmas Story seems to be all about desire, mostly as it facilitates good 'ol American capitalism. The story is set in what is often made to seem a simpler time, the 1940s. This is either pre-World War II or if it's in fact set during the war the story, presented … Continue reading A Christmas Story (1983)
The Martian (2015)
Directed by Ridley Scott A botanist (Matt Damon) finds himself shipwrecked and alone on Mars following an aborted mission and in an effort to survive makes science cool again. The Martian does for chemistry and ecology what All the President's Men did for journalism. These are films about single-minded characters who are good at the thing … Continue reading The Martian (2015)
Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
Directed by James Cameron Terminator 2 is a mirror of the first Terminator. We follow a similar structure, with two nude future people showing up in a ball of electricity, one trying to kill a Connor and the other sent to protect that Conner. The first time around the villain, the Terminator, was an Arnold Schwarzenegger … Continue reading Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991)
Jerry Maguire (1996)
Directed by Cameron Crowe Jerry Maguire is a wonder. It's a sappy romantic drama about a sports agent learning to, I suppose, learn empathy, and it all works. It doesn't seem like it should, but then again this is the role Tom Cruise seems to have been made for. It allows him to play into … Continue reading Jerry Maguire (1996)
Singles (1992)
Directed by Cameron Crowe Singles is a tough hang. It's deeply immersed in the same Gen X culture as Reality Bites, Slacker and the tv show Friends, but Cameron Crowe's second film has none of the commentary or unbridled energy of those films (and show). We're presented with a specific time and place, much more about the atmosphere … Continue reading Singles (1992)
The Terminator (1984)
Directed by James Cameron The Terminator is a lot more silly than I remembered. It’s fun but not quite as exciting as I imagined, though I think I have a much stronger memory of the sequel, Terminator II: Judgment Day. You can see the seams of this movie, as with most of the best 80’s … Continue reading The Terminator (1984)
Life (1999)
Directed by Ted Demme Life is one of those movies I hadn’t seen since I was a kid and which apparently stuck with me. As an adult there’s nothing so striking about it, at least compared to what else we’ve all seen in movies. It’s ostensibly a comedy, at least it feels like it, and Lawrence … Continue reading Life (1999)
Say Anything… (1989)
Directed by Cameron Crowe Cameron Crowe’s Say Anything… is almost anarchic in its sincerity. It’s earnest, direct and yet doesn’t cut corners with its love story or belittle the audience’s intelligence. We meet a young man, Lloyd Dobbler (John Cusack) on the fringes of the high school social hierarchy, and his love interest, Diane Court … Continue reading Say Anything… (1989)
The Christmas Chronicles (2018)
Directed by Clay Kaytis The Christmas Chronicles has trouble getting going, but once it does it’s not far from the Christmas movies I remember so fondly from my childhood. It follows two siblings, ten year old Kate and teenaged Scott, on the night of Christmas eve, the first since the death of their Christmas-loving father. … Continue reading The Christmas Chronicles (2018)
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