Directed by Danny Boyle "ashes to ashes, stardust to stardust." The Icarus II is sent to reignite a dying sun in Danny Boyle's Sunshine, and yes, there was an Icarus I, and yes the Icarus II crew will come across the distress signal of the Icarus I which hadn't been heard from in seven years. Spooky. … Continue reading Sunshine (2007)
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Ali: Fear Eats the Soul (1974)
Directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder A middle-aged woman and a young Moroccan man fall in love in Ali: Fear Eats the Soul. Their relationship will befuddle most and attract open contempt from others. It's the same type of hatred of the outsider as in Fassbinder's Katzelmacher, though because we are so acquainted with the subject of … Continue reading Ali: Fear Eats the Soul (1974)
Katzelmacher (1969)
Directed by Rainer Werner Fassbinder Katzelmacher is a strange, dark comedy of sorts which takes place on street corners and in bedrooms. The characters of this film, a series of disgruntled husbands and wives, discuss little more than money and sex. One of the people in this odd group is a prostitute, though the way … Continue reading Katzelmacher (1969)
Hold the Dark (2018)
Directed by Jeremy Saulnier Jeremy Saulnier's movies are violent, even as far as violent movies go. He gets creative with who dies and how, and in some ways it seems all of his stories are constructed in reverse, thinking of a shocking, sensational character death and then constructing a narrative that could lead to this … Continue reading Hold the Dark (2018)
Primer (2004)
Directed by Shane Carruth Primer opens with what has become a familiar image: young, aspirational start up employees working in their garage. Whatever they're working on doesn't much matter because soon they stumble into time travel, and of course that captures their imagination. They are Aaron (Shane Carruth) and Abe (David Sullivan), and they're almost always … Continue reading Primer (2004)
The Game (1997)
Directed by David Fincher In David Fincher's The Game, a lonely, powerful control freak loses control. He is Nicholas Van Orson (Michael Douglas), an investment banker who lives in a large mansion that only accentuates his isolation. When one of his employees wishes him a happy 48th birthday, he implies to his assistant that he should … Continue reading The Game (1997)
St. Nick (2009)
Directed by David Lowery Much of David Lowery's later work is present in St. Nick, an affectionately rough around the edges micro-budget debut film about two siblings who have run away from home. When we meet them they're already past the point of escape. They move around leisurely and confidently, not manic but with a deep sense … Continue reading St. Nick (2009)
The Ice Harvest (2005)
Directed by Harold Ramis The Ice Harvest is a crime movie that begins after the crime has been committed. The co-conspirators are Charlie (John Cusack) and Vic (Billy Bob Thornton), and they've just stolen a couple million dollars from a man sure to kill them should he find out. It's Christmas Eve, and the two agree … Continue reading The Ice Harvest (2005)
Minding the Gap (2018)
Directed by Bing Liu Minding the Gap tells the story of three young skateboarders from Rockford, Illinois as they transition into adulthood. They are Zack, Kiere, and Bing, the director himself. For all of them skateboarding is an escape from broken homes and domestic abuse. In the case of one, a recent father, we see … Continue reading Minding the Gap (2018)
The Two Escobars (2010)
Directed by Jeff, Michael Zimbalist The Death of Stalin is a dark comedy about the power struggle in the wake of Josef Stalin's death. It's funny, frankly, because it combines the familiar drive of those with political ambitions today with the lawlessness of a time and place in which you could make many of your … Continue reading The Two Escobars (2010)
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