Directed by Miguel Arteta Miguel Arteta’s most well-known films might be human comedies like The Good Girl, Cedar Rapids and the Michael Cera comedy Youth in Revolt. As the movie opens, Beatriz at Dinner has a similar tone. We follow a single character, Beatriz (Selma Hayek), through a normal day in the life until her car … Continue reading Beatriz at Dinner (2017)
Away We Go [Script Only]
Written by Dave Eggers, Vendela Vida Away We Go is a pleasant enough road trip story. It follows Burt and Verona, soon-to-be parents who set out on a journey to figure out where they should live next. Burt is 33, and Verona is 34. They are adults but young enough to succumb to a teenager's … Continue reading Away We Go [Script Only]
Won’t You Be My Neighbor? (2018)
Directed by Morgan Neville I have a running list of movies that make me cry, and you can add Won't You Be My Neighbor to that list. It's not an outright tearjerker, but there are moments clearly meant to tug on your heart strings, and they certainly do. That shouldn't surprise you. This documentary about the very … Continue reading Won’t You Be My Neighbor? (2018)
The Ring (2002)
Directed by Gore Verbinski The Ring is much more of a detective story than a true horror film. Sure, I found particular moments a little terrifying, but most of the horror comes from the eerie atmosphere and a sense of dread that hangs over the entire movie. When a young girl dies in the cold … Continue reading The Ring (2002)
Fitzcarraldo (1982)
Directed by Werner Herzog Fitzcarraldo reminded me of Apocalypse Now (1979) and The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957). Both films concern single-minded obsessions deep in the jungle, and in the case of Apocalypse Now, the troubled story behind the film parallels the narrative, but not quite as much as this Werner Herzog film. Now I don't know the … Continue reading Fitzcarraldo (1982)
The Beast Must Die (1974)
Directed by Paul Annett “This film is a detective story — In which you are the detective. The question is not ‘Who is the murderer?’ — But ‘Who is the werewolf?’ After all the clues have been shown — You will get a chance to give your answer. Watch for the werewolf break.” The Beast … Continue reading The Beast Must Die (1974)
Cujo (1983)
Directed by Lewis Teague It's typically a bad recipe when your movie relies on a dog's performance, but you know what, Cujo isn't bad! There have been plenty of unfortunate Stephen King adaptations, but this one about a rabid dog isn't one of them. In fact Cujo might work best not just because the dog performance was … Continue reading Cujo (1983)
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
Directed by Don Siegel In the first scene of Invasion of the Body Snatchers, we look inquisitively at a panic-stricken doctor, Miles (Kevin McCarthy), who claims that there have been a series of strange events. He is surrounded by those who doubt whatever story it is he’s about to tell, even as they are quite … Continue reading Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956)
Deadpool 2 (2018)
Directed by David Leitch If you liked the first Deadpool then you should enjoy this one. As much as I enjoy arthouse films, my three favorite theater-going experiences of the last year have been Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle, Ready Player One and Deadpool 2. There's something communal about these popcorn movies that don't try to do anything more … Continue reading Deadpool 2 (2018)
Cul-de-sac (1966)
Directed by Roman Polanski David Thompson refers to the world of Roman Polanski's Cul-de-sac as the "cinema of the absurd," a combination of tragedy and low-brow comedy that might confuse, unsettle and frustrate its audience. Cul-de-sac is an unlikely film, made by an unlikely group of people that seems almost giddy, a celebration of its own … Continue reading Cul-de-sac (1966)
