Directed by Terrence Malick A Hollywood screenwriter, Rick (Christian Bale) wanders the world in search of something, like a ghost. His fragmented odyssey is similar to other Malick dreams, in which characters explore their environment alongside orchestral music, breathy voiceover and very wide angle lenses. His films are dreamy, and over time they have become … Continue reading Knight of Cups (2015)
Alex in Wonderland (1970)
Directed by Paul Mazursky In Alex in Wonderland a Hollywood director, Alex Morrison (Donald Sutherland) plays a thinly veiled Paul Mazursky, a bohemian artist who struggles in search of his next movie idea. We will dissolve into Alex's mind as he loses sense of himself, floating into and out of reality. Alex will 'meet' Federico Fellini … Continue reading Alex in Wonderland (1970)
Seconds (1966)
Directed by John Frankenheimer Seconds is a deeply paranoid film, rightly so since it's the third in John Frankenheimer's "paranoia" trilogy, following The Manchurian Candidate and Seven Days in May. Where those two films dealt with paranoia in the pursuit of power, however, this one deals with paranoia in the quest for freedom. Filmed in distorting wide angles … Continue reading Seconds (1966)
Pacific Heights (1990)
Directed by John Schlesinger A happy young couple buys up a three-unit San Francisco apartment, with just barely enough capital to get by, but has the misfortune of bringing in chaos incarnate, a man named Carter Hayes (Michael Keaton). Hayes is something of a sociopath whose methods happen to orbit real estate. He could very … Continue reading Pacific Heights (1990)
Where’d You Go, Bernadette (2019)
Directed by Richard Linklater Where'd You Go, Bernadette is a a remarkably sweet movie, one that I don't think Bernadette Fox herself (Cate Blanchett) would enjoy watching. It's a movie that on the surface seems far removed from what you might think of when you imagine a Richard Linklater movie, be it the young cocksure … Continue reading Where’d You Go, Bernadette (2019)
The Ballad of Jack and Rose (2005)
Directed by Rebecca Miller Jack and his daughter Rose live together on an isolated, mostly self-sustaining community that once housed dozens of young, free-spirited hippies. He is dying, and she has it in mind to kill herself when he does. If her pronouncement frightens him, he doesn't show it. Instead Jack (Daniel Day-Lewis) quietly resolves … Continue reading The Ballad of Jack and Rose (2005)
The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)
Directed by Stephen Chbosky The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a coming of age young adult drama. Stories like these often unfold like this: --Boy is a sad, isolated and possibly self-loathing -- Boy admires a charismatic character from afar who embraces who they are rather than hiding it -- Boy identifies romantic interest … Continue reading The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)
The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019)
Directed by Tyler Nilson, Michael Schwartz At first The Peanut Butter Falcon is almost nauseatingly quirky... characters set up in adorable but rushed ways until their heavily telegraphed first 'meet cute.' Once the story gets going, however, it settles into a nice dreamy rhythm and whether despite or because of certain plot shortcuts the story harkens … Continue reading The Peanut Butter Falcon (2019)
Free Solo (2018)
Directed by Jimmy Chin, Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi There's a lot in common between Alex Honnold and Christopher McCandless (Into the Wild). They both lived by a certain code that could (and for McCandless did) kill them, and these two films in part celebrate their drive and accomplishment as well as suggest how such will could … Continue reading Free Solo (2018)
The Pledge (2001)
Directed by Sean Penn Jerry Black (Jack Nicholson) is a retiring police officer who isn't ready to let go. On the night of his retirement party the body of a young girl is discovered in the woods, and it's Jerry who shoulders the emotional burden of first notifying the girl's parents and then promising to … Continue reading The Pledge (2001)
