Directed by Amy Scott Hal is a wonderful little documentary if only because so much of Hal Ashby's life feels as of yet unearthed. Or maybe that's just my perspective. Hal Ashby (1929-1988) was one of the best directors of the 1970s. A former editor, mythologized for how he would work nonstop, in a cloud … Continue reading Hal (2018)
1970s
Time After Time (1979)
Directed by Nicholas Meyer The most striking scene in Time After Time comes fairly early into the film, when two time travelers from 1893, one accidental and one purposeful, debate the state of the contemporary world (at least as it was in 1979). One of them is H.G. Wells (Malcolm McDowell), the famous writer who was … Continue reading Time After Time (1979)
The Old Man & the Gun (2018)
Directed by David Lowery The Old Man & the Gun is a cross between a Robert Redford homage and a David Lowery movie. This means that we get a story about a charismatic, good 'ol fashion livin' handsome bank robber complete with a purposefully 1970's aesthetic as well as a sweet, at times melancholic but … Continue reading The Old Man & the Gun (2018)
Straw Dogs (1971)
Directed by Sam Peckinpah When I finally got the DVD for Straw Dogs, it came with a large watermark that said, in all caps, "BANNED IN THE UK." This is a violent movie that is likely only this well-known over 40 years later because of that violence, as the marketing reflects. The film is about two … Continue reading Straw Dogs (1971)
The Post (2017)
Directed by Steven Spielberg Is it okay to call Steven Spielberg underrated? The Post was rushed into production and has mostly gone unnoticed with only the requisite attention because of the Oscar-bait quality of the film as well as the trifecta of Spielberg, Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks. It's a period piece with occasionally heavy-handed messages … Continue reading The Post (2017)