Directed by Jules Dassin Rififi is a tense, dark little heist film with a cruel protagonist and friends who quickly turn on each other. Outside of a nearly 30 minute-long silent heist sequence, very little about this film romanticizes its story. These aren't rough and tumble heroes punching up but rather selfish characters reaching too … Continue reading Rififi (1955)
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Trouble Every Day (2001)
Directed by Claire Denis Vincent Gallo can really act with his eyes, maybe not quite as much with his voice, but holy sh*t those eyes are at times frightening and magnetic. Claire Denis takes advantage of it in this moody, disturbing, sensual cannibalistic daydream of a movie. It's not exactly overtly frightening but rather deliberate … Continue reading Trouble Every Day (2001)
To the Wonder (2012)
Directed by Terrence Malick There is certainly something admirable about Terrence Malick and this film in particular. It's so unabashedly Malick, so artful and abstract, with no real dialogue or exposition to lean on. Before we even hear any two characters speak we see them dance, giggle, run and throw themselves into each other's arms. … Continue reading To the Wonder (2012)
Charade (1963)
Directed by Stanley Donen Charade was released to a shell-shocked audience a month after the assassination of John F. Kennedy. To some it might've felt suddenly outdated, the bankable Hollywood stars and happy ending proving to be out of touch with an increasingly grim reality, and to others it might've been a soothing sense of … Continue reading Charade (1963)
Lean on Pete (2018)
Directed by Andrew Haigh Lean On Pete sets up a certain sentimentality only to tear it down in abrupt, stark ways. You think you know where the movie is headed, but then it takes a sudden detour that feels surprising at first but overall in line with the movie's unexpected tone. It's like watching a Disney … Continue reading Lean on Pete (2018)
Code Unkown (2000)
Directed by Michael Haneke *This post is longer than it should be because I try to figure out how best to describe my affections for a movie I probably don't yet really understand. So I figured I'd love Code Unknown going in, and I do. This says less about the film and more about what piques … Continue reading Code Unkown (2000)
The American Friend (1977)
Directed by Wim Wenders The American Friend is an arthouse take on the fish out of water criminal story, if that's a thing. It seems like it is. You take a nice, easy to root for guy and put him in a tough, tense situation in which he does something awful, but he knows it's … Continue reading The American Friend (1977)
The Day of the Jackal (1973)
Directed by Fred Zinnemann The Day of the Jackal is a thriller following the man paid to assassinate French President Charles de Gaulle and the police chief tasked with hunting the assassin down. This is one of those movies that tracks the story from two points of view, one on each side of the law. … Continue reading The Day of the Jackal (1973)
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