Another new movie experience and another lesson learned. The one we have to talk about this month has become something of a cult classic since its release nearly two decades ago. I can see how it has earned that reputation. It's a very well-made movie, a realistic take on teen alienation that comes with a prickly … Continue reading The Scarlett Johansson Project — #5
Drama
The Night Clerk
Release: Friday, February 21, 2020 →Netflix Written by: Michael Cristofer Directed by: Michael Cristofer The problem with The Night Clerk is not its depiction of a developmental disorder or that it tries to be two movies in one. It's that those two elements -- character study cum genre film -- don't properly coalesce. It works actually quite well as … Continue reading The Night Clerk
The Scarlett Johansson Project — #4
We're more than halfway through 2020 (and thank goodness for that), and yet not quite halfway through The SJP (thanks to a delay up front in Jan/Feb). In case anyone has noticed there hasn't been a whole lot of organization to this feature, which I have actually enjoyed. There was a version of this where I … Continue reading The Scarlett Johansson Project — #4
The Scarlett Johansson Project — #3
My apologies for a lack of content this month. It's been a rough May. With all that's going on right now I'm surprised I'm even this sane. I sincerely hope my fellow bloggers and readers have been holding up okay and doing whatever they can to stay healthy, positive and productive/creative. The one thing I … Continue reading The Scarlett Johansson Project — #3
The Scarlett Johansson Project — #1
After a monthlong delay prompted by my own disorganization, I am happy and excited to get into another new Actor Profile, this blog's fourth such feature and the second to spotlight an actress. Check out the tab below the banner to access the others! Born in Manhattan in 1984, Scarlett Ingrid Johansson is among the … Continue reading The Scarlett Johansson Project — #1
The Way Back
Release: Friday, March 6, 2020 →Theater Written by: Brad Ingelsby Directed by: Gavin O'Connor Jack Cunningham (Ben Affleck) had a future in basketball beyond high school. Probably beyond college. Once the pride of Bishop Hayes High in the 1990s, he led his team to more victories and championships in his four years than the many iterations managed in … Continue reading The Way Back
Earthquake Bird
Release: Friday, November 15, 2019 (Netflix) →Netflix Written by: Wash Westmoreland Directed by: Wash Westmoreland I spun the Netflix wheel on a Saturday night and landed on this thing called Earthquake Bird. Turns out, it was the caliber movie that rewards in kind the minimal effort I put in to finding it. This slow-burn of a psychosexual thriller … Continue reading Earthquake Bird
Top That! My Ten Favorite Films of 2019
It's Oscar weekend, so I figured now is as good a time as any to announce my ten favorite movies of 2019. There's not a whole lot of science that goes into my process; it's mostly gut feeling that determines what goes into this list and how I'm arranging it. The emotional response is the … Continue reading Top That! My Ten Favorite Films of 2019
Uncut Gems
Release: Christmas Day 2019 →Theater Written by: Ronald Bronstein; Josh and Benny Safdie Directed by: Josh and Benny Safdie If they have proven anything in their last two movies it's that few filmmakers stress you out quite like the New York born-and-bred Safdie brothers. Uncut Gems is, in a word, intense. This is a very aggressive mood piece that … Continue reading Uncut Gems
Parasite
Release: Friday, November 8, 2019 →Theater Written by: Bong Joon Ho; Jin Won Han Directed by: Bong Joon Ho I don't know why, or how, I have never seen a Bong Joon Ho movie before now. The South Korean filmmaker is one of those major voices of world cinema that's hard to ignore. Yet here I am, crawling … Continue reading Parasite
