When I reviewed The Trial of the Chicago 7 last year, I made note of a lot of the creative hallmarks of Aaron Sorkin's career, both positive and negative. But there was one element I left out of the equation, mostly because it wasn't relevant to that particular film. He has a somewhat elitist penchant … Continue reading WAAAAHHHH! – Being the Ricardos
The history of the Matrix franchise is a fraught one, with tremendous highs and cavernous lows. In a series that delighted in how much its story could be bathed in biblical overtones, it in itself became a cautionary tale hewing closer to Greek tragedy due to the Wachowski (then) Brothers' unchecked ambition, trying to cram … Continue reading You Have No Choice – The Matrix Resurrections
The coming-of-age film is certainly nothing new. It's a well-worn bit of storytelling that can very easily fall into the trappings of cliché, but depending on your sensibilities, even the most tired moments can work because they ring true for the audience either hitting that point in their lives or reminiscing about bygone eras. Even … Continue reading I’m Gonna Run to You – Licorice Pizza
One of my favorite films of all time is the 1932 pre-Code horror film, Freaks. Like many of the great "monster" movies of the age, the film succeeds because of its very sympathetic treatment of the carnival workers that make up the bulk of its cast, asking the crucial, "Who is the real monster?" question … Continue reading Can You Read My Mind? – Nightmare Alley
It's Christmas Eve, and while soon I will engage in my annual tradition of watching It's a Wonderful Life, I figured now was as good a time as any to knock off a few more entries on this year's Documentary Feature shortlist. To recap, of the 15 films up for the award, three have had … Continue reading Back Row Thoughts – I’ve Got a Little List, Part 2
What does life look like after achieving the American Dream? What happens when one has had everything they've ever wanted taken away? How does one come back from rock bottom, learning almost nothing in the process? These questions and more linger around the edges of the indie comedy, Red Rocket, directed by Sean Baker (Tangerine, … Continue reading Big Dick Enmity – Red Rocket
In the leadup to next year's Oscar Blitz, I focused a lot of time over the past two months on clearing as many International Feature submissions as possible, netting myself 10 of the 15 films eventually shortlisted by the Academy. On the flipside of things, this means I wasn't nearly able to spend as much … Continue reading Back Row Thoughts – I’ve Got a Little List, Part 1
South Korean media has become exceedingly popular the world over in recent years, thanks in large part to brilliant films like Parasite and extremely catchy TV dramas like Squid Game. These works gain mass appeal in part because they use big budget Hollywood-style production values to tell deeply human, grounded stories. Fans of Korean cinema … Continue reading The Enemy of My Enemy – Escape From Mogadishu
Italy has been the most successful nation when it comes to the Oscar for International Feature in all its forms. The country has 14 wins from 31 nominations. Only France has more nods (40), but they have two fewer wins (12), so the Italians have the upper hand. Their last win came eight years ago … Continue reading Dramtis Personae – The Hand of God
We're but a few days away from the Academy releasing its shortlists, including the final 15 vying for International Feature. As mentioned in Part 1 of this roundup, I was able to purchase access to 14 of the worldwide submissions via a virtual cinema option through the California Film Institute, which is still available until … Continue reading DownStream – Around the World, Part 2
I Actually Paid To See This 