I like to think that, overall, 2022 was a better year than 2021. There were some down moments, to be sure - Billie Eilish won an Oscar before Lin-Manuel Miranda, I had to move my mother into hospice, Republicans retook the House, basically every celebrity we still cared about died, AMC charged us more money … Continue reading The Best (and Worst) of 2022
The key to the giddy fun of the first Knives Out movie was in Rian Johnson's ability to play with genre conventions and whodunit tropes. Already established as the type of filmmaker willing to subvert even the most precious of fan expectations with The Last Jedi, Johnson used his pen and his lens to poke … Continue reading Still Incredibly Sharp – Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery
Scott Derrickson is a fairly accomplished filmmaker, spending the better part of the last 20 years establishing some serious credibility in the realm of horror. Between the Sinister series, Deliver Us From Evil, and The Exorcism of Emily Rose, the man knows how to reach fans of the genre. Curiously, though, his success led to … Continue reading It’s For You – The Black Phone
Ten points if you get the reference in the thumbnail. The points have no value. One day they will. I have faith. But for now... no. Anyway, we're nearly halfway through 2022, which is shaping up to be better for film than the last two years. The pandemic is still going on, but most of … Continue reading This Film is Not Yet Watchable – June 2022
Through his first two films - The Witch and the criminally underrated The Lighthouse - Robert Eggers has already proven himself to be an absolute master at setting mood, atmosphere, and tone. His careful eye for production design, combined with his uncanny ability to draw out the most intense performances possible from his actors, has … Continue reading Valhalla, I Am Coming – The Northman
We're less than 24 hours away from the Academy Awards, and before I make my official predictions later tonight, there are two more major awards ceremonies to catch up on, which may provide some insight into how I make my picks, because in several cases they will not match up with who I would actually … Continue reading Completing the Undercard – Writers Guild and Independent Spirit Awards Announced!
Normally I only care about the Oscars when it comes to Awards Season. I certainly reference the other major ceremonies and union shows because they can portend the results on the Academy's biggest night, but for the most part, I don't really pay that much attention. But now that I'm doing this blog, and we're … Continue reading Independent Spirit Nominees Announced for 2018
First thing's first, I must apologize for the lateness of this review. I saw this movie last Saturday, and sadly life has gotten in the way in myriad fashions over the last five days. I endeavor to post reviews within 24-48 hours of seeing a film, but I've had to put this off for a … Continue reading This is America, All Shook Up – The King
We're officially halfway through the year, with 2018 seeing something of a resurgence in quality filmmaking. The last couple of years had a few bright spots here and there (Get Out, The Grand Budapest Hotel, etc.), but for the most part, the films in the first half of the year have been largely forgettable. Thankfully, 2018 … Continue reading The Oscs – Best of 2018 So Far
Written and directed by Paul Schrader (who helmed films like American Gigolo, as well as co-writing Martin Scorsese classics like Taxi Driver and Raging Bull), the satirical religious drama First Reformed offers an intriguing take on the hypocrisies of the world through the lens of faith. It asks deep, insightful questions about what the role of clergy should be in … Continue reading Ethan Hawke Pays for the Sins of the Holy Father – First Reformed
I Actually Paid To See This 