Retrospectives

When someone dons multiple hats on a production (such as starring, directing, and/or writing), the results can vary greatly. Yes, there are times when everything falls into place, and we end up with Citizen Kane,…

My Own Private Idaho is weird to watch for the first time. I don’t know what I was expecting, but a group of young male prostitutes with Shakespearean vernacular was not it. All I knew about…

I’d never seen Training Day before this past week and so I had the idea in my head that Denzel Washington’s character, Alonzo, was the hero of our story. He was rough around the edges and a…

Ten years ago saw the release of remakes of The Thing and Footloose (Prequel, shmequel, you know damn well the 2011 The Thing is a remake really, but we’ll come back to that). Footloose made $63 million…

Along with the highly-anticipated release of Halloween Kills, comes the desire to revisit past films in the franchise. Coincidentally, Halloween II, one of the best chapters in the Michael Myers lore, turns 40 this month. Kind…

Andrzej Zulawski’s 1981 horror film Possession has been a particularly difficult film to view legally in the United States. For this reason, it has been on my radar for literal years as a film I have heard…

You never really know what you’re in for when you watch Drive. You think it’s a movie about crime, then it becomes a slow-burning journey of self-discovery, then it’s a romance, then it’s back to a crime…

It’s only fitting that New York City‘s biggest film festival has chosen to premiere Cohen Film Collection’s new 4K restoration of Joan Micklin Silver’s Hester Street — a film so obviously tied to the city’s legacy…

Warrior is a dramatic look at the world of MMA, as seen through the eyes of two brothers with a complicated relationship. While this is a sports movie primarily about fighting, much of Warrior is dedicated to…

Every so often, the “What was the first movie you saw on the big screen?” topic comes up. For most people, the answer is something like Bambi, or E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (incidentally, the second film I…

Tin Cup is unique. It’s about a sport that I would wager most people find pretty uneventful. It’s a comedy, but it isn’t slapstick like Caddyshack or The Longest Yard. Most of all, our hero doesn’t win in the end;…

I’ll admit that I’m not the foremost scholar when it comes to racism. I’m a white girl from the Intermountain West who grew up in a predominantly white world. But, I think it’s important to…

This month marked ten years since one of the last decades’ most beloved characters first swung onto the big screen. In Rise of the Planet of the Apes we saw the birth of Andy Serkis’…

When reading about Cowboys & Aliens, you would think it was perhaps one of the most ridiculous movies made in 2011. Then again, watching it may make you think that, too. Yet, it’s one of…

Kazaam is much like a cheese — it had the potential to age well, but someone kept it in their prewar apartment cupboard at a constant temperature of 80 degrees and now it just reeks.…

When considering whether to accept a job or not, one of the factors is the work-life balance. In an ideal world, we would be able to leave at the same time every day and have…

Cars 2 is a cute little family-friendly movie that you can watch with your kids, right? WRONG. Cars 2 is the most violent, intense, and bizarre movie I have ever seen that is still entirely made for…

Seriously, what is up with Lara Croft: Tomb Raider? It is the most insane movie at times and for really no good reason. The Illuminati plays a big role in the plot and also Daniel Craig…

As attractive as Kevin Costner is, his portrayal of Robin Hood should not be considered a hero. Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves is just a two-hour-long crime movie. Much like the characters in Goodfellas or Heat, this version of…

I: Context It’s difficult to name a director more influential to the teenage film landscape than John Hughes; for that matter, it’s difficult to name a director who left such a tangible mark on Hollywood…

I had never heard of The Abominable Dr. Phibes until a few months ago. In my boredom browsing YouTube one day, I found it in my recommended. Don’t ask me why it was recommended or why I…

For the casual What About Bob? viewer, you would think that Bill Murray and Richard Dreyfuss were simply really good at acting. After all, that is their job. Surely they couldn’t hate each other that much, could…

“CHICK FLICKS DON’T HAVE TO SUCK.” This quote from Movieline’s Jen Yamato was splashed across movie posters for Bridesmaids leading up to its wide release on May 13th, 2011. The marketing team must have loved…

I’m quietly a fan of Mystery Science Theater 3000. I didn’t grow up watching it and only discovered it in the last few years, but I really enjoy it. Riffing on bad movies is basically…

Thor has a certain charm that has been lost over the years in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It feels innocent, in a way. Like Iron Man or Captain America: The First Avenger, Thor was the start…

Donnie Darko, Fight Club, The Thing… all ‘cult’ films that made the square root of nada at the box office but have been critically vindicated since. 20 years ago, Josie and the Pussycats joined this hallowed…

On the surface, Memento and 50 First Dates don’t have much in common except for their main plot device of short-term memory loss. Even digging a bit deeper, it’s hard to find the connecting thread between the two.…

I’m a sucker for a good Robin Williams flick. The Birdcage is one of my favorites because of the departure it takes from his normal roles. Of course, the rest of the cast really makes the movie, particularly Nathan Lane and Gene…

There are first experiences in life we never forget. The first kiss; the first time someone you love dies; your first best friend. Though they may seem small in retrospect, those developments can feel earth-shattering…

Six months ago, Gillian Robespierre wasn’t on my radar, but flash forward to now, I’ve watched her entire small yet unbelievably brilliant filmography, including both limited series she has worked on (A Teacher and Mrs. Fletcher)…