Once again we in the U.S. find ourselves finally getting a chance to see a foreign film over a year after it played overseas. The journeys taken in The Last Cab to Darwin lead the audience on a beautiful, evocative experience. One journey is the physical road trip across almost two thousand miles from New South… Continue Reading
Disorder (2015) – A schizophrenic thriller
My initial reaction after watching Alice Wincour’s Disorder (2015) [Original title Maryland], now showing in the U.S., was that it was a great suspense thriller. That reaction did not withstand later thought and analysis. The acting by the two main characters was stellar, the soundscape (which includes the music) was exceptional, cinematography had its flashes,… Continue Reading
Hollywood has a problem – But ‘The Atlantic’ article gets it wrong
There is an article by Derek Thompson in the June 8 edition of The Atlantic regarding what he perceives as a very significant decrease in adult U.S. movie ticket sales in 2016. Thompson importantly makes the point that he is talking about actual tickets sold rather than revenue, which has seen gains due to increased… Continue Reading
A Bigger Splash
It has been a long time since I have walked out of a movie feeling the way I did after seeing A Bigger Splash. I turned to my friend and said “I think I just saw an important move, but I can’t quite tell you why I feel that.” Noted critic Cristy Lemire described it… Continue Reading
The Man Who Knew Infinity
Although the story dragged slightly in the middle this was a very enjoyable film. The acting was excellent and welcoming. The camera work combined with some truly special lighting kept the viewer right in the middle of the action. No matter the location of the scene the viewer is right along with the character. One… Continue Reading
“In The Company of Legends” — A Recommendation
Joan Kramer and David Heeley have teamed together over the past 35 years documenting the lives and careers of many Hollywood legends. I have just finished reading their book In The Company of Legends (Beaufort Books-2015). Available in hardback, paperback and electronic versions this was one of the more enjoyable reads I have had in… Continue Reading
Five for Five – Human Emptiness is a solid theme yet final result is true enjoyment
I have just completed a stretch of seeing five films over 5 consecutive nights. Although not an intended theme when I chose the films, all five shared at least one theme dealing with human emptiness. The five were Hologram for A King, Love and Friendship, Fireworks Wednesday, The Meddler and Papa Hemingway in Cuba. Just… Continue Reading
Cinema is Under Attack
I have previously commented on my negative feelings toward people watching films on tablets, phones, even computer monitors. I also have a full chapter on the subject in my book. The New York Times film critics have joined together for an excellent column on the real danger to large screen cinema nyti.ms/26CjoW5. My concern is… Continue Reading
De Palma Interviews Coppola on The Conversation
Cinephelia and Beyond is hosting a great interview of Francis Ford Coppola by Brian De Palma regarding the making of THE CONVERSATION. Check it out at http://www.cinephiliabeyond.org/francis-ford-coppola-brian-de-palma-conversation-two-great-filmmakers/ Continue Reading
Victoria — A really different approach
The German thriller VICTORIA was made in a unique way. First, starting with only 12 pages of script, the filmmakers rehearsed and improvised into a full length movie. Recall that The Curious Case of Benjamin Button also started with a 12 page short story. Then the film was shot in only one long take. “The… Continue Reading