by Joel Kalow From the April 2015 Issue Early on in Don Hertzfeldt’s It’s Such a Beautiful Day, the central character, Bill, drops his keys onto his desk. This simple, benign, totally regular occurrence sets him off remembering all of his other everyday tasks: brushing his teeth, closing the door, turning on and off a … Continue reading
by Byron Bixler From the April 2015 IssueIt all started with a drink. John Grant (Gary Bond) is a disgruntled schoolteacher on holiday. He wanders into a crowded bar in the middle of a small Outback town one night and stands off to the side of the room. A police officer spots him and offers … Continue reading
by Josh Tomany From the April 2015 Issue I’ll admit I’m a bit of a skeptic. In a world of multi-million dollar reboots and poor book adaptations, originality, sincerity, and good writing sometimes have to be sought or stumbled upon. 2012’s Safety Not Guaranteed, written by Derek Connolly and directed by Colin Trevorrow was, for … Continue reading
by Ryan Ciecwisz From the April 2015 Issue Richard Pryor is considered by many to be the greatest stand-up comedian of all time. In the film world, he was famous for his endeavors on screen with Gene Wilder in films like Silver Streak and Stir Crazy and he helped write the beloved Blazing Saddles. However, … Continue reading
Review by Mikayla Mislak From the April 2015 Issue Safety Last! is a heartfelt comedy made in the golden age of the genre. Riddled with hilarious physical feats and memorable moments, the film stars Harold Lloyd as the ever-charming everyman. A simple story gives way to an exhilarating climax that still resonates today as one … Continue reading
Review by Ryan Ciecwisz From the April 2015 Issue “I’m not gonna rock the boat, rocking the boat’s a drag. What you do is sink the boat.” So states the titular character, Putney Swope (Arnold Johnson), at the beginning of the film. Written and directed by Robert Downey Sr., Putney Swope is an absurdist comedy … Continue reading
Review by Eli Hayes From the April 2015 Issue If ever I was to purchase a DVD of The Living and the Dead, I would be desperately afraid to sleep in the same room as it. I would keep it locked within a safe within a safe within a safe, and only revisit it if … Continue reading
Review by Byron Bixler From the April 2015 Issue Have you ever had a passion for something? Something you love to do? Something you need to do? Is it painting? Is it singing? Directing films or writing novels? Even something not related to the arts. How about sports? Kicking field goals, hitting 3-pointers or running … Continue reading
Review by Sam Paulson From the April 2015 Issue It Follows presents the viewer with a simple scenario. A shape-shifting entity stalks the bearer of it’s sexually transmitted curse until either they pass it on to another or are killed by the shadowy pursuer. The film doesn’t rely on jump scares like many of its … Continue reading
Review by Eli Hayes From the April 2015 Issue It’s hard to believe that Amer is the work of first time feature filmmakers. It’s so incredibly polished and confident, but then again, it’s scarcely a feature film; I almost view it as three separate but interwoven shorts, two of them brief and the final one … Continue reading
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