by Austin GoldQuentin Tarantino has always made films for one person and one person only: himself. But since his tastes run from the highest of art to the lowest of exploitation, he’s found an audience that’s just as broad. However, The Hateful Eight may be the first movie he’s made for his audience, or rather … Continue reading
by Byron Bixler From the December 2015 IssueWhen I think of Studio Ghibli, I think of the magic its stories evoke. I think of the wondrous worlds its directors create and the deep, emotional wells they draw from. I think of its uniquely youthful perspective and the delicate earnestness with which it expresses its truths. … Continue reading
by Gabriella Pakeman From the December 2015 Issue**SPOILERS** Is this reality or the symptoms of an unspeakable terror? This is the question that pervades the life of Jacob Singer, the protagonist of director Adrian Lyne’s psychological horror film, Jacob’s Ladder. Lyne’s film was heavily influenced by a biblical story from Genesis pertaining to the meeting … Continue reading
by Tony Di Nizo From the December 2015 IssueWith a title like Hobo with a Shotgun, how can the movie be anything short of amazing? If you were to ask this, your assumptions would be correct, because it is, indeed, amazing. So amazing, in fact, that it’s worthy of an entire article explaining why it’s … Continue reading
by Justin MadoreThe title of Bone Tomahawk should’ve been a warning to me. The name suggests something brutal and animalistic. Instead, I ventured forth naively, expecting the standard western fare of Mexican standoffs with gruff men. However, what is delivered by S. Craig Zahler’s directorial debut is so much more. Although it takes a little … Continue reading
by Byron Bixler From the December 2015 IssueFor those unaware of the magic of the samurai genre, “Zatoichi” is the James Bond of Japanese Jidaigeki cinema as far as longevity goes. Spanning nearly three decades with a 26-film series as well as a popular television show and multiple remakes and rip-offs, the adventures of Zatoichi … Continue reading
by Justin Madore From the December 2015 IssueIn 2012, director Sam Mendes did the impossible for the 23rd entry in one of cinema’s most iconic franchises. With Skyfall, he proved that interesting and innovative stories could be told in the Bond universe, beautifully presenting a surprisingly human narrative with the perfect mixture of action, humor … Continue reading
by Erica Noboa From the December 2015 IssueAs Santa Claus (Edward Asner) makes his annual trip to deliver presents on Christmas Eve, he stops at a Catholic orphanage. Unbeknownst to Mr. Claus, an infant resident crawls into his toy sack and is whisked away to the North Pole. Upon realizing his accidental kidnapping, Santa and … Continue reading
by Jacob Sullivan From the December 2015 IssueMontage of Heck could have easily been a hagiography, furthering the idealizing and canonizing of Kurt Cobain. Arguably, no musician has been more romanticized in the past thirty years than the Nirvana frontman. Cobain, through the media and other films about his life, has been elevated to a … Continue reading
by Eli Hayes From the December 2015 IssueFirst things first, don’t watch this movie. Don’t watch it if you want to come out of it feeling anything remotely close to euphoric, don’t watch it for purposes of entertainment and don’t watch it in order to escape, or you’ll be sorely disappointed. Only watch Lilja 4-Ever … Continue reading
Filmic 