by Jackson Diianni They Live By Night opens with the iconic shot of a convertible car speeding down an empty highway at top speed, while a man in the backseat tears off his prison fatigues and throws them away into the wind. From this, one might expect a hot-blooded chase film, but the story turns quickly … Continue reading
by Seamus Mulhern Akira opens with the destruction of Tokyo and, thus, the beginning of World War III. When that’s one of the least eventful things that happens in your science-fiction movie, you know you’ve got something good. At the same time, referring to Akira as an ordinary sci-fi film may be selling it short. … Continue reading
by Jackson Diianni Chinatown (1974) is the child of a dying womb. As with films like Unforgiven (1992) and Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927), Chinatown is the last masterpiece of a terminal art form: the film noir. In the wake of the Great Depression, America created a slew of highly-stylized crime tales, taking their cues from … Continue reading
by Haley GoetzRaising Arizona is a slapstick comedy, but not in the traditional sense. In a nutshell, the film is wonderful because it’s essentially about Nic Cage stealing babies in the desert while a random bearded dude on a motorcycle stalks him. Directed by Joel Coen and his brother Ethan (who is uncredited), the film … Continue reading
by Carly WilliamsNot many films combine 2-D animation, live action and claymation, but 1985’s Better Off Dead does so without apology. I never thought I would see a claymation hamburger come to life like Frankenstein’s monster and lipsync Van Halen’s “Everybody Wants Some!!,” yet here I am. This film is one of the most bizarre … Continue reading
by Austin GoldThe Criterion Collection prides itself on putting out hard-to-find films, but this Tuesday, they’re releasing one that’s been in the public domain for almost 50 years. Why? Because His Girl Friday is just that damn good. Watching this is like watching an 18-wheeler back up perfectly into a narrow spot on its first … Continue reading
by Haley GoetzMike Mills’s quirky debut, Beginners, is a nostalgic film that can easily resonate with viewers. It’s a love story, a family drama, and a meditation on life all in one. Set in the sunny urban sprawl of Los Angeles, Beginners tells a tale not of melancholy matters but of discovering new pathways to … Continue reading
