by Jackson Diianni Barton Fink (1991) is an enigmatic film if ever there was one. It was born out of the Coen brothers’ purgatory stage, during which they were rapidly becoming experienced filmmakers, but had not yet perfected their unique brand. It bombed at the box-office but won Best Director, Best Actor and the Palme D’or … Continue reading
by Jake Triola Andrei Tarkovsky’s 1979 Soviet classic, loosely based on the novel Roadside Picnic by the Strugatsky brothers, evokes, in a manner you could only find in a Tarkovsky film, a swirling wonderland of post-apocalyptic psychological mayhem. It follows three men on a journey through “The Zone” to find “The Room,” a place where … Continue reading
by Stephen Shea I never had the chance to watch episodes of Police Squad but I can safely say that The Naked Gun is one of the funniest television adaptations to roll through theaters. Leslie Nielsen’s comedic chops make this one of the funniest movies I have ever seen. Leslie Nielsen is one of the … Continue reading
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 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
by Haley GoetzWe all have those films that truly define us — films that, had we never viewed them, we would not be who we are today. For me, that film is Daydream Nation, an independent Canadian release starring Kat Dennings. I didn’t think much of the film when I first saw the trailer, nor … Continue reading
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