Two Films About the Middle East – Body of Lies/Persepolis
There are three basic types of spy stories: 1) the one about the ultra-skilled professional spy who is almost always successful, e.g., James Bond; 2) the one about the civilian[…]
Ebert Hit Eject
Unless you’ve been living in a film industry bubble the last few days, you’re probably aware of Roger Ebert’s now (in)famous review of Tru Loved, which he wrote based upon[…]
Service Equals Citizenship!
Why should you sign up immediately with the National Guard (besides so you can sneak around the back door of the recruitment office and into Iraq?), cause you can[…]
Harry’s Wager
The final presidential debate was about domestic policy, as it should be — we’re in a financial crisis. But, I’ve been thinking more about foreign policy lately. There are huge[…]
The Frauds and the Fabulous
This month sees the DVD release of old Night Flight favorite, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE FABULOUS STAINS (1981). A young Diane Lane leads the fledgling and titular punk band, which[…]
Robin Wood Retires
Everyone who writes about film can name other writers about film who have influenced them. For me, the big three are Andrew Sarris, Raymond Durgnat, and Robin Wood. Wood, author[…]
Classic Film Smackdown!: MCGINTY vs GODFREY
The Great McGinty, Preston Sturges’ directorial debut and one of my personal favorites from his all-too-brief filmography, was on TCM the other night and I caught it from about the[…]
MOONTIDE, Morgan & Remorae
It’s been lowtide for good classic DVD releases since… since last freakin’ spring! Warner Brothers is dumping the dregs out like a fish peddler on a rainy Sunday night –[…]
The Commodification of Anna Faris
I first noticed Anna Faris in the Scary Movie franchise in which she parodieamong other things, Neve Campbell’s role in Scream. Following that, Faris provided expert comic relief playing supporting[…]
Ten Cents a Dance!
TCM had another one of their Stanywck days today, and tivo nabbed me TEN CENTS A DANCE (1931). Stanwyck is on a great slow burn here, starting out as a[…]
Book review: Harlan Ellison’s Watching (Reissue), by Harlan Ellison
Harlan Ellison’s Watching (Reissue) Harlan Ellison. Milwaukee: M Press, 2008 (1989). Paperback, $12.95, 465pp. ISBN: 978-1-59582-056-3 We want to believe that great writing happens in solitude, during nighttime hours in which[…]
Once there was a protest against a satire about a film within a film…
I’m sure this is the fifteenth thing you’ve read today about the TROPIC THUNDER scandal, vis a vis “Once upon a time, there was a retard…” but if you haven’t,[…]
Experimental & Underground · Reviews
The Eye Like a Strange Balloon (Guy Maddin 1995)
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSZYkv4Ad2Q] Canadian Guy Maddin is virtually unique among contemporary filmmakers in that despite having made nine features – including The Saddest Music in the World, Brand Upon the Brain, and[…]
Jack Hill Speaks
Director Jack Hill took the time to send along his thoughts on Noah Berlatsky’s article “Men in Women-in-Prison: Masochism, Feminism, Fetish” in the most recent issue of Bright Lights. Hill,[…]
A Mad Tea Party – Alice in Wonderland (Jonathan Miller 1966)
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GrTfEk2P9nw] When it comes to Lewis Carroll adaptations, Tim Burton’s upcoming 3-D Alice has a lot of competition. The IMDB lists 24 versions of Alice in Wonderland, including Burton’s, and[…]
Music, Morricone, and Jack Nicholson’s Voice: The Soundscape of Wolf
“Suddenly my senses are all incredibly acute … I’m different, more alive, stronger … “
Ghosts of the Present: On Aditya Assarat’s Wonderful Town
“The film is both a bittersweetlove story and a memorial to the tsunami victims.”
Essays · Exploitation & Erotica · Genres
Men in Women-in-Prison: Masochism, Feminism, Fetish
“Nobody wants to pay to becastrated anymore.”
Across the Universe: Julie Taymor Made the Most Spectacular Film of the Year
Too bad nobody noticed
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