I love stumbling upon a classic film years after its release. Off the record, on the Q.T., and very hush-hush, L.A. Confidential is a movie I watched a few times when it hit theaters in 1997 but only now fully embraced. Maybe my tastes have changed over time, or perhaps as a kid, I was… Read More »
Let’s make one thing abundantly clear: Denis Villeneuve’s Sicario is a masterpiece brimming with atmosphere, raw intensity, and incredibly nuanced performances from its astounding cast. Somehow, the film only earned three Oscar nominations. Benicio Del Toro and Emily Blunt were overlooked, while the Academy nominated Tom McCarthy (Spotlight), Lenny Abrahamson (Room), and Adam McKay (The… Read More »
Ti West has become a prominent name in horror with X and Pearl, but the same eye for the offbeat and sinister in the seemingly mundane has always been there. In 2011’s The Innkeepers, West pushed the mundanity to its limit. To persevere with it largely depends on how relatable you find the shenanigans of… Read More »
After the massive success of The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King, acclaimed director Peter Jackson had to decide go bigger or smaller for his next picture. But when given the chance, Jackson leaped at the chance to remake King Kong. Kong was a passion project he’d initially worked on before diving into… Read More »
In terms of films that get under your skin, there aren’t many like Tobe Hooper’s 1974 horror classic The Texas Chain Saw Massacre. It’s weird, wholly original, incredibly unique, and the type of movie you watch once or twice in a lifetime. Unless you’re Patrick Bateman, I suppose. The story of a group of weirdos… Read More »
45 years ago, John Carpenter hit the kind of paydirt that keeps him in snacks and video games to this very day. There’s really not much left to be said about Halloween‘s impact since its release in 1978. A small-scale yet fleshed-out feature film born from the ideas and visual style of Carpenter’s student short… Read More »
John Carpenter notoriously hates studio involvement in his work. It’s part of why he effectively retired from directing, which is an endless source of heartbreak for fans. But that disdain did once have an upside. After dealing with studios for his four previous films (The Thing, Christine, Starman, and Big Trouble in Little China), Carpenter… Read More »
After playing Mortal Kombat 1’s story mode I found myself wanting more — especially of what we saw in those first two acts. But beyond that, I realized what I really crave is a true prequel. Something that feels like its own fresh story while feeding into other parts of the lore. MK1 somewhat accomplishes… Read More »
Expectations were high when I first saw Michael Mann‘s big-screen adaptation of Miami Vice. The advertising looked like Heat meshed with Collateral, and everyone prepared themselves for another classic crime thriller featuring badass characters acting tough in intense shootouts with formidable villains. At first, the film went according to plan. Crockett (Colin Farrell) and Tubbs… Read More »
From the set of Tool Time, beaches on Baywatch, and the second American Civil War happening in Barb Wire, Pamela Anderson made herself a celebrity name and sexual icon. When it came time for a new show and her real life was a bit rocky, the answer was to do something wild where she could… Read More »