As I write this review, I’m about to visit my family to celebrate Yom Kippur. It is the Jewish holiday associated with atonement and reflecting on the human condition… and “Sling Blade,” though it does not directly deal with Jewish culture, confronts the moral ideas behind this holiday as effectively as any drama ever captured on celluloid.... Read Original Article
As I ranked the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) movies near the end of 2019, I had no trouble figuring out that “Captain America: The Winter Soldier” is the best of the lot. In my own words:
... Read Original Article“It is a perfect MCU movie because every element works just right: The special effects look real instead of like CGI, the action scenes are breathtakingly well-choreographed, the story is intelligently written, it works equally well as both its own standalone story and a continuation of the larger MCU narrative.
It’s hard to say what exactly makes a certain movie “rewatchable.” Obviously you need an interesting story, a talented cast, well developed characters and top notch writing. It usually helps to build a world around your plot, or at least give the impression that a larger one exists. For a movie to be rewatchable, it is not enough that it be merely good, or even great.... Read Original Article
I am not here only to review “Manhunter,” but I definitely recommend it. The obscure 1986 crime thriller is mostly remembered for being the first movie to feature iconic fictional serial killer Hannibal Lecter, although the part is played by Brian Cox instead of Anthony Hopkins. It is a quality film, adapted from the Thomas Harris novel “Red Dragon” by director Michael Mann (Heat, Collateral, Public Enemies).... Read Original Article
I’m not a fan of Westerns, but I loved “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs.”
To understand my reluctance to embrace Westerns, check out this piece I wrote for Salon three years ago in which I compared the cinematic genre to superhero movies. Like superhero flicks, Westerns tend to follow the same formula beat-for-beat and have limited capacity to create three dimensional characters.... Read Original Article
“The Bye Bye Man” is one of those movies that takes on a completely different meaning when you know its backstory. Like actors John Cazale in “The Deer Hunter” and Chadwick Boseman in “Black Panther,” a major creative force in shaping “The Bye Bye Man” struggled with a terrible illness at the time of filmmaking.... Read Original Article