Reviews of films
A good romcom feels effortless. An exercise in wish fulfillment and charm. A bad romcom reminds you how tricky the alchemy can be. The tropes that delighted in the past feel grating. Quirky neurotics grow irritating. Lonely “nice guys” become … Continue reading LGBT Movies: All Over the Guy (2001)
Each week in Late to the Party, someone posts about an older piece of media that they’ve just experienced for the first time. This week: Terry Gilliam’s apocalyptic thriller 12 Monkeys. Continue reading Late to the Party: Terry Gilliam’s 12 Monkeys
In Which The Universe is a Blanket There is a story about David O. Russell, when he was making Three Kings, that I think is pertinent to today’s article. No it’s not the one where he’s punched by George Clooney on … Continue reading Post Millennial Malaise 06: I Heart Huckabees
We are several days into the Chinese New Year. To help celebrate, I present a movie that…uh…got banned in China. Available in Australia, the United States, and perhaps a few other countries. Also Youtube. Approximately 140 minutes. Tietou grew up … Continue reading WTF ASIA 148: The Blue Kite (1993)
Women in Love follows two depressed sisters who fall for repressed men. Ken Russell’s film is beautiful but chilly. He sprinkles shocking moments between stretches of tedium. The characters in D.H. Lawrence’s novel rejected their conformist society. Larry Kramer’s screenplay … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Women in Love (1969)
Do you hate morning shows? Do you hate Hallmark? Then you should steer clear of this film. Otherwise, come right on in. This time we’re watching Good Morning Christmas! Synopsis: Two squabbling TV hosts are sent to a festive small … Continue reading Hallmark Countdown to Christmas: Good Morning Christmas! Recap/Review
In Which We Explore The Infinite Abyss This week I am going to propose a hypothesis. Let’s call it the quirk equation. A way to to quantify certain cinematic entries that use cutesy affectation, or twee-ness, to attain their goals. … Continue reading Post Millennial Malaise 05: Garden State
To celebrate Valentine’s Day, I bring you a musical film from the master of romance…uh…Takashi Miike…erm…yeah! Available in Canada, the United Kingdom, and maybe a few other countries. Theoretically…It is available online in the United States, but JustWatch is being a liar. Approximately 134 … Continue reading WTF ASIA 147: For Love’s Sake (2012)
In Which This Review Presupposes When you talk about American film in the 90’s you have to talk about the indie boom. How studios like Miramax and directors like Tarantino, Linklater, and Kevin Smith radically shifted what was seen as … Continue reading Post Millennial Malaise 04: The Royal Tenenbaums
Maybe it is true that if you can make it here, then you can make it anywhere. But what if you cannot make it here? Available in Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, and maybe a few other countries. Approximately 127 minutes. … Continue reading WTF ASIA 146: Manila in the Claws of Light (1975)
An engineer is on trial for the murder of a teen boy. He offers a strange explanation for the boys’ disappearance. He could control the wind. The Boy and the Wind (O Menino e o Vento) was one of the … Continue reading LGBT Movies: The Boy and the Wind (1967)
It is my duty to continue to bring cheesy Christmas films to you throughout the year. Even if you’re not interested, you should at least be in awe of my misplaced dedication and moxie. I’ll be publishing a recap of … Continue reading Hallmark Countdown to Christmas: A Nashville Christmas Carol Recap/Review
In Which, Oh My God, It’s Jason Bourne The Bourne Identity was never supposed to rock blockbuster filmmaking. In fact while in production it had the stench of disaster. Recent indie darlings, director Doug Liman and star Matt Damon, were out of … Continue reading Post Millennial Malaise 03: The Bourne Identity
Let off some steam, Amrit. Available on Einthusan.tv. Approximately 125 minutes. The movie starts out breezing through thirty-two minutes of possible storyline in thirty-two seconds worth of dialogue. Colonel Sinha has just been informed that one of his … Continue reading WTF ASIA 145: Commando – A One Man Army (2013)
Teen brothers (one gay, one straight) inherit the family farm in rural Scotland. Their personalities clash but they gradually learn responsibility. Accounts aired on the UK’s Channel 4 three years after Scotland legalized same sex relations. It features subtle writing … Continue reading LGBT Movies: Accounts (1983)
In Which He Does Whatever a Spider Can The skyline for New York City is iconic. For the whole of the 20th century its buildings, towers, and architecture served as the platonic ideal of the modern metropolis. A place of … Continue reading Post Millennial Malaise 02: Spider-Man
Big city cop meets a small town family. Available online. Approximately 119 minutes. Inspector Lee Young-nam is moving from Seoul to a small coastal town to be the new police chief. Before even getting settled in, she meets … Continue reading WTF ASIA 144: A Girl at My Door (2014)
Alan Bates fights for custody of his ex-boyfriend Gary Oldman’s dog. The battle becomes a microcosm of their failed relationship. Alan sees himself as a hero and Gary’s family as villains. But We Think the World of You allows things … Continue reading LGBT Movies: We Think the World of You (1988)
After many a mishap and delayed viewings, I’m back to watching Countdown to Christmas 2020. I will continue publishing a Countdown to Christmas every other week or so, so get jolly. My commitment is unyielding! The next on the list? … Continue reading Hallmark Countdown to Christmas: Christmas She Wrote Recap/Review
In Which There’s Gold in Them Hills Ah the video game movie. A now nearly thirty year tradition of filmmakers clawing through the dark and trying to crack the nut of adapting one of media’s youngest siblings. In the pantheon … Continue reading Post-Millennial Malaise 01: Lara Croft – Tomb Raider
Political squabbling over a terrorist bomb threat? Who would have guessed? Available in Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, and maybe a few other countries. Approximately 118 minutes. It is the dead of night in the middle of nowhere that … Continue reading WTF ASIA 143: Helios (2015)
