1 day agoBye, Centennial! — WishThe Walt Disney Company was founded 100 years ago, and while I have had myriad issues with their corporate structure and priorities, particularly over the last decade or so, the one thing I and many others can always look forward to is the latest entry into the Disney Animation Studios…12 min read12 min read
2 days agoWasted Talent — They Shot the Piano PlayerI was able to see They Shot the Piano Player during this year’s Mill Valley Film Festival, covering the event for my friends at No Rest for the Weekend for the first time. In the brief recap I did for them, I noted that this was the most unique film…7 min read7 min read
3 days agoAn Open Wound — SaltburnI love a good “Eat the Rich”-type story, mostly because our society is so well and truly fucked that we’re never going to run out of the undeserving wealthy who inspire such tales. Rather than make the systemic changes necessary to narrow the wage gap, improve public welfare, and penalize…8 min read8 min read
4 days agoAlone Together — Fallen LeavesFinnish director Aki Kaurismäki is one of the most acclaimed filmmakers in the world, particularly for his ability to show the beauty and humanity of the common man. According to many film historians, this idea was best exemplified in his Proletariat trilogy, which ran from 1986–1990. Each of the three…6 min read6 min read
6 days agoA Gory Feast — ThanksgivingA little over 15 years ago, the Quentin Tarantino-Robert Rodriguez horror concept anthology film, Grindhouse, debuted in theatres. …9 min read9 min read
Nov 23Match Fixing — Next Goal WinsI’m something of an outlier when it comes to soccer. In the U.S., it’s one of the most popular sports for kids, but as children get older, they tend to lose interest, opting for the “Big 4” type games (baseball, basketball, football, hockey). For me, however, it was the exact…11 min read11 min read
Nov 22Wake Up — Dream ScenarioWhile watching Kristoffer Borgli’s new film, Dream Scenario, I spent a good amount of time thinking about a completely different movie, Disney’s Cinderella (the original animated film, not blasphemous remake #410). Specifically my mind keyed in on one of the better songs from the flick, “A Dream is a Wish…6 min read6 min read
Nov 21A Sister’s Act — ThunderThere’s a tantalizing intrigue to Switzerland’s Oscar entry, Thunder, that keeps the viewer engaged throughout its relatively short runtime. Like the most enticing yet cruelest tease, the 90-minute affair is slowly drawn out, begging for an almost orgasmic release, a catharsis in the form of satisfying answers to the heavy…6 min read6 min read
Nov 19RIP MCU — The MarvelsThe writing has been on the wall for quite a while now. Ever since Phase Four of the Marvel Cinematic Universe began, the onslaught of diminishing returns has brought us to this inflection point. There have been a couple of bright spots, mostly from fan service films that served as…13 min read13 min read
Nov 18Doll Parts — PriscillaLast year, Baz Luhrmann’s Elvis became quite the hit, receiving several Oscar nominations and taking in nearly $300 million at the box office. The film attempted to show the whirlwind of money, music, and mischief that made up Elvis Presley’s existence, filtered through Luhrmann’s hyperactive and bombastic style. I was…8 min read8 min read
