AMERICAN BOY: A PROFILE OF STEVEN PRINCE
“America Boy” is also a great chance to get a peek into Martin Scorsese’s intimate directing style. I love this…
American Cinema
GHOST LIGHT
American Cinema, American Independent Cinema, Capsules Blog, Independent Cinema, Shakespeare, THREE STARS
At a time when Hollywood has lost its mojo, low budget indie films such as “Ghost Light” come with simple…
THE POST
Steven Spielberg’s nostalgic celebration of the heyday of American journalism offhandedly gives deserved praise to such brave patriots as Daniel…
SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS — THE CRITERION COLLECTION
American Cinema, Capsules Blog, Classic Cinema, Criterion Collection, FIVE STARS, Satire, Video Essay
Alexander Mackendrick (director of “The Ladykillers”) may have been of British descent, but his quick-paced 1957 sardonic drama — about…
DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES — CLASSIC FILM PICK
The first film to tackle alcoholism in a serious manner, “Days of Wine and Roses” is a tragic social drama…
CAMERAMAN: THE LIFE & WORK OF JACK CARDIFF — NYFF 2010
Essential viewing for fans of the cinematographer’s craft, Craig McCall’s fascinating documentary about one of the greatest cameramen of all…
TAKERS
Written by a committee of four screenwriters, “Takers” is a nondescript heist movie where the only thing less developed than…
A WOMAN UNDER THE INFLUENCE — THE CRITERION COLLECTION
American Cinema, American Independent, Capsules Blog, Classic Cinema, Criterion Collection, Drama, FIVE STARS, Independent Cinema, Video Essay, Women's Cinema
Rowlands’s fearless tour de force performance is the stuff of legend. She doesn’t just own the role of a woman…
TOM PETTY AND THE HEARTBREAKERS: RUNNIN’ DOWN A DREAM — NYFF 2007
American Cinema, Capsules Blog, Classic Cinema, Documentary, FIVE STARS, Music, New York Film Festival, Rock 'n' Roll
Although frequently taken for granted, Tom Petty has had more hits than Bruce Springsteen and stands as one of America’s…
LYNCH
“Lynch” is a lo-fi behind the-scenes-mini-portrait of a dry-witted artisan loyal to his search for dramatic textures. Cole Smithey.
BEFORE THE DEVIL KNOWS YOU’RE DEAD
Caught up in an adulterous affair with his brother Andy’s wife (Marisa Tomei), Hank (Ethan Hawke) digs himself into a…
CRUISING — CLASSIC FILM PICK
American Cinema, Capsules Blog, Exploitation, FOUR STARS, LGBTQ, Serial Killer, sex, Sexploitation, Suspense
So much controversy swirled around William Friedkin’s gay-themed cop thriller when it came out in 1980 that audiences avoided it…
COLE SMITHEY’S CLASSIC CINEMA
