Watching movies of the same ilk as Shock asks a lot out of some viewers. The reasons why such films can be so testing is not because they partake in deep, psychological horror or invite viewers to ponder complex queries about themselves and life itself, but rather because the scripts and delightful direction embellish the ludicrousness of the concept.
Cinema is a kind of uber-art form that’s made up of a multitude of other forms of art including writing, directing, acting, drawing, design, photography and fashion. As such, film is, as all cinema aficionados know, a highly collaborative venture. One of the most consistently fascinating collaborations in cinema is that of the director and …
Laura Written by Jay Dratler, Samuel Hoffenstein and Elizabeth Reinhardt Directed by Otto Preminger U.S.A., 1944 A detective’s work is challenging enough already without the complications that arise when he or she is involved with one of the suspects of a crime. Determining the innocence or guilt of an individual or party would be a …
The Telluride Film Festival is the start of my new year, when everything becomes new and exciting again. There is promise in the air and I tell myself to be completely open to any film. It’s easier said than done to put cynicism aside but TFF truly puts on a grand show- conjuring theaters from …
His Kind of Woman! Directed by John Farrow Written by Frank Fenton, Jack Leonard U.S.A., 1951 John Farrow’s His Kind of Woman! has it all, and so, so much more. Sometimes the best entries in a film genre or series are the ones that need to add different ingredients to spice things up a little …
It is horror season again, my favorite time of year, which means my dear friend Justine and I reprise our rivalry and do our best to out-watch each other, for no other prize other than bragging rights for the year. Really, it is an excuse for two horror fanatics to cram their brains with as …
Yes, he was the punchline of approximately a quarter-million Tonight Show jokes. But Michael Jackson’s stop-on-a-dime dance moves and sensual soprano have influenced generations of musicians, dancers and entertainers, and the man was so much more than what the tabloids made him out to be. One of entertainment’s greatest icons, he was incredibly gifted, and …