Posts Tagged ‘Robert Altman’
An Appreciation – Monsoon Wedding
Director Mira Nair has long been fascinated with the contrast between the traditions of the past and the ambitions of modern youth. Characters divided by age and generation either clash or come together with their differing beliefs. Nair was born in India and was educated…
READ MOREEpisode 49 – Feels Good Man
For this week’s episode, we review the 2020 documentary, Feels Good Man, which chronicles the origins of the maligned meme, Pepe the Frog. We also discuss the best movies to introduce kids to horror, and at the end of the show, we review the 1972…
READ MOREFilm Review – Downton Abbey
It’s at this point where I must make a troubling confession: I’ve never seen an episode of the television show, Downton Abbey. I was well aware of it while it was on air and of its popularity. There were a few elements that I gathered…
READ MORESIFF Double Feature – Shut Up and Play the Piano and What She Said: The Art of Pauline Kael
Shut Up and Play the Piano: Directed by Philipp Jedicke, Shut Up and Play the Piano documents the rise (and rise) of Canadian musician and producer Chilly Gonzales (aka Jason Charles Beck.) He hasn’t really reached high enough to have a fall, and perhaps never…
READ MOREFilm Review – Mississippi Grind
Depictions of gambling addiction in film have captivated audiences for decades. The formula is as simple as it is brilliant: bad decisions, often resulting in the loss of friends and family + pitying bookies and no-nonsense loan sharks + reckless abandon = cinematic gold. While…
READ MORESXSW Film Review – Made in Japan
Made in Japan is a musical documentary where the passion for the subject is clear but the craft behind it is less compelling. Tomi Fujiyama is a name probably not known to many of us, but she is one of the defining personalities when it…
READ MOREAn Appreciation – Gosford Park
The beauty of Robert Altman’s Gosford Park (2001) is how it delicately balances the numerous storylines to create a wonderful mosaic of characters. We’re not so much concerned with what happens, but with how everything unfolds. We’re familiar with the set-up—from Jean Renoir’s The Rules…
READ MOREBlu-ray Review – Rashomon
If you are a fan of The Criterion Collection, then chances are you already know the name Akira Kurosawa. He is one of the all-time great directors, and is a staple within the collection. Filmmakers today have been influenced by his work. It’s no surprise…
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