There is a good argument to be made for the filmmaking team of brothers Ethan and Joel Coen (one a director, the other a producer, both screenwriters) to be as mainstream as cult filmmakers can possibly get. Yes, they have Oscars (and many other awards) and have had box office success (OK, not up there with “Star Wars” or the… Read more »
In the history of the world sometimes changes come awfully fast, and sometimes they move at the speed of glaciers. Some people claim that change is always good, but tell that to the people of Jerusalem when the Crusaders or the Romans were outside the walls. All through history, most men and women were not considered fully adult. They were… Read more »
Stephen King is one of the biggest names in storytelling. There’s no arguing that. It’s just a simple fact. Since his debut, he’s been a big name and a unique presence in literature. He has had such a successful career with such an original voice, that he changed storytelling. There’s narrative now that can be described as King-esque. And since… Read more »
By its very nature, the sci-fi genre is relatively complex: the short stories, novels, TV series and films that comprise speculative fiction necessitate detailed expository passages to build its far-flung futures, reality-bending premises, and stories set in a galaxy far, far away. Whether the story is set on an alien world populated by creatures markedly different from human beings, in… Read more »
Up to this point, 2017 has been a great year for film. From the great lineups from the biggest film festivals of the world showing new films from acclaimed directors, to the many filmmakers making their debut in feature films with great works, and even some brilliant filmmakers leaving us with a great goodbye film, this is surely an amazing… Read more »
In the last 15 years, the 80s have been a common and welcome reference in different areas of art and entertainment. The indie rock revival of the early 2000s was heavily influenced by pop bands of the 80s, while many films of this decade have been re-discovered or were blessed with late homages. As the 21st century progresses, and as… Read more »
Whether it be a Shakespearian drama or Italian slasher, sci-fi action thriller or romantic comedy, the soundtrack plays a detrimental role in whether a film will resonate with audiences or leave them feeling underwhelmed. We hear about director – composer relationships all the time, from John Williams and Steven Spielberg to Krzysztof Kieslowski and Zbigniew Preisner; these talented duos are… Read more »
The way we view films is forever changing. In the race to update, to constantly improve our cinematic experience, a great number of very interesting movies get left behind. This is especially true of the horror genre. Narrowing this list down to only ten was a difficult task, as there are so many fascinating older genre entries dwindling in obscurity;… Read more »
On December 3rd, 1976 a low budget sports drama opened in the cinema, written by and starring an unknown actor Sylvester Stallone. The film was Rocky and it would go on to become the highest grossing film of the year and be nominated for ten Academy Awards. Rocky went on to spawn 6 sequels in the series and made Sylvester… Read more »
On September 15, 2017, legendary character actor Harry Dean Stanton passed away. We’ve lost so many cinematic legends this year and we will lose more. We all want them to last, to entertain us till the end of our days. Perhaps we feel it’s only right. Legends are never supposed to die. But ladies and gentlemen, this particular legend managed… Read more »
From The Asphalt Jungle (1950) and Rififi (1955) to Dog Day Afternoon (1975) and 70s stylish neo-noir thriller such as Le Cercle Rouge (1970) and The Driver (1978) and then 90s heavy action thrillers and wisecrack, cockney caper films that include Point Break (1991), Heat (1995) and Out of Sight (1998) as well as other great entries throughout this trajectory,… Read more »
Stephen King is one of the biggest storytellers in the world. His name has become synonymous with horror, even if a good swath of his output works outside of horror. He is one of the best writers to have ever lived, and is one that is very specifically American in his style. His work is very much entrenched in the… Read more »
Now in its 36th year, the 2017 edition of the Vancouver International Film Festival (September 28th – October 13th, 2017) just may be the brightest, most eclectic and engaging cinematic celebration yet. Among the five largest film festivals in North America with screenings from 70 countries, VIFF promises to have something intriguing and exciting for everyone from genre fans to… Read more »
Throughout film history, geniuses made masterpieces that represent not only the issues of their own times but also reaching universal themes — these movies are relatable years after their initial release. This list compiles such works from around the world: Italy, Spain, Austria, France and beyond, crossing over genres from horror to comedy. 10. Porcile (1969) Pier Paolo Pasolini… Read more »
Superheroes. They’re everywhere these days. It’s like nerd nirvana, the likes of which seemed laughably impossible just two decades ago. Aside from a few dalliances with superheroes every now and then, Hollywood kept away from them for a few reasons. Budgetary issues, as the money needed to spend to get these stories on to the screen would be astronomical back… Read more »
Streaming services have replaced video stores as the new secondary market for films to find their way into people’s homes in the 21st century. With all the convenience and ease of just turning on your television and scanning through rows of virtual box art, audiences have never had more immediate access to entertainment in history. Through its enormous success, Netflix–currently… Read more »
