1920s

Reviews of the best and worst films of the decade spanning from 1920-1929, including Metropolis, The Gold Rush, and The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.

Man with a Movie Camera

Man with a Movie Camera

I’ve begun writing a column for Sound on Sight called “Essential Docs.” It’s exactly what you think it is—a discussion of non-fiction movies, specifically the films that have endured as cultural and cinematic milestones years and decades later. My first piece discusses Dziga Vertov’s 1929 silent documentary Man with a Movie Camera, which is magical […]

The Broadway Melody Review

The Broadway Melody Review

RATING: (2 STARS) “The Broadway Melody” won the Best Picture award at the second Oscar ceremony all the way back in 1930. It’s generally regarded as one of the worst films to take home that prize, and I can’t quibble with that sentiment. It’s easy to see why people would like this picture eighty years […]

The General Review

The General Review

RATING: (3.5 STARS) This year, I’ve seen my first Charlie Chaplin, Marx Brothers, and Buster Keaton films. First was The Gold Rush, an incredibly charming gem by Chaplin. Next was Duck Soup, which upped the ante in terms of comedy with its hilarious one-liners and musical numbers. Now that I’ve seen a Buster Keaton film, […]

The Gold Rush Review

The Gold Rush Review

RATING: (3.5 STARS) “The Gold Rush” is charming, funny, and full of heart. It’s immensely enjoyable (I have a hard time imagining someone who wouldn’t like it) and contains some truly timeless scenes (like the one with the cabin teetering on the edge of a cliff). I’ve actually never seen a Charlie Chaplin film until […]