Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Review
During the vicious climax of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, a titanic fight has broken out among the entire Pollitt clan over the imminent death of their patriarch, Big Daddy (Burl Ives), and the fate of their 28,000-acre cotton plantation. Brick (Paul Newman) is the film’s male protagonist and overhears his wife, mother, brother, and […]
Night and Fog Review
RATING: (4 STARS) Alain Resnais originally didn’t want to make Night and Fog, and following its production, he suffered from prolonged nightmares. A viewer might experience something similar. It isn’t an easy task to sit down and consume Night and Fog, despite its mere 30-minute running time, and its disturbing imagery will leave that viewer […]
A Night to Remember Review
RATING: (4 STARS) When Titanic was released in 1997, it was hailed as the ultimate “four-quadrant” movie. It was a rare beast that managed to appeal to young men, young women, and adults, both male and female. From the star-crossed lovers that were Jack and Rose to the epic and spectacular sinking of the ship, […]
The Killing Review
RATING: (3.5 STARS) Though his later films would take us to space, the battlefront, the war room, and a very haunted hotel, Stanley Kubrick got his start in the seedy world of film noir. Killer’s Kiss was his first foray into this genre, and though generally unremarkable, it gets by thanks to its director’s ahead-of-its-time […]
Paths of Glory Review
RATING: (4 STARS) Even the most fervent foreign policy hawks would likely have a hard time disputing the anti-war message in Stanley Kubrick’s Paths of Glory. The 1957 film, which really signaled the director’s arrival on the big stage, preaches without seeming too preachy, and horrifies while avoiding some potentially horrifying imagery. What’s frightening about […]
Diabolique Review
RATING: (3.5 STARS) Director Henri-Georges Clouzot is often referred to as the “French Hitchcock.” If that’s the case, I’d call The Wages of Fear his Psycho and Diabolique his Vertigo. The two former films reinvented cinema as we know it and represent the pinnacle of their respective genres. The two latter films aren’t quite on […]
The Wages of Fear Review
RATING: (4 STARS) The Wages of Fear is filmmaking at its absolute finest. The tension and anxiety you’ll feel watching this film is unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. My body was still, my breathing sporadic for nearly two and a half hours as director Henri-Georges Clouzot’s accomplishes something I rarely see (and may have never […]
12 Angry Men Review
RATING: (4 STARS) As far as directorial debuts are concerned few are as good as Sidney Lumet’s 12 Angry Men. Hell, few films period are as good as 12 Angry Men. Though the action is limited to one small, hot room, the film is smart, taut, and exciting from start to finish. The word strong […]
Dial M for Murder Review
RATING: (4 STARS) One of Alfred Hitchcock’s greatest strengths was his ability to manage enormous set pieces and make them extremely memorable. Take the plane crash scene in Foreign Correspondent, the Royal Albert Hall scene in The Man Who Knew Too Much, or the crop duster chase in North by Northwest. Ironically, one of the […]
The Night of the Hunter Review
RATING: (4 STARS) The Night of the Hunter is a frightening film with a main character that is as close to pure evil as we’ve seen in film history. Robert Mitchum’s portrayal of Harry Powell is absolutely incredible—it could give Anthony Hopkins’ Hannibal Lector a run for his money in the villain department. Even beyond […]
Marty Review
RATING: (3 STARS) In many ways, Marty is an atypical Best Picture winner—especially when you consider the time period in which it came out. Bridge on the River Kwai, Ben-Hur, Around the World in 80 Days—all these films are (for better or worse) big, lavish, and epic. Marty, however, is a small-scale romantic comedy. It’s […]
Singin’ in the Rain Review
RATING: (4 STARS) When I watched My Fair Lady for the first time a few weeks ago, I was forced to ask myself a difficult question: “Is this film better than Singin’ in the Rain?†For as long as I’ve been watching movies, I’ve adored Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly’s musical send-up of the silent […]
Anatomy of a Murder Review
RATING: (3.5 STARS) Anatomy of a Murder is a conventional court drama masquerading as an all-time great. Much of director Otto Preminger’s film is unsurprising and unoriginal. Some of it is downright uninspired. But two things make this film a must-watch for any movie buff: the sensational writing and the brilliant performance by Jimmy Stewart. […]
Sweet Smell of Success Review
RATING: (3.5 STARS) Films that revel in mankind’s more seedy traits often walk a tricky line. On the one hand, they must remain true to themselves and deal with their characters’ flaws in believable and honest ways. But they can’t make these characters so unlikeable that they prevent any kind of audience connection. As sick […]
North by Northwest Review
RATING: (2.5 STARS) In the realm of Hitchcock, few titles are as universally revered as “North by Northwest.†My preference is Psycho, but I’m sure there are plenty of cinephiles out there who would label this film as the Master of Suspense’s greatest. But I’m not really sure why. It’s a serviceable mystery that plays […]
The Asphalt Jungle Review
RATING: (3 STARS) It’s hard to believe it took until 1950 to tell a crime story from the point of view of the criminals. John Huston’s “The Asphalt Jungle†did just that and opened up the door for later films like “Reservoir Dogs†and the “Ocean’s†films. The film goes on too long, which prevents […]
