Tag: history
Elton John’s Rocketman ‘Not All True, But It’s the Truth’
When celebrities authorize an official story of their life, you might expect a whitewash, glossing over blemishes or unsavory details. Elton John’s authorized biopic Rocketman had been in development for 15 years or more because the artist wanted the film to openly and honestly explore his character, particularly his homosexuality and substance abuse. Coming to…
A Rebuttal to Boots Riley’s Letter Criticizing ‘BlacKkKlansman’
Truth and film. They often go hand in hand. In general, movies based on real-life stories take portions of those tales and weave them into the cinematic fabric. Frequently, these pictures also embellish certain scenes, bits of dialogue, elements of action. If a work is good enough, the audience will find it credible. The best…
Einstein’s Film at Warner Brothers: Feb 3, 1931
It’s very hard to explain one’s enthusiasm about a film or particular piece of film because one is steered by the sum of one’s life experience at that point, and everyone’s experience is different. I will try and explain why the below clip is one of my favourite films of all time. It crosses all…
Kathryn Bigelow’s fierce, fervent Detroit is a loud cry for change
Kathryn Bigelow’s Detroit pushes its atmosphere like an invading force. Through sheer will and punishing fury, it leaves a charred, empty sense of helplessness, and there’s nothing that can be done to salve the burn. Indeed, audiences who watch Bigelow’s dramatization of the Algiers Motel tragedy will feel the wrath of her filmmaking. An uncomfortable,…
David Michôd’s War Machine works well as cautionary tale, not as satire
War is Hell, but War Machine is frustrating. David Michôd’s somewhat-satire of the Obama era’s continued efforts in the Afghanistan insurgency is far from a spirited successor to Dr. Stangelove; it’s more a nuanced look at the sobering complexities of the war through the eyes of fictional general Glen McMahon, based in part on Gen.…