Tag: cinema
Why the Space in Outer-Space Movies Should Be Silent
In space, the tagline for Alien (1979) once noted, no one can hear you scream. Apparently, everybody can hear Death Stars and intergalactic starships explode, though, while laser beams pew-pew-pew through the ether. Someone, please, someone give the world a film where the no-atmosphere environment is nice and quiet. Hollywood offers a culture of standards.…
Movie review: What ‘It’ gets right and wrong
Stephen King’s It was first and foremost a coming of age story that utilised its horror elements as a metaphor for the traumas of childhood and adolescence, and it is in reflecting this human element that Andy Muschietti’s new film adaptation truly excels. Unfortunately, he isn’t as successful in taking the novel’s antagonist and turning him/it…
The best and worst movies featuring seasons in their title
The theory was sound. And then I came to February. I once had a dream. A trilogy of blogs. The first would feature movies with numbers in their titles. The second – a movie for each day of the week. And finally, one with each month of the year in its name. I wrote the…
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,…
The Problem with Closing Credits
Just once in my life, I’d like to see a movie where the closing credits appear in the middle of the picture. Not that such a move would make them more interesting. But at least the placement would be novelty enough. As you can see, I’m not a big fan of closing credits—at least, not…