On Film, Movies, Cinema

Pronounce cinema with a French accent (see-nay-mah!), movies with subtle condescension, and film with solemnity. Writings thereon.

The Violent Men (1955): Bad Title, Great Horsemanship!

Americans only like bullies when they do not recognize them: Here it’s Glenn Ford vs. Edward G. Robinson et al.

2026-04-30
On Film, Movies, Cinema Viewing Journal

Wuthering Heights (1939): He Ain’t Good for You!

Day 2 of 30 Days of Remakes! As part of the “30 Days of Remakes!” I decided to watch this, although I really had no interest. And my lack of...

2026-04-07
On Film, Movies, Cinema 30 Days of Remakes

Alien (1979) Without Aliens (1986)!

Day 1 of 30 Days of Remakes (destined to last at least 30 years): Ridley Scott’s 1979 film “Alien” — remade out the ying yang.

2026-04-03
On Film, Movies, Cinema 30 Days of Remakes Viewing Journal

Pastiche or Double Dipping: Tarantino’s “Deathproof”

I opine that Tarantino’s “Death Proof” double-dips: that it marks out sexist language and imagery as much as it trades in them.

2026-03-05
On Film, Movies, Cinema Confessions of a Bad Movie Watcher Viewing Journal

The Master (2012): “Where Are the Naked White Women?!”

Paul Thomas Anderson again bends reality to his will in his 2012 film “The Master”, with naked women resulting.

2025-09-21
On Film, Movies, Cinema Viewing Journal

Law & Order, “Damaged”: Who Can Consent?

Aging badly, we say, so certain of our contemporary judgment. Hindsight is 20-fucking-20!

2025-06-22
Viewing Journal

The Limey (1999): Mise-en-Scène and Glib Dialogue

“The Limey” is essentially a father-daughter story of a very strange sort, in at least two discrete dimensions. Masterful in mise-en-scène; a dilettante in dialogue.

2024-05-25
On Film, Movies, Cinema Viewing Journal

“71 Fragments of a Chronology of Chance” (1994): Is Michael Haneke Anti-Narrative?

Elsewhere Haneke has described some of his films as anti-narrative. Is it true of “71 Fragments of a Chronology of Chance”?

2024-02-23
On Film, Movies, Cinema Michael Haneke Film Festival

Reflections on “Benny’s Video” (1992): Image, Sound, Reality, Parental Neglect

The televisual void has sucked away all vestiges of reality from lived experience: Benny makes videos to capture what is missing.

2024-02-18
On Film, Movies, Cinema Michael Haneke Film Festival Viewing Journal

“The Seventh Continent” (1989) by Michael Haneke

“The Seventh Continent” is Australia, where Georges, Anna, and Eva are going to live, right after they annihilate all vestiges of their material existences.

2024-02-17
On Film, Movies, Cinema Michael Haneke Film Festival Viewing Journal

Psychology or Demonic Influence: Ari Aster’s “Hereditary” (2018)

Ari Aster’s debut feature film Hereditary (2018) plays on the devilish ambiguity articulating the affinity between the histories of demonic influence and psychological pathology.

2023-03-24
On Film, Movies, Cinema

G.I.Joe and “G.I.Joe: The Rise of Cobra” (2009): Some History

Idle reflections on the G.I.Joe action figures and comic books as formative influences of my childhood

2023-01-23
Idle Reflections Confessions of a Bad Movie Watcher Way Back

Realism Lite: “Midnight Run” (1988)

Realism lite, how film and television suggest serious violence without actually including it, is exemplified in the 1988 buddy film “Midnight Run.”

2022-11-29
On Film, Movies, Cinema Confessions of a Bad Movie Watcher

Female Friends: Ryūsuke Hamaguchi’s "Happy Hour" (2015)

Three curiosities about the lovely 2015 Ryusuke Hamaguchi film about female friendship, "Happy Hour"

2022-11-15
On Film, Movies, Cinema Viewing Journal

2 Missing Details in Richard Linklater’s Epic Before Trilogy

The Before Trilogy is an elegant, conversational set of romantic films, notably missing some important details.

2022-08-24
On Film, Movies, Cinema Viewing Journal