Viewing Journal

“Collateral” (2004): Notes on Michael Mann and Modern Urban Space

Notes on the debt to “Miami Vice,” the treatment of urban space, and stylistic gunplay in Michael Mann’s 2004 film “Collateral,” which stars Jamie Foxx and Tom Cruise.

2021-06-27
On Film, Movies, Cinema Viewing Journal

Joseph Losey’s “Accident” (1967): Elliptical yet fascinating

“Accident” narrates the sexual and professional tensions between an Oxford philosophy professor, his colleague, and his students, in events leading to the title event.

2021-04-11
Viewing Journal On Film, Movies, Cinema

Joseph Losey’s “The Servant” (1963): Master/Slave Dialectic Demonstrated

“The Servant” takes the traditional roles between gentleman and manservant and submits them to great artistic violence.

2021-01-31
On Film, Movies, Cinema Viewing Journal

“Sudden Fear” (1952): Neither sudden nor fearful

“Sudden Fear” tells the tale of a playwright that married the wrong man and was almost written out of the script.

2020-11-26
On Film, Movies, Cinema Confessions of a Bad Movie Watcher Viewing Journal

The Genius of Ozu’s “Good Morning” (1959)

Children in Good Morning protest social mores because they fail to appreciate the rules governing the relations of families and neighbors.

2020-07-14
Faves On Film, Movies, Cinema Viewing Journal

Joanna Hogg’s “Unrelated” (2007): The Desire to Belong

Reflections on an early film by the British film director Joanna Hogg, which I viewed in preparation for seeing The Souvenir (2019).

2020-04-05
On Film, Movies, Cinema Viewing Journal

“Pépé le Moko” (1937): Failure to Escape

Comments on the 1936 film Pépé le Moko, starring Jean Gabin, and set in the Casbah

2008-06-08
Viewing Journal On Film, Movies, Cinema