Young men die so that older, richer, and more powerful men can amass greater wealth and power. That's pretty much the basic function of war. Stanley Kurbrick's best film, Paths of Glory, dramatizes that truth better than any other motion picture I've seen. For its strong story, dazzling visuals (which never dazzle for their own … Continue reading A+ List: Paths of Glory
Month: December 2016
What’s Screening: Dec 9 – 15
I've been down with the flu for the last week, so I missed the Day of Silents. I don't know when I'll be healthy enough to go to a theater without disturbing the people around me. And that's unfortunate, because there's a lot of good stuff playing this week, including the Rafael's eight-film Kirk Douglas … Continue reading What’s Screening: Dec 9 – 15
Old Stone finds drama and violence from society’s inhumanity
B Drama turned thriller Written and directed by Johnny Ma Intended as a critique of Chinese society, Johnny Ma's first feature shows us a man economically trapped for committing a good deed. But Old Stone loses its way in the third act, when it shifts from serious social drama to attempted thriller. In the confusing … Continue reading Old Stone finds drama and violence from society’s inhumanity
Mifune documentary enjoyable and enlightening
B+ Documentary Directed by Steven Okazaki If you have any interest at all in Japanese cinema, you're bound to enjoy Mifune: The Last Samurai, a love letter to the legendary movie star. Even if you already know a great deal about Toshiro Mifune, you'll probably learn something new. For instance, I discovered through this film that … Continue reading Mifune documentary enjoyable and enlightening
What’s Screening: Dec 2 – 8
This week we have Elf and Die Hard and Elf and Die Hard and Elf. Also The Front Page, The Life of Brian, and a rare, wonderful, largely forgotten comedy from the 1960s. Also a full day of silent movies. Festivals We've got two one-day festivals this weekend. And unless I've missed something, these are … Continue reading What’s Screening: Dec 2 – 8
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