Category: Movies

Perception and Reality Are Two Different Things | Juliet of the Spirits (1965) Criterion Blu-ray

Juliet of the Spirits (1965) - Giulietta Masina

Federico Fellini’s 1963 masterpiece 8 ½ is remembered, rightly so, as a defining work of Surrealist cinema. Part of that film’s genius is the way its fantastical elements are rooted in an autobiographical confession for the director’s own personal flaws, self-absorption, and lousy treatment of the women in his life. Attempting at least somewhat of… Read More Perception and Reality Are Two Different Things | Juliet of the Spirits (1965) Criterion Blu-ray

Josh ZyberLeave a comment

Late Nights Gettin’ to You? | Insomnia (2002) Blu-ray

Insomnia (2002) - Al Pacino

As Christopher Nolan has increasingly focused on huge and bombastic IMAX spectacles, almost to the point that he’ll soon have nowhere bigger left to go, his very small and intimate 2002 thriller Insomnia often gets lost in the arc of the director’s career. Even though I doubt many fans would say they dislike it, when… Read More Late Nights Gettin’ to You? | Insomnia (2002) Blu-ray

Josh Zyber3 Comments

It’s Unscientific, Unexplainable, Unnatural, Unreasonable | House (1977) Criterion Blu-ray

House / Hausu (1977)

I’ve liked, loved, disliked, or hated countless movies over the years. I’ve felt indifferent to many others. Never before have I had an experience like watching House (or Hausu if you prefer), the 1977 Japanese cult film about a group of annoying teenage girls who get trapped in a haunted or demon-infested mansion. I’m left… Read More It’s Unscientific, Unexplainable, Unnatural, Unreasonable | House (1977) Criterion Blu-ray

Josh Zyber3 Comments

The Poetry of War | Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999) Criterion Blu-ray

Ghost Dog (1999) - Forest Whitaker

Jim Jarmusch might not be the first name one would consider to direct a hitman thriller. In most of his early work, such as Stranger Than Paradise or Mystery Train, the indie auteur established a very laconic style of character drama mostly lacking much in the way of plot or… well… drama. Today, we’d probably… Read More The Poetry of War | Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai (1999) Criterion Blu-ray

Josh Zyber2 Comments

Film After 11 Podcast | Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

Spider-Man No Way Home (2021)

This week’s double-length episode of the Film After 11 podcast is a doozy. With Spider-Man: Brand New Day in theaters, my son Thomas and I started off talking about its predecessor, 2021’s Spider-Man: No Way Home. Somewhere along the way, the conversation went off the rails and… well, let’s just say that, like any Marvel… Read More Film After 11 Podcast | Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021)

Josh ZyberLeave a comment

Anybody Can Achieve Alpha | The Fury (1978) Blu-ray

The Fury (1978) - Amy Irving

Hilariously, during an early scene in Brian De Palma’s 1978 supernatural thriller The Fury, a character actually says out loud, “No particular talent is needed to achieve.this.” Wow, could a better summation of the movie exist? That’s it right there. Review over. The end. No, I’ll go on a little if I must. The Fury… Read More Anybody Can Achieve Alpha | The Fury (1978) Blu-ray

Josh ZyberLeave a comment