Jackie Brown Marks 25th Anniversary

Jackie Brown, which gave new life to Pam Grier and Robert Forster’s careers, marks the 25th anniversary of its theatrical release in 1997. In Quentin Tarantino’s adaptation of Elmore Leonard’s Rum Punch, the filmmaker pays homage to the 1970s blaxploitation films. The gist of the film is that Jackie Brown (Pam Grier) is a flight attendant who is smuggling money for Ordell Robbie (Samuel L. Jackson) and authorities catch her in action. But before that…

"Jackie Brown Marks 25th Anniversary"

The Descendants: George Clooney’s Career-Best

George Clooney manages to turn in a career-best performance as a father of two daughters in the Hawaiian-set The Descendants. Alexander Payne adapts Kaui Hart Hemmings’ novel for the screen in true cinematic fashion.  Because of the whole cheating aspect, this probably isn’t a film that could have been released during the Production Code era.  Regardless, it’s one of my favorite films from 2011.  In a perfect world, George Clooney would have won an Oscar…

"The Descendants: George Clooney’s Career-Best"

QT8: The First Eight Honors Quentin Tarantino

QT8: The First Eight is a feature-length documentary paying tribute to Oscar-nominated filmmaker and cinephile Quentin Tarantino. Everything started with Reservoir Dogs in 1992. After its midnight premiere during Cannes, history would forever change.  This was the breakthrough.  Michael Madsen shares some interesting insight into the film’s wardrobe especially with the all-black clothing. The film is told in three distinct chapters: The Revolution, Badass Women and Genre Play, and Justice.  It’s a reminder of the…

"QT8: The First Eight Honors Quentin Tarantino"

TIFF 2018: What They Had

Strong performances lift up What They Had as one Chicago family realizes that they must come to a decision on what to do about a loved one’s health. It’s the blistery cold of December when Ruth (Blythe Danner) has wondered off again.  Not knowing where she is, Bert (Robert Forster) calls Nick (Michael Shannon) who in term calls California-based sister Bridget (Hilary Swank).  The next thing we know, Bridget and her daughter, Emma (Taissa Farmiga),…

"TIFF 2018: What They Had"

Damsel: A Wholly Original Western

A wholly original film with a twist you never see coming, Damsel is a hysterical western from the minds of David Zellner and Nathan Zellner. Samuel Alabaster (Robert Pattinson) has tracked down the location of the woman he plans to marry, Penelope (Mia Wasikowska).  As he sets through in his journey, he hires Parson Henry (David Zellner) to officiate the wedding when he finds his future bride in addition to a gift, a miniature horse called Butterscotch.  Samuel…

"Damsel: A Wholly Original Western"

CCFF 2018: Damsel

A wholly original film with a twist you never see coming, Damsel is a hysterical western from the minds of David Zellner and Nathan Zellner. Samuel Alabaster (Robert Pattinson) has tracked down the location of the woman he plans to marry, Penelope (Mia Wasikowska).  As he sets through in his journey, he hires Parson Henry (David Zellner) to officiate the wedding when he finds his future bride in addition to a gift, a miniature horse called Butterscotch.  Samuel…

"CCFF 2018: Damsel"