The opening credits claim that the new 17th Century-set South Korean martial arts flick The Swordsman is based on historical events, but Michael Bay said the same thing about Pearl … Read More
“Godzilla vs. Kong” looks dope as hell
Having recently watched both “Kong: Skull Island” and “Godzilla: King of the Monsters” in the past few weeks, the release of the trailer for “Godzilla vs. Kong” was super exciting. … Read More
Movie Review: Mean Man- The Story of Chris Holmes
In 1988’s The Decline of Western Civilization Part II, the documentary’s most infamous scene involves filmmaker Penelope Spheeris interviewing a drunken Chris Holmes. In the scene, Holmes is gulping down … Read More
Review: “MLK/FBI” explores the US government’s grudge against the iconic leader
This Friday, January 15, on the 92nd anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birth, a new documentary about the iconic civil rights leader will hit select theaters and video-on-demand. MLK/FBI is … Read More
Criterion Collection box set review: “Ingmar Bergman’s Cinema”
2020 was the year of Ingmar Bergman My big pop culture goal for 2020 was to watch all of Criterion’s “Ingmar Bergman’s Cinema” box set. I have not been ignorant … Read More
Review: Remembering Timothy Leary in “My Psychedelic Love Story”
The new documentary from groundbreaking filmmaker Errol Morris (The B-Side, The Fog of War), My Psychedelic Love Story, premieres Sunday night on Showtime. It profiles Joanna Harcourt-Smith, who was in a … Read More
Review: New doc “Belushi” seeks to find the man behind the comedy
The 1970s were a momentous time for American comedy. Thanks to now-hallowed institutions like the magazine National Lampoon, the sketch TV show Saturday Night Live, and the movie Animal House, the hippie-influenced counterculture … Read More
Review: “City So Real” is a rich, kaleidoscopic portrait of Chicago
The Oscar-nominated director of Hoop Dreams returns to Chicago in City So Real The five-part documentary series City So Real uses the 2019 Chicago mayoral election as the center of a … Read More
Movie review: “Dick Johnson Is Dead” is a poignant and darkly funny look at grief
Memoir and fantasy combine in the new documentary, Dick Johnson Is Dead Veteran documentary cinematographer Kirsten Johnson made her solo feature directing debut in 2016 with Cameraperson. That film was an … Read More
CD Reissues: Berlin “Pleasure Victim” and “Love Life”
New reissue label on the block Rubellan Remasters hit another homer with the just released titles from 80’s new wave pop band Berlin. After a string of excellent recent reissues … Read More
Movie Review: Bill & Ted Face The Music
After nearly 30 years, Wyld Stallions are back as Bill and Ted once again have to save the universe. It’s been about that long since I’ve seen either of the … Read More
Criterion Channel Picks: August 13, 2020 – “Death in Venice” & more
Love, death, and artistic perfection from Criterion Channel. Hey there, hi there, ho there, cinephiles! Here’s another trio of flicks currently showing on the Criterion Channel site and app that … Read More
Criterion Channel Picks: August 6, 2020 – Personal All-Time Faves
Criterion Channel is streaming a few of Justin’s fave flicks Hey hey hey, cinephiles. While putting together a new batch of weekly recommendations for great films currently streaming on the … Read More
Criterion Channel Picks – July 30, 2020: “Summer” movies
A nice “Summer” vacation on the Criterion Channel Hey again, cinephiles. We’re just on the verge of a new batch of Criterion Channel arrivals on August 1, but I thought … Read More