The Beast is one of the most controversial foreign films to come out of the seventies, and now the people at Arrow have given us a chance to view it in all of its shocking glory. Walerian Borowczyk made a name for himself in the seventies by making artistically and technically accomplished erotic films, beginning […]
Till Kleinert’s Der Samurai has finally arrived on Blu-ray, courtesy of Artsploitation Films. In my opinion, it is one of the best films I have seen in quite some time. Der Samurai unfolds like a fairy tale, as a young officer named Jakob quietly carries a bag of bloody, raw meat through the forest with […]
Based on the short story by John Cheever, Frank Perry’s acclaimed cult classic, The Swimmer, is the very definition of a film that was way ahead of its time. Released in 1968, it is a haunting and dream-like experience that lingers in the mind. When we first meet middle-aged Ned Merrill (the legendary Burt Lancaster), […]
“In life, the borderline between fiction and reality is blurred.” Henry Jaglom’s Venice/Venice opens, as many of his films often do, with several diverse women talking straight into the camera. They speak candidly about the movies, the great love stories of cinema, and how many of those films shaped their perceptions of reality. Within each […]
Bad Education (or La Mala Educación) is Almodovar’s masterpiece. It is also one of his most personal films, because elements within the film are autobiographical in nature. This film is told in a noirish fragmented narrative structure that will demand your attention throughout. When Enrique and Ignacio fall in love with one another at a […]
Michael Haneke’s The Piano Teacher delves into the nature of obsession, of forbidden desires, and refuses to provide any easy answers. A controversial feature if there ever was one, The Piano Teacher is also a fascinating character study that will leave you speechless by the time that it has ended. The Piano Teacher is based […]
Alexander Sokurov’s Russian Ark was filmed as one continuous 96-minute take, with absolutely no cuts whatsoever. As a cinematic experiment, this is one of the most breathtaking films that I have ever seen. As a cinematic experience, it is definitely one of the most ethereal and challenging films in recent memory. Throughout Russian Ark, we […]
The disarmingly quiet opening of Stranger by the Lake sets the tone for everything that comes afterwards. A young man named Franck arrives at the lake to sunbathe, swim, and take part in the gay cruising scene in the nearby forest. Some men lie on towels as they work on their tan and look for […]
Ken Russell remains one of the most fascinating directors who ever lived. His films have polarized audiences and critics alike for years. That hasn’t changed. I first discovered Russell years ago, as I was flipping through the channels instead of doing my homework, and stumbled upon Tommy. I’ve always been a sucker for musicals, but […]
Justin Cole’s The Upper Footage is a small masterpiece. It is one of the best films of 2013 – and it just so happens to be a “found footage” film. Yes, it’s one of those. Before all of the haters chime in, know that The Upper Footage is one of the most effective films of its […]
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