FIrst Rule of Movie Club is: you don't talk about Movie Club. But you do share, because sharing is caring.
When I first read Gustave Flaubert's gorgeously melancholic Sentimental Education, I was struck by how modern it felt for something written in 1869 (and taking place in the 1840's.) His protagonist, Frédéric, feels like the original Emo poster child from which all young, disillusioned and weepy icons have sprung. From Morrissey and the Smiths to … Continue reading L’Éducation Sentimentale (Sentimental Education)
Steven Spielberg's The Fablemans might be the latest in a long legacy of artists making thinly-veiled autobio pics about their humble beginnings, but it's worth noting the great works that came before (and are mostly forgotten.) First and foremost is the late, great Carl Reiner's debut feature comedy, Enter Laughing- a sweet and hilarious look … Continue reading Enter Laughing
Despite our ever-shifting cultural norms, Monty Python remains the epitome of British comedy- the innovative trailblazers that set a standard even today's best sketch comedy fails to hit. You can watch their early training grounds on old BBC shows like Do Not Adjust Your Set and At Last the 1948 Show, which are fun and … Continue reading How to Irritate People
Does the world really need to spend any more time thinking about or examining the Beatles? Nobody- no matter how good or influential they may have been- really deserves so much scrutiny or attention. There are other bands out there; the myth-making has long run its course, and the cash-extraction that continues every 5-10 years … Continue reading Let It Be
"Exterminate all rational thought," commands the great William Burroughs as we enter Naked Lunch- sage advice, since not heeding his warning will leave you frustrated and confused as you wander around his mad, but brilliant world. Conrad Rooks' Chappaqua requires a similar mindset; an exploration of what it's like to go through drug withdrawal, the … Continue reading Chappaqua
When I say "Jim Henson," you say.... Kermit, or Miss Piggy, or Ernie & Bert, or probably one of a hundred memorable characters he created out of felt and foam. What you probably won't say is "a trippy, artsy filmmaker exploring the boundaries of his medium." But that's what Henson was, too- especially in his … Continue reading The Cube
It's hard to deny the accusation of systemic racism in Hollywood when you watch a film like Purlie Victorious- it's such a sharp criticism of America, done in such a hilarious way, and so clearly still-relevant today that the only answer to the question why have I never heard of this great movie? is so … Continue reading Purlie Victorious (aka Gone are the Days!)
Yves Robert's La Guerre des Boutons was a huge success when it came out in 1962, yet this classic French kids' film is pretty much unknown today- if anything, you may have heard of (or seen) the 90's British remake, unaware this gem even existed. That's too bad, because, like the best films meant for … Continue reading La Guerre des Boutons (War of the Buttons)
Jason Robards is one of those quirky actors that managed to weave in and out of movies without having to water down his unique vibe. A Thousand Clowns, originally a play now brought to the screen by Fred Coe, might just be the best thing he ever starred in- an offbeat 60's dramedy, and a … Continue reading A Thousand Clowns
This is a children's film, to be sure- but it's the trippiest, most insane, nonsensical kid's film to ever come out of 60's British counterculture and yet pass as a respectable, mainstream movie. Made by the dynamic British filmmaking duo of Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger (their last collaboration, actually) I guess you could say … Continue reading The Boy Who Turned Yellow
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