Carlos: Criterion Collection
October 3, 2011
Notorious international terrorist Ilich Ramirez Sanchez a.k.a. Carlos the Jackal came to prominence in the 1970’s and 1980’s with several politically-motivated bombings, kidnappings and hijackings in Europe and the Middle East. He eventually became...
Les cousins: Criterion Collection
September 20, 2011
French filmmaker Claude Chabrol not only wrote the screenplays for Le beau Serge (1958) and Les cousins (1959) around the same time but also filmed them close together, utilizing much of the same cast and crew. The latter film was a big hit for Chabrol...
Cul-de-sac: Criterion Collection
August 16, 2011
After leaving Poland for England, Roman Polanski made three films, one of which was Cul-de-sac (1966), before moving on to Hollywood. The film contains many of his hallmarks: dark humor and suspenseful camerawork that puts one on edge. After writing the...
Leon Morin, Priest: Criterion Collection
July 28, 2011
Based on Beatrix Beck’s novel Leon Morin, Priest, initially, French filmmaker Jean-Pierre Melville planned on adhering closely to the source material but ended up condensing the story to a few lines and examining a handful of characters in greater detail....
Life During Wartime: Criterion Collection
July 26, 2011
With his misanthropic comedy Welcome to the Dollhouse (1995), Todd Solondz announced himself as an independent filmmaker with a unique vision of American culture. His film, and subsequent efforts since, explore the trials and tribulations of people living...
Riot on Sunset Strip
July 14, 2011
Riot on Sunset Strip (1967) comes courtesy of American International Pictures producer Sam Katzman a.k.a. “King of the Quickies.” He was known for making topical exploitation films often dealing with rebellious youth. This film was shot and released...
Johnny Cool
July 11, 2011
Johnny Cool (1963) is a curious cinematic oddity, an offbeat footnote in Rat Pack lore. Produced by Peter Lawford and featuring fellow Rat Packers Sammy Davis Jr. (who also sings the swinging theme song), Joey Bishop, and Henry Silva as the title character,...
Park Row
June 29, 2011
Along with The Big Red One (1980), Park Row (1952) may be Sam Fuller’s most autobiographical film. It was a labor of love for the scrappy director who made it as a tribute to the journalists he knew as a newsboy in the 1920’s. By the time he was 17,...
The Crimson Petal & The White
June 28, 2011
“If you dare enter this world, you had better tread carefully,” warns Sugar in the shocking opening scene depicting the loveless immorality and seedy squalor of Victorian London’s Gin Lane. Brought up from infancy by the cold and mercenary Brothelkeeper...
Insignificance: Criterion Collection
June 24, 2011
Filmmaker Nicolas Roeg was still licking his wounds from his previous effort, Eureka (1983), a deeply personal project that he hoped would break through to the mainstream but was given a limited theatrical release from then struggling United Artists....
