Paris, Texas: Criterion Collection
February 1, 2010
Films made about the United States by foreign filmmakers are interesting because quite often they provide a unique perspective – someone from the outside looking in. German filmmaker Wim Wenders did just this with his film Paris, Texas (1984). It was...
The Boys are Back
January 21, 2010
After starring in blood-soaked, bullet-ridden action films like Shoot ‘Em Up (2007) and The International (2009), actor Clive Owen decided to shift genres completely and headline a touchy-feely drama for Miramax that was directed by Scott Hicks, who...
Gomorrah: Criterion Collection
November 30, 2009
Gomorrah (2008) started off as a controversial best-seller, a “nonfiction novel” by Roberto Saviano in 2006. It exposed and showed how the Camorra, Italy’s largest organized crime syndicate, worked. Based in Naples, it deals in drugs, weapons, construction...
Downhill Racer: Criterion Collection
November 19, 2009
There are few good sports films that aren’t riddled with clichés and there are even fewer good films about skiing. Downhill Racer (1969) is one of those rare exceptions. Based on Oakley Hill’s 1963 novel, The Downhill Racers, Paramount Pictures optioned...
Wings of Desire: Criterion Collection
November 5, 2009
If Paris, Texas (1984) firmly established German filmmaker Wim Wenders on the international art house cinema scene, then Wings of Desire (1987) reinforced his status as one of the world’s premier visual storytellers. Not only is the film an impressive,...
Z: Criterion Collection
October 26, 2009
Cited by many critics as one of the best political thrillers to come out of the 1960s, Z (1969) has also been cited as an influence on filmmakers like Oliver Stone (JFK) and Steven Soderbergh (Traffic). This political assassination thriller struck a nerve...
Chéri
October 20, 2009
Director Stephen Frears and Michelle Pfeiffer first collaborated together on Dangerous Liaisons (1988) and the result was a commercial and critical success, as well as one of the actress’ strongest performances to date as a vulnerable woman at the mercy...
Monsoon Wedding: Criterion Collection
October 14, 2009
With the surprise phenomenonal success of Slumdog Millionaire (2008) people have a tendency to forget, or are simply unaware, that filmmakers like Mira Nair have been working hard for years at bringing Indian culture to the mainstream. She arrived on...
Away We Go
October 5, 2009
After the intense drama of Revolutionary Road (2008), one could hardly blame director Sam Mendes for opting to switch gears for decidedly lighter fare with his next film Away We Go (2009). After the soul-crushing dysfunction and overwhelming feeling of...
Castle: The Complete First Season
September 30, 2009
Nathan Fillion has developed a loyal cult following thanks to his memorable guest spots on Buffy the Vampire Slayer and a starring role on the short-lived television show Firefly, not to mention a fantastic turn in the horror/comedy film Slither (2006)....
