While recently rewatching Michelangelo Antonioni’s L’Eclisse (aka The Eclipse, 1962) I received the sad news that George Romero had died. The celebrated Italian art-house auteur and the American director behind the hugely popular Living Dead franchise aren’t typically associated with one another but I suspect that Antonioni’s work may have inspired Romero early in his career. In The Cinema of George … Continue reading THE LIVING AND THE DEAD: L’ECLISSE (1962)
Film Writing Nov. 2016 – April 2017
It's been awhile. Work obligations, as well as personal projects and other responsibilities, have taken precedence over updating my blogs. Of course, you can always find me on my Tumblr as well as Twitter & Facebook. Before I let another month get away, I thought I'd finally share an update to the film writing I've … Continue reading Film Writing Nov. 2016 – April 2017
SURVEYING THE RED DESERT (1964)
“There’s something terrible about reality and I don’t know what it is.” – Giuliana (Monica Vitti) Modern malaise and alienation are two themes that Michelangelo Antonioni (L’Avventura [1960], La notte[1961], L’eclisse [1962]) returned to repeatedly throughout the 1960s. In Red Desert (1964), which is currently streaming on FilmStruck and available on DVD and Blu-ray from Criterion, these ideas find expression in Italy’s … Continue reading SURVEYING THE RED DESERT (1964)
They said WHAT?!
Dirk Bograde & Monica Vittii in Modesty Blaise (1966) From my latest piece at the the Movie Morlocks: "In June actor Harrison Ford made news after publicly calling, Shia LaBeouf, his young costar from INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL (Steven Spielberg; 2008) “…a f--king idiot.” Since then I’ve been thinking about … Continue reading They said WHAT?!
FAVORITE DVD RELEASES OF 2010
Every year I try to compile a list of my favorite new DVD releases. These lists tend to focus on films from the ’60s and ’70s since they’re my favorite film eras. This year I decided to expand my view a little and disregard limitations so I could share a varied list of all my … Continue reading FAVORITE DVD RELEASES OF 2010
The Eyes Have It
My blogging buddy Peter Nellhaus over at Coffee, Coffee and more Coffee has asked me to contribute my own list of "20 Favorite Actresses" to a new film meme making the rounds of the blogosphere. Frankly I was just going to blow him off and ignore his request because these meme things tend to make … Continue reading The Eyes Have It
Michelangelo Antonioni 1912 – 2007
You ask what you should watch. I ask how I should live. It's the same thing. - Corrado Zeller (Richard Harris) in Antonioni's The Red Desert (1964) Cinephiles have suffered some great losses in recent days with the death of Ingmar Bergman, actor Michel Serrault and now Michelangelo Antonioni. I was really touched by all … Continue reading Michelangelo Antonioni 1912 – 2007
Vive La France!
The Cannes Film Festival turns 60 this week and that's reason enough to celebrate all things fabulous and French, so I plan on doing just that throughout the next week until the festival wraps up. I haven't come across many books written about the early days of Cannes but I can recommend Cannes - Fifty … Continue reading Vive La France!
