classic film virgin: Top Gun (1986)
Cold War propaganda that is weirdly apolitical. Sunny, breezy homoeroticism that is surely unintentional. What a hoot this is! Mostly not in a good way, but its impact on pop culture cannot be denied.
Tony Scott
question of the day: What is the best way to honor the life and work of a filmmaker who dies too soon?
Does an untimely death change our perspective on the work? (Should it?) Should how a filmmaker’s work was received during his or her life change how we honor them after they die?
watch Ridley Scott’s first film, starring his brother Tony (and other adventures in social networking)
Links my followers on Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ saw today…
question of the day: Can movies and television be too visually beautiful?
The Tree of Life is a “beautiful” film, even its detractors appear to agree. But so is every other TV commercial and throwaway police procedural.
Unstoppable (review)
A runaway freight train loaded with dangerous chemicals is heading into a densely populated area! It’s a missile the size of the Chrysler Building! But wait! A reliable old-hand Hollywood star and a hungry new up-and-comer will save us all! Though there will be some explosions for your entertainment!
June 12: DVD alternatives to this weekend’s multiplex offerings
We all know how it is. You’d like to get out to see a new movie this weekend, but you’ve been stuck on a hijacked subway train too many times to find any cinematic amusement in that scenario. But you can have something close to that blockbuster experience at home with the proper application of … more…
The Taking of Pelham 123 (review)
I’ve been waiting for a *Die Hard* movie to actually come close to approximating the spectacular cinematic experience that *Die Hard* was more than 20 years back, and this is the first movie to get real close to that.
question of the day: What movies actually deserve a remake?
Tony Scott’s updating of The Taking of Pelham 123 opens on Friday, and it turns out that it’s a remake that actually makes sense: Technology and practices — in the fields of filmmaking, subways, commmunication, and law enforcement — and culture have changed enough that this new film is different enough from the original to … more…
12 Rounds (review)
This ain’t the real *12 Rounds.* Not the actual movie. It’s more like a storyboard. Or an animatic. That’s it. Just to give you an idea of what the real movie’s gonna look like. Man, you’re gonna love it, I swear.
Behind Enemy Lines movie review: saving Owen Wilson
Oh my god, is Owen Wilson gonna be a huge star or what? This weekend, millions of people who have never seen Bottle Rocket, have never heard of Wes Anderson, and have no idea that Wilson is a screenwriter of no small talent will be cheering on an Owen Wilson who channels the spirit of Steve McQueen while kicking some collective Bosnian ass and being all that he can be. Cuz Bruce Willis is gettin’ too old for this shit, I guess.
