Movie Reviews

Man on a Ledge

January 27, 2012 · Leave a Comment

Not more than two minutes into Man on a Ledge, we get the particulars. The ledge is on the 25th floor of the venerable Roosevelt Hotel in Manhattan, and the man perched upon it is a suicidal ex-con dealing with a host of family issues. Thus begins the challenge of this thriller from Danish director Asger Leth — to create feature-length suspense from a scenario that requires its main character to remain almost motionless. The film falls apart from there, devising a host of contrivances to keep the action moving while forgetting that character believability is the key to audiences developing sympathy... [Read the full story]

DVD Reviews

Monogram Cowboys return in this week’s DVDs:

January 24, 2012 · Leave a Comment

DVDs for Jan. 24 by Boo Allen This week we begin in the old west: Monogram Cowboy Collection: Volume Two Fort Osage, Wagons West, Canyon Raiders, The Gunman, Stage to Blue River, Night Raiders, Montana Incident, Wyoming Roundup. On Demand Warner Archive returns with their second batch of these entertaining cowboy movies from long defunct Monogram Pictures. Rod Cameron, in two, and Whip Wilson, in six, star in this batch of eight films on three discs. They again show the care taken by Monogram with their westerns, as these are no-nonsense sagas, with engaging, tightly-constructed... [Read the full story]

Interviews

Harmony Korine: Trash Humpers

April 10, 2010 · Leave a Comment

Dressed all in white and with a smile, Harmony upon meeting me asked if I’d ever added an “I – A” to my last name. Thus began our what was actually a pretty normal conversation for two filmmakers to have. Cinemalogue: What time did you come in? Harmony Korine: Well I’ve been filming rum ads in Central American, so I didn’t get in until late. C: Wait, you were doing rum ads? HK: Yeah. C: What company? HK: The company’s called Havana Rum. I don’t think they sell it here. Oh no, sorry! It’s called Havana Club. C: They wouldn’t if it’s Cuban, I guess. HK: Well it’s a French-Cuban... [Read the full story]

Editorials

The Loudness Wars -or- Death Magnet: How I Learned to Stop Hearing Anything

December 4, 2010 · Leave a Comment

The following are Parts I & II of a video editorial on the so-called Loudness Wars—an escalating practice of pumping amplitude levels in sound recordings to the limits of digital media in such a way that induces distortion. Wikipedia’s entry on the subject may give you some useful background on the subject prior to viewing this material. Part I: Part II: Read More →

Retrospectives

Tales From The Future

November 27, 2009 · Leave a Comment

In 1972, while studying film at University of Southern California’s School of Cinematic Arts, Robert Zemeckis (a classmate of George Lucas and John Milius) filmed an eight-minute short, titled “The Lift.” Filmed at the iconic Bradbury in Los Angeles, the project required Zemeckis to use angles, lighting and music to heighten the tension with no dialogue. In the process, the young prodigy brought an inanimate, mundane object to life. The talented Mr. Zemeckis went on to direct his first feature, I Wanna Hold Your Hand, in 1978, starring Nancy Allen (Robocop), Marc McClure and... [Read the full story]

News

THE SOCIAL NETWORK Dominates CFCA Awards

December 20, 2010 · Leave a Comment

Today, Peter Sobczynski of the Chicago Film Critics Association announced that THE SOCIAL NETWORK won for Best Picture, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay (Aaron Sorkin). Nominations were announced Friday, alongside the Dallas-Ft. Worth Film Critics Association’s award winners. It was followed by two wins for INCEPTION in the categories of Best Original Screenplay and Best Cinematography (Wally Pfister), and BLACK SWAN which garnered a Best Actress award for Natalie Portman and Best Original Score for Clint Mansell. Not to be shut out, Colin Firth won Best Actor for the late release,... [Read the full story]