Directors
Fourteen Films That Prove We Need More Female Directors
I was captivated by last year’s smash hit “Frozen,” not only for its stunning animation and catchy songs, but for its story, which featured female characters in primary, heroic roles. It is a story about women, in fact… the men are almost incidental.
Actors
Remembering Gene Hackman and Why He Was Such an Unlikely Star
The story of Gene Hackman, one of the finest screen actors of his generation, is one of raw will and talent overcoming a host of limitations that would have defeated most people.
Actors
On His Centennial, A Sweet Slice of Lemmon
Consummate actor Jack Lemmon had a habit of saying to himself before every take: “It’s magic time.” This may strike some people as mildly eccentric, but I would remind them that magic is precisely what he went on to create.
Crime
Celebrating 30 Years of “Pulp Fiction”
I will always remember the pure exhilaration I felt watching Quentin Tarantino’s “Pulp Fiction” for the first time in a theater thirty years ago. The memory is so clear of first realizing that I was experiencing an extraordinary piece of filmmaking, deliriously entertaining but also completely fresh and unique. What made “Pulp” so exciting and distinctive?
Western
9 of the Best Westerns on Amazon (in Color!)
As you might expect, I watch all genres of movies all the time, and loving the medium as I do, I pretty much enjoy them all. But I hold a particular affection for a good western. I love the fact that conflicts in these films are framed in fundamental terms: cleaning up a lawless town, or reclaiming stolen land. There’s black and white, and very little gray. And though guns will be drawn and blood spilled, it’s all happening so far away — in both time and distance — that you feel at a safe remove.
Romance
9 Quintessential French Romances Perfect for Valentine’s Day
Let’s face it: nobody does (or makes) “l’amour” like the French. Their fascination with, and avid pursuit of, romance is as engrained in their national character as “vin rouge” at mealtime.
Actors
20 of Our Funniest Actors And the Funniest Things They Said
“There's a lot to be said for making people laugh. Did you know that that's all some people have? It isn't much, but it's better than nothing in this cockeyed caravan.”
Sports
8 Superb Sports Movies Streaming on Netflix
One way to mitigate the inevitable letdown of fading summer is to look ahead to fall sports. This hit me when I walked into a bar the other night and caught sight of those familiar royal blue Giants jerseys on TV. Yes, pre-season is here, and you can almost feel those cool autumn breezes.