Broken Blossoms (1919)

A pivotal moment for me was seeing Battling’s nosey mate flinch in terror when reporting the news of his daughter’s …

Steamboat Round The Bend (1935)

On this first viewing the principle issue for me is the rhythm of the film; Pauline Kael says it was …

Dune (2021)

While I respect Villeneuve’s attempts to push this adaptation against the grain of generic expectation, my admiration is hindered greatly …

My Darling Clementine (1946)

I gather chief fordian scribe Tag Gallagher considers this to be a clear postwar allegory, though the notion doesn’t seem …

It’s A Wonderful Life (1946)

CW: suicide The tears this produced from me at the end of yesterday’s birthday viewing for Ruth (it’s her favourite …

Zeros and Ones (2021)

Taking on the task to write free-form about this most elusive film right after a first viewing. Most critical reviews …

Halloween II (2009)

Yes this had my heart pounding when I woke up in the night after, but its overwhelming emotional resonance is …

Manhunter (1986)

Mann’s most inexorable psychological study, mapping intensely precise genre beats onto internal landscapes of despair and obsession. His classic romantic …

Old (2021)

Coincidental prior rewatch of Griffith’s The Unchanging Sea was handy Revised my estimation up a bit the morning after because …

Prince of Darkness (1987)

Favourite sequence is Brian distractedly playing solitaire, tuning in to his computer broadcast of news concerning an ancient supernova’s ineffable …