Talking Makoto Shinkai: She and Her Cat and Voices of a Distant Star Michael Guarnieri | May 14, 2023 The first in a series of conversations about the acclaimed animator and his work, starting with the short films that made his name.
Glass shatters the modern superheroic mode to moving effect Michael Guarnieri | February 27, 2023 M. Night Shyamalan closes the Eastrail 117 trilogy with a deliberate anticlimax and deep empathy in place of spectacle, and the results are striking.
Elvis is a colorful, soulful & frenetic feast for the eyes Michael Guarnieri | June 23, 2022 Baz Luhrmann’s biopic of the King is as garish and over the top as you’d expect, but has a heart thanks to Austin Butler
The unexpected heart of Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa Michael Guarnieri | March 3, 2022 Johnny Knoxville spun off one of Jackass’ most indelible recurring bits into a semi-scripted road comedy with a lot of charm under the prosthetics.
Moonfall is pure earnest schlock from Roland Emmerich, and that’s a good thing Michael Guarnieri | February 4, 2022 Pure-strain sincerity and a ragtag cast of lovable goofballs elevate Emmerich’s latest sci-fi disaster movie to a pulpy, fun ride.
House of Gucci is messy & uneven, but does it with style Michael Guarnieri | November 22, 2021 For all its flaws, Ridley Scott’s based-on-true-events drama about the fabulously wealthy Italian fashion family is a fascinating watch.
The underrated “Tetro” reflects Coppola’s empathetic side Michael Guarnieri | April 29, 2021 Though pretentious at times, the 2009 drama comes from a fresh new perspective of the filmmaker.
How David Fincher’s “Mindhunter” built the serial killer thriller brick by brick Michael Guarnieri | December 31, 2020 The Netflix series feels as much about the components of Fincher’s exacting style as it does the origins of forensic profiling.
“The Hurt Locker” told a starkly modern war story Michael Guarnieri | November 21, 2020 Kathryn Bigelow’s Oscar winning drama tossed aside the bombastic, jingoistic cliches of war pictures in favor of something more chilling.
“The Truth About Charlie” Is Like Drinking Coffee Through a Veil Michael Guarnieri | February 21, 2020 Jonathan Demme’s remake of Charade marks a low point in his career from casting and acting to pacing and direction.
“Mystery Train” is Jim Jarmusch’s Love Letter to the Ghosts of Memphis Michael Guarnieri | January 13, 2020 Jim Jarmusch’s atmospheric ode to Elvis and the fleetingness of time holds up more than 30 years later as one of his best works.
Scorsese, The Band, and “The Last Waltz” Michael Guarnieri | October 29, 2019 Martin Scorsese’s hip, vibrant concert film The Last Waltz captures the ephemerality of The Band and its influence on the rock ‘n roll stage.
Richard Linklater Struck Out With His “Bad News Bears” Remake Michael Guarnieri | August 18, 2019 In 2005, Richard Linklater followed up School of Rock with the similarly-child-oriented remake of The Bad News Bears, to mixed results.