Thursday, February 16, 2023

See why Hitchcock was the master!

Alfred Hitchcock called Shadow of a Doubt his favorite among all the pictures he directed. And it's easy to see why: Here is a film endowed with richly layered characters; a brooding atmosphere of infiltrating evil contrasting against a bright and cheery family milieu; memorable performances by Joseph Cotton and Teresa Wright—perhaps the best of their careers, with Cotton playing against type as Uncle Charlie, a rare villain role in his acting career—and masterfully composed shots imbued with stylized lighting that evoke the very best of the classic Hollywood period and the encroaching influence of film noir. Check out our discussion of this suspense classic right here on the CineVerse podcast.


Thursday, February 9, 2023

A Deep Dive Into "To Kill a Mockingbird" on the CineVerse Podcast

While my blogging has fallen by the wayside for a while, I’ve been busy with various projects, a couple of which I will soon report on right here.  

In the meantime, though, it’s been my pleasure to keep taking part in Erik Martin’s CineVerse podcast discussion group. A few weeks ago the group gave its verdict on To Kill a Mockingbird, which marks a 60th anniversary. Spoiler: The group loved it. For proof, read a summary of our major talking points gathered below and lend an ear to a recording of our group discussion right here.

Among the questions we addressed include: has this picture stood the test of time? Why is it worth honoring 60 years after its release, and why and how does To Kill a Mockingbird still matter?

·       It’s one of the best films about serious adult matters ever told and shown from a child’s perspective, thanks to director Robert Mulligan adhering closely to the book by consistently presenting Scout and Jem’s point of view and keeping the camera at relatively low angles, often looking up and in awe of adults.

·       Likewise, the performances are among the finest and most believable of any child actors ever cast in a Hollywood film. Mary Badham as Scout (nine years old at the time), John Megna as Dill (also nine), and Philip Alford as Jem (around age 13) are each excellent in their roles. Interestingly, despite their fine acting, Badham and Alford didn’t parlay these performances into a long-running acting career.

·       It feels relevant and important today because more Americans in the 21st century have increasingly come to reckon with our nation’s shortcomings about racial relations and our problematic history of racial inequality. While Mockingbird has some elements modern audiences may consider troubling, including the concept of an impossibly perfect white savior and the fact that the black characters largely remain on the periphery, this is a morality tale that debatably hasn’t lost any of its power to remind viewers how challenging life proved for African-Americans at this time in history, and how truly segregated our country was.

·       To Kill a Mockingbird also persists as one of the finest and most faithful translations of a beloved and widely read novel ever made. Consider how often movie adaptations of books fail to live up to readers’ expectations or do justice to the quality of the source material. This is a rare but prime example of a film that could be equal to the book it is based on. Original authors are often dissatisfied with big-screen versions of their work, but Harper Lee expressed her delight with the finished film product.

·       Additionally, the opening title sequence is distinctive and different for an early 1960s film, showcasing close-up views of childhood objects, including crayons, jacks, coins, and figurines as well as quick sketches and colorings made by the hands of a youngster. Immediately, we are immersed in the imaginative world of a child, which sets the tone and the narrative expectations right from the start.

·       Lastly, the bygone milieu recreated, that of a small town in 1930s era Alabama, looks and feels authentic, thanks to the fine attention to detail in the areas of architecture, costumes, and visual elements emblematic of the Great Depression coupled with the crisp black-and-white canvas rendered expertly by cinematographer Russell Harlan.

Saturday, October 29, 2022

Live the "High Life" on this episode of the CineVerse podcast

What do black holes and the future of the human race have in common? Director Claire Denis explores this and other answers in her dark and different sci-fi cinematic treatise, High Life, starring an underrated Robert Pattinson. For this episode of the CineVerse podcast, we were tasked to further investigate this puzzle box of a picture which yielded several insights and observations. Listen to our podcast right here

Wednesday, September 21, 2022

Charlie Chaplin goes to "The Circus" on CineVerse

Charlie Chaplin certainly made more popular pictures (The Great Dictator) and more critically acclaimed films (City Lights) than his 1928 feature “The Circus.” But arguably he never made a funnier one, as the latter is practically bursting with side-splitting gags, hilarious set pieces, and unforgettable comedic stunts. Our CineVerse homework was to head to the big top and revisit this 94-year-old laugher and assess what makes it timeless (to listen to a recording of our group discussion, click here).

Tuesday, September 20, 2022

Killer of Sheep on CineVerse!

In this episode of the Cineverse podcast, we took a deep dive into Charles Burnett’s 1978 student film, “Killer of Sheep.” Burnett may not be a household name like Spike Lee, but he’s unquestionably one of the most talented and respected African American directors. This breakout work remained widely unseen for decades due to music rights issues, but it has been restored and is fortunately now accessible to millions. Take a listen to our discussion right here: https://www.cineversegroup.com/2022/08/diving-deep-on-sheep.htm

Sunday, September 18, 2022

The More Things Change, the More They Stay the Same...Unfortunately

Bruce on the loose! Check out the episode of the Cineverse podcast where we discuss Bob Fosse’s 1974 biopic of controversial comic Lenny Bruce, starring Dustin Hoffman and Valerie Perrine. Its themes of free speech and comedy are all too timely in an age of endless trigger warnings, hypersensitive special snowflakes and the ever more repugnant growth of a cancel culture that either seeks to silence unpopular opinions or intimidate people into self-censorship. https://www.cineversegroup.com/2022/06/bruce-on-loose.html

Saturday, September 17, 2022

Discussing "About Elly" on the Cineverse Podcast


Where does the time keep going? I’ll be updating a series of links to discussions we’ve had about a great collection of films on the Cineverse podcast. This is an episode where we dive into the mystery “About Elly,” from Oscar-winning Iranian filmmaker Asghar Farhadi. A group of friends goes on a vacation at a run-down resort…and one of them disappears. The tension, anger, and paranoia keep building and building in this outstanding sociocultural thriller. 

https://www.cineversegroup.com/.../about-elly-is-about-as...