No single image could possibly encapsulate the totality of Josef von Sternberg and Marlene Dietrich‘s artistic collaboration, but the moment that probably comes closest arrives at the end of their 1931 masterpiece, Dishonored. Dietrich‘s Austrian prostitute-turned-spy, Agent X-27, convicted of treason and sentenced to death by her own odious government for saving the life of…

The Boston Hotel Buckminster was constructed in 1897. At the time, it was the largest building in Kenmore Square. Between 1919 and 1950, the building was the site of three notable historical events, covering sports, radio, and jazz. Read moreA Guide to The Perfect Bong Joon-ho MarathonIn 1919, the hotel was the site of a…

Scott Rudin isn’t a household name, but anyone in Hollywood can tell you who he is. The long-time producer’s credits include: “The Social Network” “No Country for Old Men” “Lady Bird” “Captain Phillips” “Moneyball” “True Grit” (2010) Read moreA Guide to The Perfect Bong Joon-ho MarathonJust to name a few. Now, he’s better known as…

Between May 18th and May 27 thof 1980, a large uprising against the martial law government of South Korea exploded in the city of Gwangju. The military violently repressed the demonstration and, while the number of victims is disputed, it is argued that up to 2,000 people died in the uprising. Read moreA Guide to…

Female-oriented narratives set in World War II are still a rarity in cinema, and Karen Cinorre was certainly conscious of this fact when creating her feature directorial film, Mayday. Using the myth of the sirens as inspiration, Cinorre has crafted an ominous cinematic experience that delves into the social and emotional intricacies of being a…

In the 1970s, the Library of Congress decided to take comedy seriously and begin efforts to record and preserve its history. They selected a young producer by the name of Tony Belmont to record interviews and gather material from as many great comedians as possible. Read moreA Guide to The Perfect Bong Joon-ho MarathonIn 1987,…

A few decades ago, Richard Rockford was about to buy some vintage wooden typefaces from an American antique dealer when the seller pulled open one last drawer. It was where he kept a shoebox-worth of non-English letters orphaned from their original alphabets, hoping someone might eventually adopt them. “He was like, ‘Oh and here’s some…

A group of gorgeous young people give into their most primal urges on a decades-long, interplanetary journey in “Voyagers.” And if that sounds like sexy Lord of the Flies in space, well … it is. But despite the familiar nature of the themes writer/director Neil Burger is exploring, his film still offers plenty of tension and…

10 NEW TO NETFLIX Read moreA Guide to The Perfect Bong Joon-ho Marathon“At Eternity’s Gate”“Croupier”“Get on Up”“Insidious”“Legally Blonde”“My Fair Lady”“Philomena”“The Pianist”“Savages”“Saving Private Ryan” 10 NEW TO BLU-RAY/DVD Read moreRobert Stack Finally Solves a Mystery in ‘The Strange and Deadly Occurrence’“Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar” Josh Greenbaum’s comedy was delayed thanks to COVID…

In the 25 years since Stanley Tucci’s “Big Night” was released in 1996, there has been, in America, a great upsurge of movies and television shows revolving around the world of restaurants, chefs, and fine dining. Tucci’s film, which he co-wrote with Joseph Tropiano and co-directed with Campbell Scott (who also appears in the film…

The Steppes Sculptures are a series of 14 bronze sculptures on a circle of large stones in the middle of a forest. The sculptures were created by Stephen Walker. Each piece represents something from the area, either natural or of historical significance. Read moreA Guide to The Perfect Bong Joon-ho MarathonNearby is the historic Steppes…

★★★ Directed by: Jesper Isaksen Read moreA Guide to The Perfect Bong Joon-ho MarathonWritten by: Jesper Isaksen Starring: Rudi Kohnke, Siff Andersson, Louise Cho Read moreRobert Stack Finally Solves a Mystery in ‘The Strange and Deadly Occurrence’Film Review by: Jason Knight A dark journey into the mind of a deeply disturbed individual. Charly (Kohnke), has…

For a restaurant serving what was until recently a Class 5 narcotic substance, the clientele appeared older than one might expect: a couple of extended families, including grandma and grandpa; a woman having a quiet lunch with a man who appeared to be her father; a low-key middle-aged couple. Even the decor—cheesy knick knacks, thick…

SXSW 2021 saw the world premiere of Alone Together, a rich documentary on PC music trailblazer Charli XCX, following her behind the scenes of crafting her 2020 album how i’m feeling now during the global pandemic. What stands out about this doc, directed by Bradley Bell and Pablo Jones-Soler (known collectively as Bradley & Pablo), is that…

When Kyle Stone tries to explain his work, he sometimes compares it to keeping track of cows in a field. His job is to make sure there are enough cows in the pasture to keep it from getting overgrown, but not too many, so there’s enough grass to go around. Except his cows are tiny…

East of the Old Town of Kaunas, a mere five minutes from the blue-domed, Neo-Byzantine St. Michael the Archangel Church, lies a small, triangular square with an Aztec symbol painted on the ground. This unique traffic island is surrounded by three busy streets; you can’t access it, you can barely even see it from street…

São Jorge is one of nine islands that make up the Azores archipelago. The long, narrow landmass measures just  53 kilometers (33 miles) long and 8 kilometers (5 miles) wide. A high plateau runs along the center of São Jorge, marked by a row of volcanic peaks. At the foot of the steep cliffs lie a number of…

Say Your Prayers, directed by Harry Michell and written by Jamie Fraser and Harry Michell, is a dark comedy following two orphaned brothers – Tim (Harry Melling) and Vic (Tom Brooke) – turned Christian hitmen. The film balances moments of humor with character growth, while also balancing the aim of its jokes, so the film…

At the start of World War II, Australia was unprepared for the conflict, especially in regards to supplies of petrol. Read moreA Guide to The Perfect Bong Joon-ho MarathonAttempts were made during the 1930s to increase storage, but motoring was such a new industry that no real progress was made towards keeping storage ahead of…

It doesn’t take a crystal ball to predict what will happen when Hollywood’s biggest stars gather later this month. The upcoming Oscars telecast will be a ratings catastrophe, part of a trend tarring recent awards show galas. When every third celebrity insults half the country, it’s only natural said half will tune out. Read moreA…

★★★★ Directed by: #HassanRaza Read moreA Guide to The Perfect Bong Joon-ho MarathonWritten by: #HassanRaza Starring: #SoneraAngel, #JessicaBalmer, #JamesGraeme Read moreRobert Stack Finally Solves a Mystery in ‘The Strange and Deadly Occurrence’Film Review by: Patrick Foley There’s something romantic about a struggling artist – thanklessly toiling away at their craft, ignored by an apathetic world…