BLACK PANTHER SEIZES THE MOMENT
Marvel’s Black Panther is, culturally and commercially, the right film at the right time. The significance of bringing a black superhero to the screen at this moment cannot be overstated. Nor can the importance of director Ryan Coogler turning this origin…
CHARLEY CHASE ON DVD—AND THELMA TODD, TOO
When I set out to write a comprehensive article about underrated comedian Charley Chase decades ago for my magazine Film Fan Monthly there was virtually nothing in print about this talented comedian. Finding copies of his films to screen was another…
SMALL TOWN CRIME
There was a time when genre films were a staple of the moviegoing experience. Nowadays the gulf between studio blockbusters and small-scale indies seems bigger than ever. But there is nothing artsy or arcane about the small-scale picture Small Town…
NEW AND NOTABLE FILM BOOKS – January 2018
So many books, so little time! I haven’t had a chance to fully read each these books, which have piled up in recent months, but they are all worthy of your attention, which is why I’m happy to spread…
CEASE FIRE! WAR IN 3-D
Cease Fire! (1954) is a genuine curio for a number of reasons. It was made entirely in Korea, using real-life soldiers instead of actors, and filmed in 3-D. Out of circulation for more than forty years, it remains a rare…
ORSON WELLES AND MAX OPHÜLS SHINE ON BLU-RAY RELEASES
If there’s anything better than revisiting a good movie, it’s learning new things about it. That’s why I appreciate deluxe editions of vintage films. Olive Films’ new 4K transfer of Max Ophüls’ Letter from an Unknown Woman would be worth owning…
THE MAN WHO DIRECTED BOGART, JOHN WAYNE, AND ELVIS
Casablanca is my all-time favorite film but its director, Michael Curtiz, rarely gets much credit for its success. His reputation is that of a journeyman with a good eye. In the impressive and entertaining new book Michael Curtiz: A Life in…
