It is no more possible to discuss the importance and impact of Henri-Georges Clouzot’s Les Diaboliques without diving into spoilers than it is to examine Alfred Hitchcock’s Psycho (1960) without mentioning Janet Leigh’s brutal murder. And yet Clouzot’s masterpiece has…
The Film Canon: Black Narcissus (1947)
High above the world nestled on an impossible cliff, madness comes to Mopu. Once a harem, this decayed palace of pleasures and perversities bears witness to new masters: a group of Anglican nuns who seek to establish a school and…
The Film Canon: Frankenstein (1931)
Dracula was a demon, the Invisible Man a maniac, and Gill-man a literal monster. The Mummy killed to possess, the Wolf Man for lack of control. But Frankenstein’s Monster killed for the simple reason than he didn’t know any better.…
The Film Canon: A Hard Day’s Night (1964)
On July 6th, 2014, Richard Lester’s rock n’ roll musical comedy, A Hard Day’s Night, starring The Beatles turned 50 years old. On July 7th, 2014, Ringo Starr turned 74. Today, I saw A Hard Day’s Night digitally restored on the big screen. I…
The Film Canon: Pulp Fiction (1994)
Nearing 20 years after its theatrical release, Pulp Fiction stands as one of the most iconic films of all time. A discussion of great movies often begins at the very mention of Quentin Tarantino’s obscure masterpiece. With such a bizarre…
The Film Canon: The Graduate (1967)
WARNING: YES, THERE ARE SPOILERS. What is it about the disenchanted youth that plays so fascinatingly well on film? Whether it be Brick, Less Than Zero, My Own Private Idaho or Harold and Maude there is something, some key element,…
The Film Canon: On the Waterfront (1954)
Guilt is a sobering emotion. All of a sudden, wrong doings committed, less than favorable acts performed, all is brought to the forefront, ensuing self-doubt, self-reflection and possibly, ultimately change. On the Waterfront shows us a man who’s neither good…