Dude, the main theme of this film's score is a definitely an 80's synth, Carpentered-out reworking of Where is my Mind?. I know that the horror community has heard enough Pixies references this year between the Fear Street films and Brand New Cherry Flavor, but I submit this 100% objectively true counterpoint: You can never have enough Pixies references.
Now this.... this is my type of horror: boundlessly creative in design, unafraid to take chances and full of tasty aesthetic,…
On one hand, it's pretty shocking to see that such a confidently presented and steady film is actually the feature debut for director Darius Marder. On the other hand, it's almost expected that this could be the case when a film feels so unique and fresh. This is a viewing experience so intimate that you might feel almost voyeuristic while watching. This is down to a few things mostly: the cinematography style, a decidedly naturalistic tone that almost feels like…
A mostly quiet, but still esssential and interesting, noir offering from the excellent Nicholas Ray. Humphrey Bogart is perfectly cast and in absolute top form as a sardonic and unpredictable screenwriter who is suspected of murder after a woman who leaves his home in the middle of the night turns up dead. Meanwhile, the eternally underrated Gloria Grahame plays his neighbor and alibi, demanding full attention from the viewer with her steely and quietly confident presence... cooler than the other…
The surprise of the year for me. Honestly, I think this is the most hilariously inspired teen buddy adventure I've seen since Superbad. Almost every moment is an absolute laugh out loud blast. I love this with all my heart. This script is my exact humor: awkward but genuine, clever, often straight-faced and occasionally random in the midst of offbeat adventures. The two leads are both wonderfully likable, with perfect comedic timing. This started out strong enough for me, but…
Billy Wilder pulls no punches with his craft here, immediately and boldly setting the tone for this film by famously showing his narrator face down in a swimming pool for our opening scene, a moment so iconic that it clearly influenced American Beauty's narration approach, a future Oscar Best Picture winner. Sunset was also a nominee for that award in its own time, but lost out to Mank's All About Eve. The early 50's, now a couple decades past after…
