Truffaut with a Shade of Demy: Axelle Ropert’s ‘Tirez la langue, mademoiselle’
“It’s François Truffaut with a shade of Jacques Demy; Jules et Jim holding The Umbrellas of Cherbourg.”
Whoa, That Final Shot: Mélanie Laurent’s ‘Respire’
“With all due respect to acclaimed modern horror films like The Conjuring and The Babadook, it’s been awhile since a film legitimately freaked my out; one single shot to completely frazzle me like that demon-baby crawling out of a television in The Ring.”
A Reluctant Hunter: Jean-Bernard Marlin’s ‘La fugue’
“Director Marlin offers a brief game of cat-and-mouse in La fugue, but the real story is not whether Lakdar will find Sabrina, but whether he will find the inner peace to match his controlled exterior.”
Style and Starlet Power: Alfonso Gomez-Rejon’s ‘The Town That Dreaded Sundown’
“Although The Town That Dreaded Sundown is just a slightly above average film, the duo of Gomez and Goi create a unique sense of dread with striking visuals.”
The Film Jeff Nichols Should Have Made: ‘The World Made Straight’
“A seasoned actor can be the perfect wild card for a first-time director but only if he or she fits the role.”
Just Let it Flow: The Awkward Transitions of ‘Jimi: All Is by My Side’
“A Hendrix biopic can be tackled in a variety of ways, but a director should either commit to gonzo audio/visual techniques or simply let the performances take over.”
Remembering Francesco Rosi (November 15, 1922 – January 10, 2015)
Q.V. Hough on the Influence of Francesco Rosi
Broken Embraces and Unforgettable Form: Paul Thomas Anderson’s ‘Inherent Vice’
“If Phoenix serves as the Michael Jordan of Inherent Vice, then Paul Thomas Anderson is Phil Jackson. Together, they run the show like nobody else can.”
A Poetic Absence of Presence: Sydney Pollack’s ‘The Yakuza’ (1974)
“The interactions between Mitchum and Takakura offer a jolting look at man’s acceptance of grief, but the technical aspects of The Yakuza transform the film to a higher level.”