Starring: Julian West, Rena Mandel, Maurice Shutz, Director: Carl Theodor Dreyer A young student of the supernatural Allan Grey finds that he's bitten off more than he can shew when he stays for the night in the eerie town of Courtempierre. On his first night he experiences strange images, disembodied shadows, spirits and other bumps… Continue reading 105 Must See Films: Vampyr (1932)
Starring: Peter Weller, Judy Davis Director: David Cronenberg So, this is a film by the body horror king, David Cronenberg, starring the guy who played Robocop, and based on the writing of a book by a beat poet. It's an odd one. William S Burroughs wrote a book called Naked Lunch, and this film is… Continue reading 105 Must See Films: Naked Lunch (1991)
Starring: Buster Keaton, Kathryn McGuire Director: Buster Keaton No Must See list would be complete without a little Buster Keaton. A master pf physical comedy, along with the much maligned Fatty Arbuckle and Charlie Chaplin, he was a prolific film maker and performer in the days of silent film, and he did all his own… Continue reading 105 Must See Films: Sherlock Jr (1924)
Starring: Marlon Brando, Eva Marie Saint, Karl Malden Director: Elia Kazan "I could have been a contender..." Yes, this is that movie. Brando plays Terry Molloy, a ex-prizefighter who never really made it, and who has ended up as a dock worker. But there is corruption on the docks, with the unions being run by… Continue reading 105 Must See Films: On The Waterfront (1954)
Starring: Franka Potente, Moritz Beleibtreu Director: Tom Tykwer From the opening scenes of this film, the images burst off the screen, using stylised images, mixed formats and split screens to tell the story. All eyes are on Franka Potente in this film, with her bright hair and her strong features, that make her seem both… Continue reading 105 Must See Films: Run, Lola, Run (1998)
Starring: Russell Crowe, Ryan Gosling Director: Shane Black Shane Black, back in the day, was the script writer, especially for blockbuster buddy comedies. Lethal Weapon was his huge break out, with sequels and films like the Last Boy Scout and Long Kiss Goodnight following. But Black felt like his films were not always best directed… Continue reading The Nice Guys (2016)
Starring: Nicole Kidman, Jason Bateman, Christopher Walken, Kathryn Hahn Director: Jason Bateman It's kind of cool to see Jason Bateman behind the camera (although in this case he's in front of it as well) in this adaptation of a Pullitzer Prize winning novel. I heard nothing about this film in release, and came across it… Continue reading The Family Fang (2015)
Starring: Melissa McCarthy, Kristen Wiig, Kate McKinnon, Leslie Jones, Chris Hemsworth Director: Paul Feig Has another film been more controversial this year? Off the top of my head, this is the big one. And for the weirdest reason. It's Ghostbusters, but the four main characters are female comedians instead of male. That's it. There are… Continue reading Ghostbusters (2016)
Starring: Paul Newman, Robert Redford, Robert Shaw Director: George Roy Hill In 1930's Chicago, a young grifter teams up with another con man to avenge the murder of a mutual friend by pulling of the biggest confidence trick of all time against a big time gangster. The film has a playful, stylised feel, with amusing… Continue reading 105 Must See Films: The Sting (1973)
Starring: Michael Shannon, Jessica Chastain Director: Jeff Nichols More and more, I'm becoming a Jeff Nichols fan. Perhaps especially when he works with Michael Shannon. His films are personal, subtle and emotional without being melodramatic, and are often about the human condition, what it means when ordinary life intersects with something bigger. In this film,… Continue reading Take Shelter (2011)
Wildfire Movies 