The 1960s were a great time for stylish heist films, with many classics that are still loved by fans decades later. The heist genre initially emerged from film noir, but gradually developed its own identity and came to encompass romantic comedies, action thrillers, and even spy films. The 1960s marked a boom for the genre, after films like Rififi and The killing brought a new wave of enthusiasm in the 1950s. The heist films of the 1970s became much darker and grittier, in line with New Hollywood trends. On the other hand, the 1960s featured some more elegant and cheerful…
Author: Ben Protheroe
There are a lot of cop shows that don’t have time for relationship drama, but some excellent shows have managed to balance both of these themes. Any genre of TV show can have a dash of romance, as relationships are a nearly universal human experience that often reflects who people are. Crime shows often have romantic subplots to humanize their characters and raise the emotional stakes. The best crime shows can make room for romance without letting it get in the way of the action or making it feel unnecessary. Romance can be used as comic relief in happier shows…
Ana de Armas hasn’t been in the Hollywood spotlight for long, but she has given a number of fantastic performances that showcase her talent as an actress. While she hasn’t always been in films that live up to her quality, we can always rely on her to provide a magnetic screen presence. The Cuban actress began her career acting in Spanish-language films and TV shows before making her English-language acting debut in 2015. Since 2015, Ana de Armas has showcased her talent in diverse genres, including drama, science fiction, comedy and action. His biggest successes include blockbusters such as There’s…
Looking at the first film of 2014, it’s clear that John Wick has changed a lot over the years. The franchise now has four films and a spin-off TV show, and there’s plenty more to come. This is a remarkable achievement for a film that was initially seen as an underdog. The quality and originality John Wick managed to pass and became a great success with critics and the public. It still needed to change to sustain itself as a viable long-term franchise. It’s been 10 years John Wickand it’s remarkable to see how it has grown from humble beginnings…
Thrillers often take on a new level of meaning when they’re based on real life, and their stories can be even more gripping. While it’s not too uncommon to see horror or crime films based on real life, there are surprisingly few that can offer the kind of ecstatic entertainment of a true thriller. Any film based on a true story invariably needs to balance its dedication to the truth with its dedication to entertaining the audience. Few films succeed in both areas. A good thriller needs to maintain emotion throughout and must always have an explosive ending. Real life…
Since transitioning from TV to film, Will Smith has become one of Hollywood’s biggest stars, with the catalog to back up his status. Smith first came to prominence as the star of The Fresh Prince of Bel Air. Few TV actors can cross over to film so easily, but Smith clearly had the talent, the charisma and the sheer intangible star power. Throughout the 1990s, he starred in a series of major box office hits. Although Smith was initially seen as a comedic actor, with films such as Bad Boys and Men in blackhe showed more impressive range. With three…
Disney films are known for their family atmosphere, but some of Disney’s most popular characters kill their enemies. This isn’t exactly in keeping with Disney’s image of magical family entertainment, but it just proves that Disney can get surprisingly dark sometimes. While it’s not too shocking to see Disney villains with murderous tendencies, some beloved heroes have killed other characters as well. The charming animation style of Disney films can often hide a lot of darkness and violence that wouldn’t be as appropriate for younger audiences in live action. The fact that so many Disney characters rack up imposing kill…
A different ending can make or break a film and tends to generate a lot of conversation. While the best movie twists can change the complexion of a story in a single moment, they’re not easy to pull off. For each Fight Club and Planet of the Apesthere are dozens of films that miss the mark. A bad plot twist can seem like a cheap gimmick that breaks the suspension of disbelief and insults the audience’s intelligence. Between the legendary and the ridiculous, there are many controversial plot twists that still inspire debate. These twists have as many fans as…
While gritty, realistic action has its place, there’s nothing like an absurd action thriller that goes beyond the bounds of reason. The 2000s brought a lot of silly action movies that combined humor with heart. Action has the ability to leave anyone amazed and happy when done well. People can get swept up in the sheer fun of action movies in a way that doesn’t necessarily happen with all other genres. Some of the most fun action films of the 2000s kept things light, poking fun at the genre’s absurd excesses. This trend has produced a number of action comedies…
There are a lot of movie franchises that seem to be in trouble, but still have a chance to turn things around. Many of the biggest franchises of recent years – including Jurassic World and Star Wars – are facing crucial moments where a film can make or break their future. There’s already a lot of excitement surrounding these films, as their performance could dictate how many other future projects fans get. A great movie can revive a franchise, like Belief he brought Rocky back to life or how Rise of the Planet of the Apes created a whole new…