Sidney Lumet’s 1957 masterpiece 12 angry men, is still as relevant as ever. Reginald Rose has crafted a script so perfect that it feels like the backbone of not only cinema but also modern stage plays. The themes explored by Lumet and Rose are so varied that they go beyond any courtroom drama or mystery and simply ask, “Shouldn’t we be discussing this?” The setup is simplistic but effective. The cast is big in terms of essential roles but small in scope, and what we get is one of the tightest scripts and well-made films ever. Director Sidney Lumet Release…
Author: Nadir Samara
The Silence of the Lambs is one of the most influential films of the last 40 years. Jonathan Demme wasted no time adapting Ted Tally’s 1998 novel into a vehicle that earned Jodie Foster her second Oscar in three years and confirmed that Anthony Hopkins was a movie star. The line between horror and thriller is drawn at the heart of this film, and it pioneered both genres. Director Jonathan Demme Release date February 14, 1991 Writers Ted Tally Execution time 118 minutes Budget US$19 million Jodie Foster and Anthony Hopkins deliver career-best performances Both actors will forever be remembered…
Director Robert Zemeckis is known for innovating film technology, but with Forest Gumphe combined this with a classic American tale. With Tom Hanks at his absolute peak and Robin Wright (who met in Here) transitioning from ’80s princess to dramatic actress, the trio were at the perfect point in their careers to make an essentially strange film and gross over $600 million at the global box office and sweep the Oscars. Director Robert Zemeckis Release date July 6, 1994 Studio(s) Paramount Images Distributor(s) Paramount Images Writers Winston Fiance, Eric Roth Execution time 142 minutes Budget US$55 million Perhaps one of…
Dawn Porter Luther: It’s never too much is a force to be reckoned with. While it didn’t pioneer the art form of documentaries, it brought me joy and pain, as it probably will for anyone, regardless of their relationship to Luther Vandross. His music, along with Porter’s decision-making, combine for an educational experience that happens to be a fun time. The choice to focus on Vandross’s early years provides a fascinating deep dive into his time as an unknown musician working with David Bowie and even a Sesame Street set. The end of It’s never too much takes a closer…
It can be argued that Steven Spielberg is the greatest American director of all time. Fifty-year careers don’t happen often in Hollywood, especially for directors, and Schindler’s List is, without a doubt, his glorious achievement. Oskar Schindler’s story is as complicated as it is fascinating and Steve Zaillian’s screenplay, adapted from Thomas Keneally’s book, tells the story in a way that WWII films have never done before. Schindler’s List (1993) Release date December 15, 1993 Studio(s) Amblin Entertainment Writers Thomas Keneally, Steven Zaillian Execution time 195 minutes Budget 2,200,000.0 Schindler, played by Liam Neeson, is an ambitious Nazi who considers…
In 1994, Alex Proyas (I, robot) brought James O’Bars The Crow Comic Life with the help of writer David J. Schow (The hunger) and John Shirley (The specialist). Brandon Lee, a promising young actor and son of Bruce Lee, would portray the lead with Ernie Hudson (Ghostbusters) and Michael Wincott (No) in supporting roles. The result is the premier cult classic of the 90s. The Crow Easily overcomes his stock and inconsistent CGI by simply being himself. The creatives work with extreme confidence, and it shows in every frame. Director Alex Proias Release date May 11, 1994 studio(s) Dimension films…
It’s a version of this review that explores how we underestimated the genius of Lana and Lily Wachowski at the time, and, in hindsight, The matrix entered the zeitgeist at the perfect time in movie history. In 1999, the film was a great success. In the following years, the viewers are locked in the detailed knowledge that avoided causal audience and a deep love for the film evolved into a fandom. Director Lana Wachowski, Lily Wachowski Release date March 31, 1999 Writers Lily Wachowski, Lana Wachowski runtime 136 minutes The matrix Incredibly old and all the camp and cheesy one-liners…
Summary The Crow Features tough action scenes with modern gun fighting and gore, but suffers from lackluster emotion. Visual effects enhance the film with realistic CGI, showing gruesome kills and Bill Skarsgård’s convincing portrayal of his healing factor. Legacy sequels like The Crow Face challenges in replicating original performances, falling short due to insufficient writing. You can’t go a month in 2024 without some kind of legacy sequel and The Crow (2024) is August’s contribution. Even by the standards of the current movie industry, to have Twisters, Gladiator II And The Crow Coming out within months of each other is…