Pajamas, Popcorn, and DDT: Summer Nights at a ‘50s Drive-In Theater
Going to the drive-in as a kid in the backseat of my parents’ 1950 Pontiac was as exciting as life could get.
We Are Family: The Universal Experience of Watching ‘The Birdcage’
There were a lot of really special things about this film that are no less special today as it creeps toward its 30th anniversary.
The Staggering Empathy of Michael Stuhlbarg’s Monologue in ‘Call Me By Your Name’
When I rewatch Luca Guadagnino’s masterful 2017 film, my heart is widened by the extraordinary display of love, support, and affection by Elio’s father Sami.
How ‘Hairspray’ and ‘Once’ Made Me Love Musicals
I used to think musicals were frivolous, unserious entertainment. Then one fateful summer, two diametrically different movies accidentally teamed up to convince me otherwise.
The Melody Lingers On: A Century of Fred and Ginger
When you watch an Astaire and Rogers musical, you are getting a piece of the movie musical Rosetta Stone.
All That Glitters Is Not Gold: On Breaking Up with ‘Seven Brides for Seven Brothers’
I was raised on classic cinema and musicals. But while I was always taught to appreciate the art, I was not taught to think critically about it.
To Live and Die in ‘La La Land’
If you’re a hopeless romantic like Seb and me, iron your suit and whistle along as we take a stroll through the sights, sounds, and bittersweet feels of this modern American masterpiece.
The Women Are All Right: ‘A League of Their Own’ and the Power of Belonging
It’s possible the reason I loved A League of Their Own so much was that it was a wonderland of amazing female athletes who occupied their own fully formed world.
Learning to Fly (And Fail) Like ‘Eddie the Eagle’
Throughout his journey Eddie Edwards is ridiculed at every turn, but he never stops working hard to get where he wants to be.
Justice for ‘12 Angry Men’
In many ways, 12 Angry Men is a perfect case study that proves exceptional cinema only requires two things: flawless dialogue and performers with the range and dexterity to deliver it.
‘Moonstruck’ is the Perfect Dish
Perfect actors, perfect script, perfect setting, perfect emotion. After you watch Moonstruck, you can’t help but look back and think, what was in that recipe?
Actually, Netflix‘s ‘Persuasion’ Is Good
Anne Elliot in Netflix’s 2022 adaptation of Persuasion, starring Dakota Johnson and directed by Carrie Cracknell, is definitely a Wine Aunt.
Arguing About ‘The Matrix’ with My Middle-School Self
Rewatching the film as a non-religious adult, I’m glad I have grown out of my extremely narrow sense of certainty. But it also makes me wonder: how much have I actually changed?
Non-Zero-Sum Game: How ‘Arrival’ Reframes Alien First Contact
Denis Villeneuve’s Arrival makes such a strong impact because it reveals itself as a hopeful piece of science fiction.
Bad Miracles: 9 Symmetries in ‘Signs’ and ‘Nope’
I’m sure I’m not the only one who left the showing of Jordan Peele's Nope reminiscing about M. Night Shyamalan’s Signs, another sci-fi film I absolutely love.
Reappraising ‘The Family Stone’
I didn’t love Thomas Bezucha’s 2005 Christmas dramedy The Family Stone when I first saw it. But I’ve come to realize it’s actually one of the great Christmas movies.
What If ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ Never Existed?
My love of movies, Christmas, and life itself would look very different without Frank Capra’s 1946 masterpiece.
7 Hard-Boiled Lessons from Noir Films Old and New
I take comfort in knowing that film noir—a genre that has existed for almost 100 years—has seen it all before. So here are few timeless, hard-won lessons and the noir films that illustrate them.
Why I Love Noir: A Confession
You really wanna know why I like noir? All right, pull up a chair and gimme a light. I’ll tell you what I know.
Home Is Where the Monsters Are: The Strange Sanctuary of ‘Little Monsters’ and ‘Nightbreed’
Little Monsters and Nightbreed, introduced within the horror universe in 1989 and 1990, both illustrate the benefits of discovering asylum outside of personal calamity in a realm occupied by monsters.