The shadow of Alfred Hitchcock looms large in cinema. So much so that it’s hard to divorce his stylistic innovations from movies that may or may not have been influenced by him. Take Blow the Man Down, a recent release currently … Continue reading Two for the Master
On Sept. 26, 1991, eight scientists donned space-age jumpsuits, waved goodbye to a cheering audience and a bullpen loaded with news cameras, and entered Biosphere 2—3.14 acres of enclosed space designed to mimic the Earth’s environment. Their mission: Test humanity’s … Continue reading SPACESHIP EARTH
Based on a novel by Franz Kafka, The Trail is filmmaker Orson Welles at his most Wellesian. Anthony Perkins stars as K, a man accused of a crime he neither committed nor comprehends. K can ask all the questions he wants, but … Continue reading THE TRIAL
The second installment in Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman’s unofficial trilogy (Through a Glass Darkly, Winter Light, The Silence) is by far the best. Pastor Tomas (Gunnar Björnstrand) has misplaced his faith. He’s not sure where, and he’s not sure he wants to … Continue reading WINTER LIGHT (NATTVARDSGÄSTERNA)
It was a Saturday in July when Meursault killed the man. The man, an Arab, was lounging on the sun-drenched beach when Meursault approached. The Arab pulled a knife, shining sunlight in Meursault’s eyes. Meursault pulled a pistol and fired. … Continue reading THE STRANGER (LO STRANIERO)
Georges has a thing for his new jacket. It’s 100% deerskin—made in Italy—and he loves it. He might even be in love with it. And though the fringes are ridiculous and it doesn’t quite fit him, Georges sees nothing but … Continue reading DEERSKIN
We must never lose heart. We have to have trust until our last breath. Otherwise, what will become of us? Thanks to the pivot from physical to virtual theaters, CU-Boulder’s International Film Series (IFS) can extend its programming well beyond … Continue reading SÁTÁNTANGÓ
Filmmaker extraordinaire Alex Cox (Repo Man, Sid & Nancy, Walker) and CU-Boulder International Film Series curator Pablo Kjølseth have a weekly podcast where they talk movies while sipping beer. Since I specialize in both, they were kind enough to invite … Continue reading Cox & Kjølseth
As one seller says: There are collectors, and then there are the people who don’t know what the hell the collectors are doing. That’s putting it lightly. At least as The Booksellers—the new documentary from Greenwich Entertainment streaming via virtual theaters—is … Continue reading THE BOOKSELLERS
Michael J. Cinema 
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