Shirley Jackson (Elisabeth Moss) is precisely the type of writer you’d expect to meet if you’d read one of her stories: Distant, acerbic, and drunk. Her husband, Stanley Hyman (Michael Stuhlbarg), also fits the mold. He’s a college professor with … Continue reading SHIRLEY
Outside Sweden’s X-Royal museum of modern and contemporary art, a worker replaces the bricks in the cobblestone courtyard just so and lies down a luminous string of lights in the shape of a perfectly constructed square. This is the museum’s … Continue reading THE SQUARE
Wes Anderson’s cinematic style did not appear fully formed. It took a few movies over five years before Anderson locked in on formal compositions, planimetric framing, cuts along the 90-degree axis, diorama-esque interiors, Richard Scarry-like landscapes, idiosyncratic dialogue, peculiar characters, … Continue reading THE FRENCH DISPATCH
On Tuesday, Jan. 12, the Denver Film Critics Society—16 writers and broadcasters working in and around the Mile High City, of which I am one—announced their nominees for the best of 2020. In total, 42 movies received nominations with Minari … Continue reading And the nominees are…
On Friday, Jan. 8, the Denver Film Critics Society (DFCS)—16 writers and broadcasters working in and around the Mile High City, of which I am one—cast their preliminary ballots for this year’s DFCS awards. How it works: Members are asked … Continue reading Denver Film Critics Society 2020 Ballot
The story of Us begins in 1986, on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, with a young girl, Adelaide Wilson (Madison Curry), and her two parents. Dad’s a little drunk, but he does manage to win her a Thriller t-shirt and buy her … Continue reading US
The tower itself is a pinnacle of engineering. Rising 40 stories into the air, it curves slightly inward, like a finger curling towards the palm, as do the other four towers currently being erected—like the concrete hand of a god. … Continue reading HIGH-RISE
I want you to contextualize my sadness,” Philip says. “Put whatever you’re going through into perspective.” Philip delivers this line to his girlfriend, but he might as well address it directly to the camera. Or to the world. As far … Continue reading LISTEN UP PHILIP
If there is a lesson behind The One I Love, it is this, “Never look a gift horse in the mouth.” That’s it. Good night, folks. Enjoy the movie. You want more? What is it about? Well, that’s a little trickier. … Continue reading THE ONE I LOVE
Michael J. Cinema 