On Friday, Jan. 12, the Denver Film Critics Society—19 writers, broadcasters, and bloggers working in and around the Mile High City, of which I am one—announced their picks for the best of 2023. Of the 38 movies nominated, Barbie and … Continue reading And the winner is…
On Friday, Jan. 5, the Denver Film Critics Society—19 writers, broadcasters, and bloggers working in and around the Mile High City, of which I am one—announced their nominees for the best of 2023. In total, 33 movies received nominations, with … Continue reading And the nominees are…
Storytelling is creativity within limitations. And when your story takes place in a fantasy world—be it with dragons, lightsabers, or toys—there are really only two options in front of you: Remain in the fantasy and make the fantastical realistic, or … Continue reading BARBIE
It all started so well. There was love, and there was kindness. There was understanding, and there was support. And then one day, there wasn’t. The supports were taken out, kindness gave way to cordiality, and romantic love dissolved into … Continue reading MARRIAGE STORY
By its very nature, cinema is a collaborative art. As Orson Welles said, “A writer needs a pen, an artist needs a brush, but a filmmaker needs an army.” To whom then does a movie belong? In his 1954 essay, … Continue reading HITCHCOCK/TRUFFAUT
Roughly two-thirds into Mistress America, a series of characters criticize another’s short story. Mainly for being shallow plagiarism, but of all the harsh criticism hurled at the author, the line, “Just like the rest of your generation; everything a pastiche” lands … Continue reading MISTRESS AMERICA
I grew up in the heat of 70s postmodern fiction and post-Godard films, and there was this idea that what mattered was the theory or meta in art. My film is emotional rather than meta, and that’s my rebellion. —Noah … Continue reading Born On This Day — September 3, 1969
I try not to analyze the characters when I’m writing, but I’m very analytical in my life. —Noah Baumbach Continue reading Born On This Day — September 3
Frances (Greta Gerwig) is a bit of a mess. She is trying to make her way in the world, but she doesn’t have the first clue about how to do it. Owning not much more than a laptop, a stack … Continue reading FRANCES HA
Michael J. Cinema 