Child’s Play: The Degeneration of Blockbusters
Alexander Huls argues blockbusters been reduced to giant CGI toy sets for directors. How did that happen?
Archives
Black FIlm and TV Directors in 2013: A Progress Report
By all accounts, 2013 has been a striking year for black film directors. But is the real story about black directors working in television?
The Twelve Scenes of Christmas: Numbers 4 to 1
The completion of our countdown of twelve great Chirstmas-set scenes from the movies. Check out #4–#1.
Video of Roger’s Interview of Peter O’Toole in 2002 at Telluride
Roger’s conversation with Peter O’Toole at the 2002 Telluride Film Festival
An uncommon man: Peter O’Toole, 1932-2013
Peter O’Toole, who died this weekend at 81, was great in great films and great fun in bad ones, and equally convincing as a rascal and a saint.
Thumbnails 12/20/2013
“Tower Prep” was cancelled because it was too girl-centric; the year’s 10 best movie quotes; the year’s worst movie titles; the real sins of the Welfare Queen; the aptly named Wiseman speaks.
Thumbnails 12/19/2013
Paul Rudd is Ant Man; Richard Linklater on “Before Midnight’s” fight scene; why stars we dig often work with stars we despise; “G.B.F.” was rated R for being gay; “Her” and the sad-sack sensitive man.
Thumbnails 12/18/2013
“The Stream” finally may be drying up; Beyoncé the feminist; top 2013 horror films; Shia Labeouf ponies up; “Fraggle Rock” is still the best.
Thumbnails 12/23/2013
Sizing up “The Wolf of Wall Street”; our weird tendency to sexualize technology; Dame Vengeance aka Judith Anderson; beefcakes are the new cheesecakes; Ty Burr on “Inside Llewyn Davis.”
The Twelve Scenes of Christmas: Numbers 8 to 5
Part two of our countdown of twelve great scenes set around Christmas: #8–#5.
The Twelve Scenes of Christmas: Numbers 12 to 9
We’re counting down twelve great movie scenes set around Christmas. Here is the first batch, with #12 through #9.
Adam McKay Returns to Comedy Spotlight with “Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues”
“Anchroman 2: The Legend Conitunes” director Adam McKay talks about Mel Brooks, 1980s television news and Ron Burgundy’s pet shark.
Critic Awards Begin to Shape the Oscar Race
Critics groups from around the country are giving awards. What impact do these awards have on the Oscar race, and how useful are they as predictors?
Joan Fontaine: 1917–2013
Dan Callahan has an appreciation of the career of Joan Fontaine.
“Life Itself” filmmakers host Roger’s friends and colleagues in live Twitter chats
Friends and colleagues of Roger will share stories and answer questions on the Twitter feed of the new doc about Roger, “Life Itself,” in a series of live chats.
Tiffany Shlain Works on “The Science of Character”
Tiffany Shlain is exploring the science of character, and it’s fascinating research.
“A responsibility to be truthful”: Director Justin Chadwick on “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom”
Director Justin Chadwick talks about the making of “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom.”
Who Represents? On “Laurence Anyways” and Trans Characters in Film
Vex Poet on “Laurence Anyways” and the complicated question of who gets to speak for the trans community.
Fire and Ice: On Box Office for Films with Women as Protagonists
For the last three weeks, two films with female protagonists (“The Hunger Games: Catching Fire” and “Frozen”) have been at the top of the box office. Carrie Rickey does some numbers on the history of box office numbers and films with women as protagonists.
