Why would anyone want to leave CASABLANCA (1942)?
Dir. Michael Curtiz
The Paramount, 5/20/10, 7:00pm
When talking about classic film like Casablanca, the word “timeless” is often applied. But what do we mean when we say that Casablanca is timeless? After all, this is a film set in a very specific place and time (Vichy-controlled Morocco in the early 1940s), with characters dealing [...]
Working class despair aside, IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946)
Dir. Frank Capra
The Paramount, 12/16/09, 9:45pm
In recent years, critics have wondered how Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life became such a beloved Christmas tradition, considering how dark and chilling the film’s final act can be. Sure, the film culminates with a wonderful display of gratitude and affection that will have you in tears whether [...]
The music’s the thing in WHITE CHRISTMAS (1954)
Dir. Michael Curtiz
The Paramount, 12/16/09, 7:00pm
Having never seen White Christmas before, I looked forward to seeing it for the first time at Austin’s Paramount Theatre. All I knew about the movie was its theme song, which I have heard, many times. Oddly enough, this song does not feature until the last scene of [...]
IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1946) is wonderful, full of life
Dir. Frank Capra
The Paramount, 12/16/09, 9:45pm
Frank Capra’s yule time yarn played as part of the very special Paramount Holiday series. It is a much loved film, one that I had not yet seen. I wasn’t too aware of the film, except that it was once in the public domain (a fact that explains [...]
THE ROAD (2009)
Dir. John Hillcoat
Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar, 11/25/09, 1:50pm
My journey toward really loving this movie spanned two screenings, and I can talk a bit about both of them here. I first saw The Road at the 2009 Austin Film Festival, and it was easily the film I was anticipating the most. Director John [...]
