Best of the 2010s: Directorial Debut Films

There is something very exciting about a directorial debut. Obviously, the filmmaker is excited about their first chance to step behind the camera on a feature film, but, as an audience member or film writer of any kind, it is so fascinating to see the choices being made. Sometimes some of the boldest and most imaginative filmmakers present us with instant classics, other times newcomers deliver a product that may not be extraordinary filmmaking but which may still be a moving or exciting motion picture. In this month’s best of the decade list, I’m honoring the very best directorial debuts. Some of them are first works for potential auteurs, while others are impressive blockbuster entertainment from untested new filmmakers just learning the ropes. Continue reading “Best of the 2010s: Directorial Debut Films”

Top Ten Movie Villains of 2014

2014-villains
‘X-Men: Days of Future Past,’ 20th Century Fox

The following list contains spoilers for films from 2014.

It’s week five of the Heroes and Villains period of Top Ten Tuesday, and that brings us to 2014. 2014 was a truly great year for villains, and some of the villains on this list are some of my favorites of all-time. Do note that these characters aren’t solely ranked on how evil their actions are. Without further ado, here are the top ten movie villains of 2014.
Continue reading “Top Ten Movie Villains of 2014”

Inception, Nightcrawler, and Lost in Translation – Thespians & Filmmakers

'Inception,' Warner Bros.
‘Inception,’ Warner Bros.

In this post of Thespians & Filmmakers, I’m taking a look at the internet’s favorite director, as well as a breathtaking performance that the Academy Awards somehow overlooked. Let’s talk about Christopher Nolan, Jake Gyllenhaal, and Scarlett Johansson.
Continue reading “Inception, Nightcrawler, and Lost in Translation – Thespians & Filmmakers”

REVIEW: X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)

X-Men Apocalypse Poster

The following is a review of X-Men: Apocalypse, a Bryan Singer film.

I think X-Men: First Class is one of the most brilliant superhero-team movies ever made. The sequel, Days of Future Past, was a confident time-travel film, and I thought that film really worked well too. Indeed, since we’ve been met with the second wave of X-Men-films, starting with First Class in 2011, the franchise has been pretty spectacular. Sadly, X-Men: Apocalypse doesn’t work as well as the two X-Men-films that preceded it. Continue reading “REVIEW: X-Men: Apocalypse (2016)”

REACTION: Academy Awards 2015 Results


Here we are again on the eve of the Academy Awards. This year I had my heart set on Boyhood for Best Picture and Richard Linklater for Best Director – boy was I upset. Eventually Inarritu took it all, and I mean it all, even the screenplay award they were nominated for. I’m just saying, Academy – you should at least have given Linklater the Director Award if you were going to give Inarritu the scriptwriting award… Continue reading “REACTION: Academy Awards 2015 Results”

REVIEW: Nightcrawler (2014)

The following is a review of Nightcrawler — Directed by Dan Gilroy.

In Nightcrawler, the directorial debut of The Bourne Legacy-co-writer Dan Gilroy, we meet Louis Bloom (played by Jake Gyllenhaal) a guileful thief, desperate for a chance at a job. As Bloom traverses through Los Angeles at night, he, at one point, encounters Joe Loder (played by Bill Paxton), a so-called ‘stringer’ who makes a living by selling footage of violent crimes or accidents in the Los Angeles nightlife to local news stations. Bloom becomes intrigued, acquires a cam-corder and a police scanner, and slowly begins to climb up the ladder of relative success as an unscrupulous freelance photojournalist. But when Bloom then becomes an employer, he becomes decidedly unhinged. Bloom is a quick learner, and if he wants something, he’s prepared to take it by any means necessary. Continue reading “REVIEW: Nightcrawler (2014)”