25 years ago today, Spike Lee released Do the Right Thing (HU DVD 38), a landmark film about race relations that nearly speaks for itself. The film generated enormous controversy at its release, with one critic calling it “dynamite under every seat.” It immediately became a cultural touchstone and quickly cemented its status as one […]
Continue readingMonthly Archives: June 2014
Before The Interview: films that drew international and political outrage
Among the more unusual recent film headlines, Kim Jong-un has threatened war over an upcoming film, The Interview, that depicts Seth Rogen and James Franco attempting to assassinate the North Korean leader. It’s not often that a mid-budgeted comedy sparks an international crisis and calls for violent retaliation. Come to think of it, has this […]
Continue readingRIP Eli Wallach, supporting actor legend
Audiences might remember him best as Tuco (The Ugly) from The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, but Eli Wallach was an actor of enormous range. Working on film and television well into his 90s, Wallach was the ultimate supporting actor, a man whose prolific appearances who brought life to every film in which he […]
Continue readingNewly unearthed first works shed light on famous directorial styles
Directors with large bodies of work often develop distinctive styles. Once you these signatures for the first time, their earlier films become exciting treasure hunts for glimpses of their trademarks yet to develop. You might get a glimpse of the Coen brothers yet to emerge, for example, when watching Blood Simple. If you enjoy playing […]
Continue readingMysterious Hellraiser VHS terrorizes London
Well, this is moderately terrifying: London appears to be cursed by some sort of lo-fi demon. Some time in 2011, a VHS copy of Clive Barker’s 1987 horror opus Hellraiser appeared on top of a specific bus stop on Old Kent Road. As documented by Time Out London, that VHS has been lingering there for […]
Continue readingNew Acquisitions – June 2014
If the weather for the rest of June is going to be anything like it is now, we’re in for a scorching summer. Do you need a good reason to stay inside right about now? What better way to fight the heat than to curl up on the couch and watch movies until your eyes […]
Continue readingScience confirms that Paul Thomas Anderson is the master of your eyes
The intersection of science and art has always yielded fascinating insights. As much as filmmaking is an art that requires a carefully trained eye and excellent talent to pull off, scientific studies often find surprising and actionable evidence of how we process and respond to images. That might take some of the artistry out of […]
Continue readingAlternative programming: Extra time with South Africa
Soccer might not be a big sport in the United States, but the World Cup is without a doubt the biggest global athletic event. Media outlets estimate that over 3 billion people will watch the World Cup this year, and it stands a chance of becoming the most watched event in human history. That said, […]
Continue readingWant to see how the Emmy sausage is made? Now’s your chance
We’ve previously covered the shadowy process behind Oscar nominations. It’s unclear how films are nominated, and that’s a frequent criticism of the Academy. When Ben Affleck was passed over for a Best Director Oscar for Argo, it caused understandable alarm regarding the transparency and politicization of the process. In contrast, the Emmy’s are letting everything […]
Continue readingHungry for more free movies? BYT has the master sheet of outdoor film events
Over the last few weeks, we’ve been slowly trickling out posts about upcoming DC film festivals. Ten days into June, we figure it’s time to rip the Band-Aid off. DC culture hotspot Brightest Young Things has compiled a list of all current and upcoming film festivals in the area. It’s a very handy one-stop guide […]
Continue reading