When we think about critically acclaimed and popular television, we usually turn to gripping procedurals like Game of Thrones and Mad Men. Compared to other popular sitcoms or dramas, these shows tend to be tense but protracted, using their episodic nature to develop characters and events with chess-like methodology. Many complain that these shows tend […]
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Watch Steven Soderbergh’s extra-long speech about the state of film
It looks like filmmaker Steven Soderbergh wasn’t kidding when he said he was retiring. A few day ago, Soderbergh gave a keynote speech at the San Francisco Film Festival. It was exactly as upbeat as you might expect from an auteur who left Hollywood in disillusionment. For nearly 40 minutes, Soderbergh delivered a rambling assault […]
Continue readingThe Invisible War screening on campus tonight at 8pm
The Invisible War, the 2012 documentary about sexual assault in the US military, has made significant waves in the military community since its release; then-Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta used the film as a starting point for broader program to address sexual assault in the military. It’s a powerful documentary. It may be emotionally difficult […]
Continue readingBurning question: Does Best Picture matter?
With all the Oscar hullabaloo (of which we’re guilty as well), it’s easy to accept that the Oscars matter, that the acting winners represent the fines that Hollywood offers, and that an institution as venerated as the Academy is the official tastemaker. Take a step back and read this interesting and controversial opinion from Rob […]
Continue readingBlu-rays are growing, but is it enough for physical media?
It’s no secret that many movie studios rely on DVD sales to make films profitable. Some smaller companies with a direct-to-video model rely exclusively on them. Despite Hollywood seeing record box office returns this year, Bloomberg reports that DVD sales are noticeably declining. High-definition Blu-rays are becoming more popular, but the total amount spent on […]
Continue readingA. O. Scott: Film is alive and well
Back in September we posted an article asking if television had overtaken film as the medium of our time. It was part of a long string of opinion pieces writing the obituary for film culture. It seems only fair to post a rebuttal. New York Times film critic A. O. Scott has a new piece […]
Continue readingHas television captured the zeitgeist?
If you think about the most popular and highly reviewed media of the year, much of it is from television. Breaking Bad, Game of Thrones, and Homeland are all having their moment in the sun. Meanwhile, landmark films such as The Master are playing to receptive audiences in arthouses while Resident Evil: Retribution is at […]
Continue readingControversial documentary re-ignites a political crisis
This past Tuesday, Israeli courts absolved the state of responsibility for the death of Rachel Corrie, an American peace activist who was killed during the demolition of Palestinian homes in Gaza. Tempers have flared around the case, alternately framing Rachel Corrie as either a victim of circumstance or a political casualty. In 2008, filmmaker Simone Bitton […]
Continue readingTime Out New York crowns the greatest New York films
Here’s your controversial (if slightly old) link of the day: Time Out New York has compiled a list of the top 100 movies set in New York City. They put together a fairly complete list – but of course, you can dispute the ones at the top. Judging by the comments section, there are some […]
Continue readingShould we be enhancing the classics?
With The Hobbit hitting theaters at the end of the year in ultra-high-definition, it’s no wonder that electronics manufacturers are racing to produce televisions and home videos with the brightest colors and crispest image. But in this dash for image quality, they might be losing some clarity. What about films with intentionally dark palettes or […]
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