Tedious masterpiece: The Shining

Posted on August 21, 2011 by Bill Wren

I love Stanley Kubrick but I hate his movies. Yes, hate is a bit strong. Let’s say dislike. I just find his films boring. At the same time, I find them visually brilliant and fascinating. I can’t think of any … Read more →

Posted in Drama | 2 Comments

Easy Living (1937)

Posted on May 7, 2011 by Bill Wren

Directed by Mitchell Leisen Several things distinguish Easy Living but the two that stand out for me are Preston Sturges and Jean Arthur. While the movie isn’t directed by Sturges (it was directed by Mitchell Leisen), he wrote the screenplay … Read more →

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Easy Living (1937): Everybody fall down

Posted on May 7, 2011 by Bill Wren

When a an expensive fur coat falls on her head, Mary Smith’s life of scraping together enough for food and rent turns upside down. She suddenly finds herself in a world of wealth, as she’s mistakenly perceived of as the … Read more →

Posted in Comedy, Romance | Leave a comment

The strange love of movies – Cinema Paradiso

Posted on February 26, 2011 by Bill Wren

I last watched Cinema Paradiso about ten years ago. I’ve been meaning to watch it again for a long time but two things have held me back: the length (almost three hours — I don’t ever seem to have the … Read more →

Posted in Directors, Movies, Romance | 1 Comment

I Wake Up Screaming (1941)

Posted on February 15, 2011 by Bill Wren

Directed by H. Bruce Humberstone As I watched I Wake Up Screaming last night I had two thoughts running concurrently. First, this should not be a good movie. Second, somehow it manages to be a good movie. How does that … Read more →

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The accidental film noir: I Wake Up Screaming

Posted on February 15, 2011 by Bill Wren

It’s Day 2 of For the Love of Film (Noir) — don’t forget to donate here (or use the button on the right). Today I have a quickly scribbled, un-proofed, un-thought through look at the movie I watched last night. … Read more →

Posted in Blather, Crime, Noir | 4 Comments

Film noir and film preservation

Posted on February 4, 2011 by Bill Wren

If we actually lived in a film noir world, there would be a certain futility in trying to preserve a movie. What would be the point? Nothing lasts; everything dies. It’s all hopeless … in a film noir world. Fortunately … Read more →

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