Kurosawa’s Rashomon is a masterpiece on at least two levels: the use of deep focus photography combined with character blocking compositions (which rivals Citizen Kane- which is funny because Kane is also the film the

The debut form from Andrew Patterson- starts strongly- opening in a very strong interior frame of a living room and retro television this stunner of a symmetrical frame opening and the ensuing tracking shot into

Fixed Bayonets! is Fuller’s fourth film, and a cousin and companion piece to his third (Steel Helmets)- both about the Korean war, shot in 1951, visceral—a trademark of Fuller’s, starring Gene Evans, description of equipment

Fuller’s third film and best to date in 1951Often cited as the first Korean war movie, true to Fuller’s standard operation- shot in 10 days Starts with a trademark Sam Fuller close-up (often uncomfortably close

A step back after Stray Dog, Kurosawa’s previous film. And of course this is the film directly before Rashomon. Montage heavy first 15 minutes- low ASL (average shot length)A very nice tracking shot at 65

Kaurismäki is an auteur who has amassed a strong body of work—and only as a collection can the work be properly appreciated -- but The Man Without a Past is one of his best works

A roller-coaster, a time bomb, a heart-attack—you pick the analogy--- the Safdie brothers have confirmed their arrival as major auteurs, in a big way, with Uncut Gems. Their specific brand of narrative propulsion is their

Kurosawa takes De Sica’s Bicycle Thieves concept the year before, a stolen object (in this case a colt pistol) as the driving force for the narrative. At some point this film evolves into a compelling

A flawed work from Brian De Palma but it’s De Palma—meaning there are some exceptional cinematic moments paired (often right alongside) some cringe-worthy storytelling/writing and pulpy pop psychologyThe psychological thriller, De Palma always the Hitchcock

A fascinating true story of forgery and deception- fits with Fuller’s obsession with exposing the sordid underbelly or ugly truthShot by James Wong Howe (Hud, Seconds – both would come later of course but Body

Sam Fuller’s debut, and in typical Fuller fashion it was shot on almost no-budget in 10 days. Much of the acting in Fuller’s filmography is suspect— but John Ireland here is one of the exceptions—he’s

A stellar debut from Turkish director (and shot in Turkey) Deniz Gamze Ergüven— certainly the plot is similar to Sofia Coppola’s debut in 1999- The Virgin Suicides A strong debut from Turkish director (and shot