Tag: Film Criticism
HAVE YOU EVER QUESTIONED THE NATURE OF REALITY?
Westworld and the Courage of Storytellers An Essay, December 29, 2019 *** “Have you ever questioned the nature of your own reality?” — Bernard Lowe (Jeffrey Wright) With the release of Season 3 of Westworld just a few months away, HBO has again promised to create a lavish, though probably slightly distasteful, experience for […] Read More
Post Mortem: ‘AD ASTRA’
Dark Portrayals of White Male Angst (An essay by John Burke, Sept 30, 2019) *** Months ago I bought into the media blitz for the newest science fiction blockbuster starring Brad Pitt called Ad Astra (wr. Ethan Gross and James Gray/dir. James Gray). Not since the 2016 release of Arrival (wr. Eric Heisserer/dir. Denis Villeneuve) […] Read More
ONCE UPON A TIME IN … WTF?
(An essay by John Burke, August 21, 2019) *** No one would be surprised to learn that Hollywood films have a problematic relationship with violence. Such violence is so ubiquitous it hardly bears mentioning any more. Of late, there has been an emerging trend in cinematic violence that seems to be both deliberate and disturbing. […] Read More
Post Mortem: ‘FIRST MAN’
First Man and the Distorted Shape of Heroism An Essay. October 30, 2018 *** A very wise film producer once told me that ‘competence is inherently un-cinematic.’ To competently do your job without fanfare is a quality that cannot be filmed in a compelling way because, in film, the need for drama overrules all other […] Read More
Post Mortem – ‘GHOST IN THE SHELL’
White-washing and ‘Ghost in the Shell’ An Essay, April 27, 2018 The opening sequence of the 2017 version of Ghost in the Shell (wr. Jamie Moss, William Wheeler and Ehren Kruger/dir. Rupert Sanders) is a beautiful series of shots depicting the creation of the android called The Major (played by Scarlett Johansson). Visually stunning, it […] Read More
I’ve Seen Things …
Blade Runner 2049 and the Problem With Sequels An Essay, November 8, 2017 *** “I’ve seen things you people wouldn’t believe. Attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion. I watched C-beams glitter in the dark near the Tannhäuser Gate. All those moments will be lost in time… like tears in the rain. Time […] Read More
Post Mortem – ‘PASSENGERS’
‘Passengers’ and the Subtle Sexism of Hollywood An Essay, May 12, 2017 *** The movie ‘Passengers’ was one of those year-end Holiday movies that came and went, making little in the way of a lasting impression. Repeat viewings were non-existent, so, within a few weeks, it was gone from the theatres, destined for a weak […] Read More