Author Archives: robchristopher

3 things about Josef von Sternberg’s SHANGHAI EXPRESS

Posted on February 3, 2021 by robchristopher

Shanghai Express [1932] 1. Alone in the darkness of her train compartment, only her hands visible. Clenching and unclenching. 2. She waves her hand and says, “I’m weary of you now.” 3. Anna May Wong’s exquisite eye makeup.

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3 things about Joseph Losey’s ACCIDENT

Posted on February 2, 2021 by robchristopher

Accident [1967] 1. “I never thanked you for introducing us.” “I didn’t.” 2. Black cat playing with the tennis net. 3. A wordless rendezvous. With words.

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3 things about James Lebrecht and Nicole Newnham’s CRIP CAMP

Posted on February 1, 2021 by robchristopher

Crip Camp [2020] 1. “The fact is, you can’t aspire to something better if you don’t know it exists.” 2. Sign: THE LADY AND THE RAMP. 3. Daily food deliveries from the Black Panthers.

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3 things about Frank Perry’s DIARY OF A MAD HOUSEWIFE

Posted on January 31, 2021 by robchristopher

Diary of a Mad Housewife [1970] 1.  A clock on top of the fridge in George’s apartment. 2. He wears gray slacks and brown socks at their first rendezvous. (Only in the 1970s!) 3. His apartment is on the fifth … Continue reading →

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3 things about Nina Paley’s SITA SINGS THE BLUES

Posted on January 29, 2021 by robchristopher

Sita Sings the Blues [2008] 1. Squadron of flying eyeballs. 2. Heart flashes. 3. Subject line of his email: DUMPSVILLE.

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3 things about Chan-wook Park’s THE HANDMAIDEN

Posted on January 25, 2021 by robchristopher

The Handmaiden [2016] 1. A thick rope in a hatbox on the top shelf in her closet. 2. He sweeps the severed fingers into a bucket on the floor. 3. Mercury vapors. A bit much …

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3 things about John Sturges’s BY LOVE POSSESSED

Posted on January 24, 2021 by robchristopher

By Love Possessed [1961] 1. He reaches for his drink. She puts her hand over the glass and says, “If I get drunk and pass out, it won’t be fun for me. If you get drunk and pass out, it … Continue reading →

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3 things about Pippa Ehrlich and James Reed’s MY OCTOPUS TEACHER

Posted on January 22, 2021 by robchristopher

My Octopus Teacher [2020] 1. Cradling the octopus like a baby. 2. Riding the shark’s back. 3. Puncturing the shell with its drill in precisely the right place. Extraordinary!

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3 things about Spike Lee’s DA 5 BLOODS

Posted on January 20, 2021 by robchristopher

Da 5 Bloods [2020] 1. Rusted-through bottom. 2. Hedy. 3. “You’re gonna fly.”

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3 things about Steve McQueen’s SMALL AXE: RED, WHITE AND BLUE

Posted on January 18, 2021 by robchristopher

Small Axe: Red, White and Blue [2020] 1. Literal poster boy. 2. Tracking them through the factory. 3. On his way out, he smashes up the billiards game.

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