Category Archives: Uncategorized

3 things about Ashgar Farhadi’s A SEPARATION

A Separation [2011] 1. “The court doesn’t care about those things.” 2. She phones for advice. Is it sacrilegious to clean the old man? 3. Rather than hit his wife, he slaps himself violently over and over.

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3 things about Terry Zwigoff’s BAD SANTA

Bad Santa [2003] 1. “Well sure. Santa fucking someone in the ass …” John Ritter winces exquisitely. 2. Willie favors Old Grand-Dad Bonded Bourbon. 3. He uses the golf club as an axe to chop down the mannequin.

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3 things about Michel Hazanavicius’ THE ARTIST

The Artist [2011] 1. Over time, his mustache morphs from pencil-thin to brushlike. 2. “BANG!” 3. Malcolm McDowell’s ruddy nose (even in black & white).

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3 things about John Sturges’ THE GREAT ESCAPE

The Great Escape [1963] 1. Trouser leg dirt sleeves. 2. Richard Attenborough’s eye scar makeup seems to come and go. 3. He ends up back in the cooler with his baseball.

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3 things about Terrence Malick’s THE NEW WORLD

The New World [2005] 1. They share breath. 2. He carefully places her feather in the wooden box and closes the lid. 3. Waves crash against a beach of round, smooth stones.

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3 things about Alfred Hitchcock’s REBECCA

Rebecca [1940] 1. She hastily pops a chocolate into her mouth to cover up the taste of the medicine. 2. “A bunch of young people from London will come up and turn the place into a nightclub.” 3. Mrs. Danvers … Continue reading →

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3 things about Barbara Kopple’s HARLAN COUNTY U.S.A.

Harlan County U.S.A. [1976] 1. An elderly woman declares, “They can shoot me, but they can’t shoot the union out of me.” 2. With a straight face, a coal company attorney claims that black lung is no more common among … Continue reading →

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3 things about Sarah Polley’s AWAY FROM HER

Away From Her [2006] 1. She places the pot in the freezer. She realizes she’s done something odd, but she doesn’t realize why it’s odd. 2. “I think people are too demanding. People want to be in love every single … Continue reading →

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3 things about John Guillermin’s THE TOWERING INFERNO

The Towering Inferno [1974] 1. She carefully hands over the child before plunging to her death. 2. A movie with Fred Astaire that only shows him dancing for about 20 seconds. 3. “I don’t know. Maybe they just oughta leave … Continue reading →

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3 things about Jean Renoir’s THE RIVER

The River [1951] 1. For each bundle of jute a seashell is given, to be exchanged for payment. 2. She performs a celebratory wedding dance. Bending, swerving, bowing. The musicians play faster and faster. 3. “We go on as if … Continue reading →

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