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Remake/Remodel: The Time Machine (1960) vs. The Time Machine (2002)
H.G. Wells’ The Time Machine is one of the most important novels of the modern age. You’ll notice, little reader, that I do not give that statement the asterisk of “science fiction” or its
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Oeuvre: De Palma: Mission to Mars
At some point in De Palma’s career, his trademark borrowing of themes and scenes ceased reflecting a respect for directors who came before him. They were no longer homage or reflected joy of the
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Rediscover: Portrait of Jason
A filmmaker with an acute interest in truth, Shirley Clarke used her camera as an investigative tool, attempting to enter the realm of genuine experience while always preserving a sense of suspicion. Fascinated by
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Remake/Remodel: Rollerball (1975) vs. Rollerball (2002)
The conceit of William Harrison’s short story, “Roller Ball Murder,” presents an intriguing blend of high and low satire. Primarily aimed at a pan-national corporate oligarchy, its commentary also leaves room for criticism for
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Oeuvre: De Palma: Snake Eyes
To put it kindly, Brian De Palma’s output in the ‘90s was…erratic. After a sharp upswing in his commercial fortunes with The Untouchables and then critically with Casualties of War at the end of
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Criminally Underrated: So I Married an Axe Murderer
In recent years, Mike Myers has seen his star fall with the fury of well, a dying star. Like his fellow “Saturday Night Live” alumnus Eddie Murphy, he transitioned from television to massively successful
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Revisit: Heaven’s Gate
Is it possible to watch Heaven’s Gate today without the taint of its history creeping into one’s interpretation? Some films just have that stink about them: Ishtar, Cutthroat Island, Battlefield Earth, those towering career-killers
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Re-make/Re-model: Abre Los Ojos vs. Vanilla Sky
The inherent peril of Hollywood remaking a recently successful foreign film is that, unlike updating decades-old films for modern audiences, the contemporary remake can usually only offer greater accessibility to its source material through
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Oeuvre: De Palma: Mission: Impossible
There is a strange sort of genius in Brian De Palma directing an ostentatious summer blockbuster like Mission: Impossible (1996). His easily-recognizable bundle of trademarks should fit snugly into the modern reboot of a
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Criminally Underrated: Intolerable Cruelty
Intolerable Cruelty is by no means the least-liked Coen Brothers film; it’s not even their least-liked screwball comedy (that honor goes to the equally underrated The Hudsucker Proxy). The film received mostly positive reviews
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