Diner – 1982

The acting in Diner isn’t impressive, the cast was basically a group of unknowns at the time, but their chemistry is its selling point. The film takes a look at a group of men in their early twenties who are slowly drifting apart as life pulls them in different directions. Each man has his own […]

Three Kings – 1999

David O. Russell knows comedy. He understands how it works and what is necessary to sustain it, but he also understands when it shouldn’t be the central focus. His war comedy film Three Kings takes a bad situation and puts a comedic spin on it, as four soldiers discover a map to hidden gold in […]

The Big Sick – 2017

True stories are always better in the movies. The real story is never quite as interesting or as succinct. There has never been an occasion where the real story had to be toned down so the film wouldn’t be too interesting. Kumail Nanjiani is both one of the writers and the star of this film, […]

Jour de Fête – 1949

Jacques Tati was a comedic master. His films exploited the simplicity of life and the conflict that occurred as new technological innovations came into play. Jour de Fête is no exception and it isn’t here that he got a taste for the slapstick comedy that defined his career. Here he is Francois the mailman, who […]

Sideways – 2004

Paul Giamatti is a sad sack. Maybe not in real life, but he plays one extremely well, Sideways is no exception. Directed by, the always masterful, Alexander Payne, Sideways is the story of two men on a week-long wine tasting in California before one’s upcoming nuptials. Obviously, there are tons of things that happen between […]

The Fisher King – 1991

Mental illness is challenging to portray on film. It is often seen as insensitive to have someone who isn’t mentally ill portray a severe mental illness, but the severely mentally ill usually aren’t in a position to appear on screen in that capacity. This means that it falls to truly talented actors to take up […]