Psycho (1960)- Alfred Hitchcock

When you think of great American directors, what are some names that come to mind? Let's see...Orson Wells, John Ford, etc. etc. And of course, you think of Alfred Hitchcock, which is awkward because he was actually British. But whatever.

Alfred Hitchcock is hands-down one of the most influential and prolific directors in American history. He was a total badass who not only contributed to the craft of filmmaking through innovative filmmaking techniques, but also made freakishly entertaining movies.

He's such a big name in film that you may have even questioned my credibility because it's taken me this long to write about one of his movies. Either way, Psycho is a film that has withstood the test of time that still haunts modern viewers.




Find the IMDb summary here.

Back from the Dead...

Hello fellow film fanatics!

After long nights of grading papers, writing papers, and reading papers, my descent into midterm hell has finally ended. I am beginning to see the light at the end of the semester, which means...FILM POSTS ARE COMING BACK! I've gotten the chance to see quite a few films between the last time I posted and now, so get ready for some exciting new film discussion!

Look for a new post this coming Monday! On what film, you ask? In honor of the just-celebrated-holiday, Halloween...Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho!

Until then, I leave you with this picture of a pug in a Christmas outfit. Good day to you.

Hello, blogging friends!

You may be asking yourself, "BUT WHERE IS THE NEW POST? I wait all week for your movie reviews!"

I just wanted to take this opportunity to apologize that there has not been a new review this week and explain why.

If you read my bio, you know that I am a grad student. The semester is approaching half-way done, so that means midterm season.

What is midterm season, you ask? Well, let me tell you. Come closer. A little closer...

IT'S A TIME WHERE EVERYTHING IN THE WHOLE WORLD IS DUE AT THE EXACT SAME TIME.

It's ok, though. I will get through victorious. Until then, however, there may not be a new post until next week (or perhaps even the week after that). And for that, I am sorry.

Until next time, feel free to read the Movie News I've posted. Perhaps it will get you pumped for upcoming films!

So for now, I bid you adieu. And leave you with this picture of Nic Cage at a liquor store at 9AM.

You can thank me later.

Death at a Funeral (2007)- Frank Oz

The biggest problems with movies are expectations.
-Frank Oz

It is no secret that I love the Brits. They have thousands upon thousands of years of really cool history. They have been the creators of awesome music. They love drinking beer. And tea. They have a long tradition of film scholarship, study, and general movie lovin'. What is also awesome about the British?

From Monty Python and the Holy Grail. 

This. This right here. What can I say...British humor appeals to my dry, sarcastic side. It's not for everyone. But if you, like me, appreciate a good ol' fashioned British black comedy, you will really really REALLY like Frank Oz's 2007 film Death at a Funeral (not to be confused with Tyler Perry's 2010 remake).

Melancholia (2011)- Lars von Trier

More than anything, there are more images in evil. Evil is based far more on the visual, whereas good has no images at all.
-Lars von Trier

Danish director Lars von Trier is unusual, to say the least. When you mention his name, you are bound to have a division of opinions.

Why such controversy, you ask? Well, to begin, he associated with a new, avant-garde cinematic movement called Dogme 95. This movement called for making films using traditional rules of story, character, etc. and not using special effects. The movement served to heighten awareness of and interest in Danish filmmakers, which was awesome.

von Trier is also known for his use of unsimulated sex scenes in some of his films, as well as having his production company be the first mainstream film company to produce hardcore pornographic films.  His pornographic films were mainly directed toward a female audience, changing the way the stories were told to appeal to a demographic that traditionally had gone ignored in the genre.

While infamous for the above reasons, von Trier is also well-known for his stunning visuals, visuals that are unmatched and completely distinct to him as a director. Melancholia is no different.

Haven't seen it? Read the summary here!

The Hurt Locker (2008)- Kathryn Bigelow

I don't want to be made pacified or made comfortable. I like stuff that gets your adrenaline going.
-Kathryn Bigelow

If you don't know of Kathryn Bigelow, then you totally should. She is a painter. She has works in MoMA's permanent collection. Oh, and she was the first woman in Oscar history to win Best Director for The Hurt Locker. Learn more about her bad self here.

Initial Reaction: I had seen The Hurt Locker the year it was released, and I remember thinking that it was easily one of my favorite war movies. I felt like I was on edge the entire film and didn't ever really get a rest. The aesthetic techniques she uses to portray war, violence, and death received some criticism, as some believed that she perhaps glamorized war by making some of the scenes too "beautiful." I personally don't agree, and while she does uses techniques that break the "realness" of war, I thought that the film was gritty, powerful, and sure to leave you breathless.

Haven't seen it? Find the summary here.

The Grapes of Wrath (1940)- John Ford

How did I get to Hollywood? By train. -John Ford

Arguably one of American's greatest directors, John Ford was admired by the likes of Orson Welles for his artistry. While he did do other types of films, he was and still is best known for his Westerns. He won 4 Oscars for Best Director, a record that still stands today. Maybe there really is no argument, then. He was an interesting guy, never really considering himself an artist. But as history has shown us, many of the greats don't. Read all about him here. 


Initial reaction: I've read John Steinbeck's novel The Grapes of Wrath, and to be honest, I wasn't sure how I would like the movie before I saw it. I appreciated the story within the context of the Great Depression, and Steinbeck is a very moving author, so I thought it would be difficult to translate such a story to the film. However, I felt that the film did an excellent job inserting cinema-specific elements that highlighted the mood of the novel, which was a sad one. And visually, it's absolutely stunning.

Haven't seen it? Not familiar with the story? Find the IMDb summary here.

Midnight in Paris (2011)- Woody Allen

I don't want to achieve immortality through my work...I want to achieve it through not dying. - Woody Allen

Ahhhh, Woody Allen. What can I say about this iconic American director that hasn't already been said? I begin my blog with thoughts on his most recent film, Midnight in Paris.

A Beginning

Hello, fellow movie enthusiasts!

My name is Danielle, and I am a lover of all things film. I especially like talking with other people who love movies just as much as I do, so I am excited to use this blog as a platform for the discussion of all things cinema.

Before I begin, I wanted to give a bit of insight as to how my reviews will go. First off, I take a pretty cinephiliac approach to reviews. Cinephilia is the extreme love or passion for the cinema. Have you ever watched a movie and had a particular moment give you goosebumps and you couldn't explain why? Those are exactly the kind of moments I believe are the reasons movies are so special. My cinephiliac approach favors looking at the details that strike a cord with me for some reason, and then exploring those moments further.

I also enjoy finding allusions and homages to other movies within movies. It's like a scavenger hunt of movie trivia. One of the directors whose work I particularly enjoy siphoning through is that of Quentin Tarantino. So be prepared for a Tarantino bias from me.

So here is how I normally set up my reviews...

I normally begin with an initial reaction. This could either be a reaction that I have before watching a movie for the first time, or possibly a reaction I have to re-watching an old favorite.

From there, I will either pose a question for myself to answer during the screening or simply pick out 2-3 moments from the film that really stuck with me. From there, it's pretty much free-flowing thought.

What that means is that very rarely do I engage with the plot directly. What I will do, however, is post the link to the IMDb page for those who would like to read the summary. Not to worry if you haven't seen the film- I've got your back. I may also include a final "Did I like it?" question that encompasses the entire movie. 

I guess what's most important to remember overall is that these are my own personal opinions. You may have a completely different opinion- either about my analysis of moments, scenes, or my overall rating- and that's totally fine! I encourage and welcome differing opinions and viewpoints- that's what higher thinking is all about, after all! 

I can't wait to hear what all of you have to say about your personal cinephiliac moments. Let's go to the movies!