Cinema A La Carte

The “little” film EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE (2022), independently made, but picked up by A24 for distribution, basically out of nowhere became a major hit and also won seven Oscars at the Academy Awards.  Part science fiction, part comedy, part family drama, the movie received great reviews while also making a strong box office.From IMDB:  A middle-aged Chines

Legal thrillers have been a staple of Hollywood films for decades.  Long before the rating system and when film was black and white, they dominated theaters.  In 2007, the film MICHAEL CLAYTON became a big hit.  It was more a character study than just a legal thriller, and it included such topics as business corruption, mental illness, and family drama too.Michael Cl

Terry Gilliam has been a very “confusing” director.  His films are sometimes called inaccessible.  Whether it is TIME BANDITS (1981), BRAZIL (1985), or FEAR AND LOATHING IN LAS VEGAS (1998), his work is very distinct.  In 1995, his film 12 MONKEYS did have his various traits and also was a well received science fiction film with originality.In apocalyptic 2035, w

After his controversial chapter in the ALIEN film franchise, ALIEN 3 (1992), David Fincher went on a spree of some seriously remarkable films.  With a few minor films, he had a run of classics such as SEVEN (1995), THE GAME (1997), FIGHT CLUB (1999), ZODIAC (2007), THE SOCIAL NETWORK (2010) and GONE GIRL (2014).  His THE GAME, though a minor success at the box office, was

Not often is there a film that comes around like 2017’s THREE BILLBOARS OUTSIDE EBBING, MISSOURI.  Some feel the movie is almost perfect.  It was nominated for many awards, won a whole lot, and will probably be remembered more so than the films it competed against. Mildred Hayes (Frances McDormand) is a grieving mother.  A year prior her daughter was raped and

Shane Black has many successes, especially with screenwriting.  Some of his best known are LETHAL WEAPON, THE MONSTER SQUAD, and PREDATOR (all 1987), as well as IRON MAN 3 (2013).  His sense of humor and his apt work on action scenes has given many of his scripts great praise.  But he has directed too including our latest choice to discuss on Cinema A La Carte, KISS

Survival films aren’t necessarily the most popular genre but many of them are highly remembered.  Whether it was such cinema as THE GRAY (2011), THE REVENANT (2015), or CAST AWAY (2000), many are considered classic cinema and highly regarded.  In 1997, the movie THE EDGE, written by David Mamet and directed by Lee Tamahori, oddly slipped through the cracks when first re

Canadian filmmaker David Cronenberg is best known for his grindhouse and midnight movies back in the 1970’s and 1980’s, but as his career has evolved, he has become known as an award winning director for his dramas and thrillers as well.  In 2005, his movie A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE stunned audiences with his real world implications.  Based off the graphic novel of the sa

Lincoln Child is one of today’s best selling authors.  His set of novels based off the special ops private eye Jack Reacher have been some of the favorite books by thriller and mystery fans.   In 2012, Tom Cruise was able to star and produce the feature motion picture, JACK REACHER, based off the first book in the series, ONE SHOT (2005).  The film was directe

One of the biggest directors over the last forty years is also one of the least prolific.  Michael Mann has been synonymous with thrillers, sometimes shockingly violent and most certainly very stylish.  Even prior to THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS (1991), he had already directed Hannibal Lector in the adaptation MANHUNTER (1986) of Thomas Harris’ novel, Red Dragon.  Howe