10 Underrated Movies

Matthew McConaughey in director Bill Paxton's 2001 thriller Frailty.

A local friend of mine, a major movie buff and fellow CrossFitter, directed to me an idea for a discussion on underrated movies. He issued ten of his own and asked me for ten. This was two months ago. He ribbed me about not responding yesterday. I told him I had the list. Just needed to write it a bit up. It took me two months, but I finally came up with a list. 

Google Search: The Danger of a Single Story

Commentary on the Right's Fight Against Diversity and Awareness

As a secondary English teacher, I have trouble pinpointing what exactly it is I am looking for in a “favorite student.” For real, students constantly ask me “Who is your favorite student?” or “Am I your favorite student?” I never give a straight answer. How could I? That would just be wrong, even hurtful. 

There's a Place for Spielberg's West Side Story, Somehow, Somewhere

Encouraging All to See Spielberg's West Side Story in a theater before it's too late. 

I first saw it when I was in 8th grade. It was in Mr. Moore's Music Appreciation class. And boy! Did I appreciate it. It made me love musicals...forever. I had seen the Disney musicals of the era. I had even seen Grease, an okay musical, one that loses steam early and struggles to land much after "Greased Lightning." But West Side Story...it hit different. It was for me then. I believed in the magic of love. The music of Leonard Bernstein enlivened by Stephen Sondheim's words, metaphors, daggers through the heart of a hopeful boy that would last forever. 

Who Stole the American Dream? The Banking Bourgeoisie and Hell or High Water

A Critical Essay on the 2016 film Hell or High Water

The Speakeasies (or The Year in Movies according to Yours Truly) 2019

The best of 2019 in movies, according to yours truly.

Oscar 2020: The Wills, the Shoulds, and the Should Have Beens

In which I tell you what I think will happen on Oscar night (and what they got and will get wrong.)

Devouring the Oscars -- Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood for Best Picture

In which I make the case for Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood for Best Picture.

Devouring the Oscars -- Best Screenplay (Original)

Saturday Speaks (with Little Women, Cute Michelle Pfeiffer...and Links)

Thoughts on Movies and Whatever Else

December 29, 2019 to January 4, 2020

More Like a Drug

A24

Review: Uncut Gems (dir. Josh and Benny Safdie, 2019)

The Safdie Brothers are not interested in why. They only care about what. What it is to be addicted. What it is to be obsessed. What it is to be 100% aware of your own flaws and stay steadfast on a path of destruction anyway. They showed us this a couple years ago in "Good Time," a story of a failed bank robbery and the ensuing chase from the perspective a grade-A horror of a man played by Robert Pattinson. I would've given them all Oscars, if I got to choose such things. And now they've... nearly... done it again.