The 1955 film Rififi should be screened and studied by every screenwriter and filmmaker. It is a near perfect example of a heist flick.
Read More »Film Columns
Movie Review: Not Even Bret Easton Ellis Can Save Us from ‘The Curse of Downers Grove’
With "The Curse of Downers Grove," horror fans will be left wondering what they just watched and Ellis fans will be left searching elsewhere for his missing sardonic wit.
Read More »DVD Review: ‘I-Lived’ from ‘Maniac’ Director Franck Khalfoun
This is been there, seen that, of the highest order.
Read More »Movie Review: ‘Six Gun Savior’ – Eric Roberts Brings the Sexy Back to Cowboy Boots
Westerns haven’t been sexy to Hollywood producers for a long time, but a plucky group of filmmakers is trying to change that. And they got Eric Roberts to play the devil with "Six Gun Savior."
Read More »Anthem FilmFest: Top 10 Libertarian Films Rock with Jennifer Lawrence, Scarlett Johansson and Natalie Portman
“When I grow up, I want to be Dr. Manhattan," was one of the responses Anthem Film Festival organizer Jo Ann Skousen received during the “Top 10 Films Every Libertarian Should Know” panel. Sometimes you get more than you ask for. After the audience joined the panel in suggesting films, well, there were a lot more than 10.
Read More »Anthem FilmFest: ‘Searching for Eddie Running Wolf’
Searching for Eddie Running Wolf, a feature length documentary by director Thomas Hartmann, defies easy classification.
Read More »Anthem Film Fest: County Charges Farmer $15,000 for Hosting a Birthday Party
Eight little girls at a birthday party on their neighbor’s farm; what could be more innocent than that?
Read More »Anthem FilmFest: Putting People Back Together
At the Anthem Film Festival, part of the libertarian FreedomFest conference July 8-11, 2015, at Planet Hollywood in Las Vegas, I was discussing films with a young woman who commented, “I like documentaries, but so many of them are so depressing. I want to see positive stories.” She was in the …
Read More »Anthem Film Fest: Help Me, Obi Penn Jillette – You’re My Only Hope
Producer Ted Balaker said, “There has always been outrage, but now with technology, we can supercharge outrage.”
Read More »Anthem FilmFest: Plato, Revolting, and Mendocino – All in a Cave
Ancient Greek philosopher Plato put in a couple of appearances at the Anthem Film Festival in Las Vegas, July 8-11. Two of the short films showed influence, if not direct inspiration, by Plato's tale of the cave, written 2,500 years ago. The films, 'The Cage' and 'Helio' both deserve praise for supporting the human quest for freedom and individualism. Cinematically, 'Helio' was a winner and 'The Cage' was not.
Read More »