Columnist Paul Dower reviews Taika Waititi’s new film “Jojo Rabbit.”
opinion: Film critic discusses changed opinions of past reviewed films
I’ve lampooned and worshipped a variety of movies on this page, but, for my final column with Student Publications, it’s time I took another look at some of these films in retrospect.
opinion: Film critic deems Pet Sematary worse than source material
Occasionally, someone will turn to me and say, “Hey Chandler, you love horror, right? What do you think of Stephen King?” Then, I have to take my blood pressure pills.
opinion: Reviewer praises Climax as ‘most unique movie experience’ this year’
Climax is a French/Belgian film written and directed by Gaspar Noé.
OPINION: Us brings unique suspense, some unsatisfying plot elements
Us is a horror movie written, directed and produced by comedian turned horror writer Jordan Peele.
opinion: Glass shows serious waste of potential, lacks effective direction
Glass is the third and final movie in M. Night Shyamalan’s Unbreakable/Split trilogy.
opinion: Bird Box an entertaining thrill of suspense, fails to live up to hype
When Twitter obsesses about a movie so hard that BuzzFeed releases three different compilations of fan-made memes, that’s how you know it’s a Netflix horror film.
opinion: Columnist reflects on modern biopics, issues of consumer morality
Looking at the last year in film, some of the most popular movies at the box office are all biopics (biographical movies)–Beautiful Boy, Green Book, BlacKkKlansman, and Mary Queen of Scots.
opinion: ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ a sufficient, slightly formulaic Queen biopic
Of all the spandex-clad, long-haired and leather-sporting musical acts of the 1980s music scene, the one that has perhaps dug its nails deepest into the vinyl of history is Queen.
Opinion: Original ‘Halloween’ movie, slasher genre still inferior to other films
You all know what day it is—Halloween. The single day Americans set aside for a cathartic release of paganism.
Editorial: Women in powerful roles possess ability to set a new standard
Women are earning leadership positions in increasing numbers at OCU and should continue to do so.
Review: Postmodern novel blurs reality, defies concept of truth
Most know Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas for its 1998 film with Johnny Depp and Benicio del Toro, but the 1971 novel off which it was based is of much higher quality, if just as incoherent.
Review: Horror film accomplishes goal, but little further
“It Comes at Night” is set in a remote location and equally remote time period after a plague has wiped out the majority of the population.
Review: Spanish demonic horror film gets undeserved praise
The second Verònica can fall back on special effects and popular horror tropes, it has no problem dropping the eerie storytelling techniques that made it enjoyable in the first place.
Review: Landmark Van Gogh documentary impresses visually
The Oscars are behind us, but the contributions of films will linger forever.
Review: Three Billboards revolves around empathy, deserves Oscar
The Oscars are a few days away and the debates continue about which film is the “Best Picture.”
Opinion: Before I Wake fails to impress due to ‘lack of substance’
At the heart of this is a worthy and developed concept, but, when it comes to execution, especially near the climax, Before I Wake ultimately falls back into its Hollywood roots.
Lion: a moving and hopeful work of art
With the Oscars a month away, movie lovers should find their way to a theater to see Lion while they still can.
La La Land: a love letter to artists that try
Those expecting a true musical may be a little disappointed, but anyone looking for a love letter to the artists that continue to try is in for a treat.
Dr. Strange follows formula but offers something new
Marvel’s latest effort, Dr. Strange, while sticking to the formula, is still able to give audiences something a little different.
Children of Men review
Movies released in 2006 are now celebrating their 10 year anniversary. In honor of that, our film critic focuses on Children of Men.
Short film round-up
Batz, a seven-minute animated short from Max Maleo and Aurélien Prédal, is a fabulously original tale of unlikely friendship. It follows two bats whose vastly different lifestyles collide in a fast-paced, action-packed adventure. While some of the visuals are a bit squirm-inducing – it is, after all, a short about bats – the whole thing…
Short film round-up
Minka Farthing-Kohl’s seven-minute Stray Dogs is a very strange short about a very strange summer day. It follows “Frank,” whose mundane wait at the bus stop turns into something much more dramatic when a distraught woman asks to borrow his phone. Much of the film feels like a very obvious Tarantino knockoff, but there’s enough originality to keep…
Short film round-up
Border, a one-minute short from animation studio plan78, is a brief but brilliant commentary on the absurdity of the lines people draw between each other. Two little critters, one blue and one yellow, are on either side of one such line, though each has his own ideas about exactly what the line means. It’s a sweet and silly little…
Short film round-up
BANGS’ five-minute music video for the Mutual Benefit song “Advanced Falconry” packs a whole lot of characterization into a wordless slow-motion sequence. Nothing much happens in the film – it’s merely the backstory to a family portrait – but seeing all the chaos behind one moment of joy makes the moment all the sweeter. You wouldn’t think…
Short film round-up
Seth Boyden’s one-minute B.O.T., created as part of CalArts’ 48 Hour Film Festival, has a cute gimmick but doesn’t quite hit its mark. The short follows the story of a robot and an astronaut looking for life on an unnamed planet. While the animation could have benefited from additional time, any roughness can be excused by the…
