Few genres evoke sympathy for protagonists with insatiable bloodlust the way revenge movies do. Utterly unrealistic and dementedly satisfying, revenge films capture a simplistic desire for a world in which the weak successfully punish the powerful, preserving justice in the face of evil. Read more...
Photo: RADiUS-TWC
Audiences don’t seem to be flocking to the cineplex for realism anymore. Whereas the believable epic “Gone with the Wind” was once the highest-grossing film of all time, so was the more fictionalized “Jaws” after it and, more recently, “Avatar.” Had “Last Passenger,” the debut feature from British director Omid Nooshin, come out at the time of “Gone with the Wind,” or even “Jaws,” it probably would have been received differently: praised for its character study, appreciated for its structured thrill ride. Read more...
Photo: (Cohen Media Group)
Orson Welles’ “Touch of Evil” opens with an explosion of sight and sound: the loud jazz of jukeboxes, honking cars and near the scene’s conclusion, a literal explosion – a car goes up in flames after a bomb detonates. Read more...
Photo: “Touch of Evil” stars Charlton Heston as Mexican officer Mike Vargas alongside Orson Welles, who both directs and stars in the film. One of Welles’ most acclaimed pieces, “Touch of Evil” will be showing at the Million Dollar Theatre near Venice Beach on Saturday. (Universal Pictures)
The main character in Simon Savelyev’s short film won the heart of his co-star – and later the hearts of America – with a meow. Savelyev, a graduate student in the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television, won first prize in the Fresh Step Catdance Film Festival, a contest for cat-inspired films. Read more...
Photo: Simon Savelyev’s grand prize-winning film at the Fresh Step Catdance Film Festival, “Ricky,” follows the friendship between his large dog, Romy, and newly adopted kitten, Ricky. He plans to donate a portion of his $50,000 winnings to animal shelters like the one Ricky came from. (Joseph Chan/Daily Bruin)
The most believable thing about “Fading Gigolo” is that two aging, Jewish movie stars have the ability to be funny together. The chemistry between renowned director Woody Allen and acclaimed actor John Turturro is really the only detail a film of this sort needs to market for a comedy-itching audience to flock to it. Read more...
Photo: (Millenium Entertainment)
Nearly 19 years ago, the suicide of teenager Holden Layfield shook the small town of LaGrange, Ga. The community of LaGrange has since come together in support of “Holden On,” a film based on the true events of Layfield’s troubled life and death, written and to be directed by UCLA alumnus Tamlin Hall, a LaGrange native who knew Layfield growing up. Read more...
Photo: UCLA alumnus Tamlin Hall is currently raising funds for his latest film, “Holden On,” which is based on the suicide of teenager Holden Layfield in Hall’s hometown of LaGrange, Ga. The film looks into the struggles surrounding mental illness. (Courtesy of Esti Marie)
When Robert Altman was at the peak of his filmmaking during the days of “Nashville” and “McCabe & Mrs. Miller,” he was one of the greatest directors of his day. Read more...
Photo: (UCLA Film and Television Archive) “The Long Goodbye” stars Elliott Gould and tells the story of Philip Marlowe, who looks for a friend who may have murdered his wife.
