Samantha Morton and Tom Cruise in Minority Report Jesse Pasternack considers the brilliance and importance of Steven Spielberg’s direction in his 2002 sci-fi masterwork. A body of work like Steven Spielberg’s is practically built to contain hidden gems. He has directed more than his fair share of indisputable classics, but you can’t make over 30… Read more »
Original poster for Blow Out (1981) Jesse Pasternack makes his case for why Brian De Palma’s screenplay is such a crucial part of his 1981 masterpiece Blow Out. There are a lot of sounds you might associate with Blow Out (1981). The hooting of an owl before a tragic “car crash.” The whirring of sound… Read more »
Poster for Perfect Days Jesse Pasternack explains why Perfect Days exemplifies the subgenre he has named “what if [blank] was Paddington and did [blank],” wherein a cheerful protagonist experiences the joys of everyday life while helping others. Every cinephile enjoys coining a term to describe their favorite subgenre. There’s something satisfying about taking a series… Read more »
Poster for The Fall (2006) Jesse Pasternack describes what makes the cult classic The Fall such an intoxicating piece of cinema. If I had to describe The Fall (2006) in one word, it would be “enchanting.” Every element in every shot creates an experience that is astounding in a way which is delightful. It is… Read more »
Rooney Mara and Cate Blanchett in Carol Jesse Pasternack describes why Todd Haynes’s 2015 classic is a paragon of the filmmaker’s work with period pieces. When I first saw Carol, I thought it would be a perfect film to watch on TCM in a few decades. Everything about that film’s technical style felt like it… Read more »
Original poster for Death Becomes Her Jesse Pasternack explains how Robert Zemeckis’s cult comedy achieves its laughs and special effects. Death Becomes Her (1992) is one of Robert Zemeckis’s best films because it expertly melds two of the most famous sides of himself as a director. They are, respectively, his exceptional ability to use film… Read more »