Poster for Rudy Jesse Pasternack defines why audiences cheer for the Hoosier classic and its deep humanity. There’s a lot to admire about Rudy. I adore its brilliant structure and memorable dialogue by screenwriter and Indiana University alum Angelo Pizzo, the fantastic blocking and imagery by director David Anspaugh (who also graduated from IU and… Read more »
DVD cover for Lord of the Flies Jesse Pasternack delves into what makes Peter Brook’s interpretation of Lord of the Flies such a terrific example of the filmmaker’s talent. While Peter Brook is best known for his groundbreaking contributions to theater such as his iconic productions of the many plays that he directed and his… Read more »
Poster for The Thin Man Jesse Pasternack explains how The Thin Man‘s mixture of genres turns the 1934 classic into something truly special. If I had to compare The Thin Man (1934) to one drink, it would be a martini. It’s elegant, cool, and delightful to enjoy. More importantly, it resembles a martini because it’s… Read more »
Original poster for Hud Jesse Pasternack explains why Paul Newman’s scorching performance as Hud Bannon paved the way for complicated, immoral protagonists in American cinema. In its own time, Hud (1963) received almost every mark of success that an American film could receive. After premiering at the Venice International Film Festival, it made $10 million… Read more »
Poster for The Holy Mountain (1973) Recalling his first experience with Jodorowsky’s The Holy Mountain, Jesse Pasternack explains why he recommends going into a film blind. One of my favorite moviegoing experiences at the IU Cinema was a midnight showing of The Holy Mountain (1973). I saw my friend and fellow blogger Aja Essex there,… Read more »
Poster for the rerelease of Stop Making Sense While known for such iconography as David Byrne’s choreography and oversized suit, Jesse Pasternack reminds us there are many smaller moments of joy to be found in the Talking Heads’ concert film. What can you say about Stop Making Sense (1984) that hasn’t already been said? Its… Read more »