I love watching different film adaptations of Shakespeare’s plays for the same reason that I love listening to different jazz musicians improvise off of old standards. The basic elements — whether it’s plot points or musical notes — may be the same, but the distinctive contributions of individual artists give it a particular character which… Read more »
Entries by Jesse Pasternack
The Enduring Mysteries of Possession (1981)
The first time I saw Possession (1981), I didn’t understand it. Part of that was due to the circumstances of my viewing. I had wanted to see this film for years due to its reputation as an unforgettable and strange film. I knew that Plan 9 Film Emporium, Bloomington’s wonderful video store, had a copy…. Read more »
The Joy of The Sound of Music
There are few movie musicals more beloved than The Sound of Music (1965). In its day it was a massive success, and if you adjust its earnings for inflation, it remains the most successful movie musical of all time. It seems fitting then that this adaptation of the Broadway hit of the same name has… Read more »
The Greatness of Gene Tierney in Leave Her to Heaven
Leave Her to Heaven (1945) is one of the odder mainstream American films I’ve seen from the 1940s. Its plot involves the archetypes and interest in the dark side of humanity that are trademarks of film noir, but boasts colorful cinematography that feels like it belongs in a 1950s melodrama. The pacing isn’t even, but… Read more »
What We Do in the Shadows and the Art of Cinematic Comedy
There are a lot of things I love about What We Do in the Shadows. I adore the great comedic performances, its hilarious subversion of the vampire subgenre, and its subtle worldbuilding. But more than anything, what I really admire about What We Do in the Shadows is how co-directors Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi… Read more »
The Importance of Perspective in One Hundred and One Dalmatians (1961) and Cruella (2021)
If I had to describe Cruella (2021) in one word, it would be unexpected. Everything about it — from its sympathetic portrayal of one of Disney’s most iconic villains to its 1970s London setting — feels like a curveball. But what most surprised me about this film wasn’t its third act plot twist or its… Read more »