Still from Umberto D. City Lights Film Series co-curator Bruno Dariva considers the emotional resonance and quiet austerity of an Italian neorealist classic. The fourth collaboration between screenwriter Cesare Zavattini and director Vittorio De Sica, Umberto D. is considered by critics and academics to be one of the most important Italian neorealist films. Italian neorealism… Read more »
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 »
Pierre Niney in The Count of Monte Cristo Noni Ford discusses the art of adaptation and the motivations of the titular character in the new French blockbuster The Count of Monte Cristo. “Moral wounds have this peculiarity — they may be hidden, but they never close; always painful, always ready to bleed when touched, they… Read more »
A lurker in the river makes itself known in Gareth Edwards’s Monsters Chris Forrester praises the underrated early work of blockbuster filmmaker Gareth Edwards. Before he became the face of the “almost good!” blockbuster with Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016) and The Creator (2023), Gareth Edwards made a name for himself with a… Read more »
Cary Grant as Geoff Carter and Jean Arthur as Bonnie Lee City Lights Film Series curator Ruby Berin introduces Howard Hawks’s classic and explores the way its authenticity emphasizes the core themes shared throughout the film. For a film to be considered authentic, it reflects real-life experiences and establishes a connection with the audience. It… 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 »