By Jackson Diianni The critical discourse surrounding Robert Bresson has been some of the most contentious in film history, due, in large part, to a crucial impasse among scholars. Bresson criticism has traditionally been divided into two rival groups; the “transcendentalists” and the “materialists”, referring, in the broadest sense, to the spiritual and secular interpretations … Continue reading →| Filmic
By Jackson Diianni The first thing one notices about Dogville (2003) is the way it looks. It’s essentially a stage play, shot in a blackbox, on a minimalist set. This presentation style is new to film, but it is borrowed from the theater, which can be said of the film’s content as well. Dogville is … Continue reading →| Filmic
By Jackson Diianni I had high expectations for The Pledge (2001). It was placed on Roger Ebert’s Great Movies list, effectively naming it one of the 300 (give or take) greatest movies of all time. It’s one of a handful of movies Jack Nicholson has made in the 21st Century, which lead me to believe … Continue reading →| Filmic
By Jackson Diianni Raging Bull (1980) is a movie I’m very ambivalent about. There are great things about it and there are terrible things about it. The script by Mardik Martin and Paul Schrader is great. The direction by Martin Scorsese is not great. Neither is the performance by Robert De Niro, although it is … Continue reading →| Filmic