The Magic Hours: The Films and Hidden Life of Terrence Malick
(lrb.co.uk)
Terrence Malick is the quietest of American movie directors.
Terrence Malick is the quietest of American movie directors.
Newsreels from the UCLA Film and Television Archive
(newsreels.net)
In 1981, the Hearst Corporation donated its newsreel collection to the University of California.
In 1981, the Hearst Corporation donated its newsreel collection to the University of California.
What Netflix's patents reveal about the future of watching movies
(stephenfollows.com)
Netflix’s patents offer a rare glimpse into the future that major streamers are building for film and television.
Netflix’s patents offer a rare glimpse into the future that major streamers are building for film and television.
How Kim Jong Il Kidnapped a Director, Made a Cult Hit Godzilla Knockoff (2015)
(vanityfair.com)
Only those who know about the Spectacle theater enter the Spectacle theater.
Only those who know about the Spectacle theater enter the Spectacle theater.
Why Archers Didn't Volley Fire
(acoup.blog)
<p>This week we’re looking at a specific visual motif common in TV and film: the arrow volley. You know the scene: the general readies his archers, he orders them to ‘draw!’ and then holds up his hand with that ‘wait for it’ gesture and then shouts ‘loose!’ (or worse yet, ‘fire!’) and all of the archers release at once, producing a giant cloud of arrows.
<p>This week we’re looking at a specific visual motif common in TV and film: the arrow volley. You know the scene: the general readies his archers, he orders them to ‘draw!’ and then holds up his hand with that ‘wait for it’ gesture and then shouts ‘loose!’ (or worse yet, ‘fire!’) and all of the archers release at once, producing a giant cloud of arrows.
Visualizations that show how true "based on a true story" movies are
(informationisbeautiful.net)
A series of info visualizations that show how true “based on a true story” Hollywood movies actually are. Selma & The Big Short top the list with Hacksaw Ridge & The Imitation Game bringing up the rear.
A series of info visualizations that show how true “based on a true story” Hollywood movies actually are. Selma & The Big Short top the list with Hacksaw Ridge & The Imitation Game bringing up the rear.
The entire 1941 Japanese film Kanzashi can be watched on its Wikipedia page
(wikipedia.org)
Ornamental Hairpin (簪, Kanzashi) is a 1941 Japanese comedy-drama film written and directed by Hiroshi Shimizu.
Ornamental Hairpin (簪, Kanzashi) is a 1941 Japanese comedy-drama film written and directed by Hiroshi Shimizu.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail turns 50
(arstechnica.com)
Monty Python and the Holy Grail is widely considered to be among the best comedy films of all time, and it's certainly one of the most quotable. This absurdist masterpiece sending up Arthurian legend turns 50 (!) this year.
Monty Python and the Holy Grail is widely considered to be among the best comedy films of all time, and it's certainly one of the most quotable. This absurdist masterpiece sending up Arthurian legend turns 50 (!) this year.
How Monty Python and the Holy Grail became a comedy legend
(bbc.com)
Fifty years after Monty Python and the Holy Grail redefined comedy, stars Michael Palin and Terry Gilliam look back on the freedoms – and limitations – that shaped the film.
Fifty years after Monty Python and the Holy Grail redefined comedy, stars Michael Palin and Terry Gilliam look back on the freedoms – and limitations – that shaped the film.
True Romance (1993) – A 30th Anniversary Retrospective
(cinemascholars.com)
In the Summer of 1993, most of the cinema-viewing world was fixated on dinosaurs, of the Jurassic kind. However, just a year earlier, another powerful force began to exert its dominance in the film industry.
In the Summer of 1993, most of the cinema-viewing world was fixated on dinosaurs, of the Jurassic kind. However, just a year earlier, another powerful force began to exert its dominance in the film industry.
RIP Val Kilmer: Celebrating cult classic Real Genius is now a moral imperative
(arstechnica.com)
Back to the Future justly dominated the summer box office in 1985, but it's too bad its massive success overshadowed another nerd-friendly gem, Real Genius, which debuted one month later, on August 9.
Back to the Future justly dominated the summer box office in 1985, but it's too bad its massive success overshadowed another nerd-friendly gem, Real Genius, which debuted one month later, on August 9.
"Fiume O Morte " Brilliantly Dramatizes the Rise of a Demagogue
(newyorker.com)
Many filmmakers display undue faith in their ability to depict ways of life far outside their own experience. This blithe self-confidence is particularly egregious in depictions of distant history, where imagination inevitably courts fabrication.
Many filmmakers display undue faith in their ability to depict ways of life far outside their own experience. This blithe self-confidence is particularly egregious in depictions of distant history, where imagination inevitably courts fabrication.
RIP Val Kilmer: Real Genius .. the Film Nerd Culture Deserves (2015)
(reactormag.com)
It’s interesting to me that Revenge of the Nerds, while still full up of the nostalgia that the 80s lends us, is lately being repositioned in the zeitgeist.
It’s interesting to me that Revenge of the Nerds, while still full up of the nostalgia that the 80s lends us, is lately being repositioned in the zeitgeist.
Val Kilmer: Top Gun, Batman and The Doors actor dies aged 65
(bbc.com)
Actor Val Kilmer, who starred in some of the biggest movies of the 1980s and 90s, including Top Gun and Batman Forever, has died at the age of 65.
Actor Val Kilmer, who starred in some of the biggest movies of the 1980s and 90s, including Top Gun and Batman Forever, has died at the age of 65.
Val Kilmer, star of Top Gun and The Doors, dies aged 65
(theguardian.com)
Val Kilmer, the actor best known for his roles in Top Gun, Batman Forever and The Doors, has died at the age of 65.
Val Kilmer, the actor best known for his roles in Top Gun, Batman Forever and The Doors, has died at the age of 65.
Netflix’s Media Production Suite
(netflixtechblog.com)
The journey from script to screen is full of challenges in the ever-evolving world of film and television.
The journey from script to screen is full of challenges in the ever-evolving world of film and television.
‘Watch the Skies,’ First Feature Film Dubbed Entirely With AI
(variety.com)
A foreign language sci-fi movie is headed to U.S. movie theaters this spring, but audiences won’t have to groan about subtitles. For the first time, an international feature film will look and sound as if it was made in English thanks to artificial intelligence.
A foreign language sci-fi movie is headed to U.S. movie theaters this spring, but audiences won’t have to groan about subtitles. For the first time, an international feature film will look and sound as if it was made in English thanks to artificial intelligence.
Why Studio Ghibli movies can't be made with AI (2023)
(twitter.com)
Something went wrong, but don’t fret — let’s give it another shot.
Something went wrong, but don’t fret — let’s give it another shot.
The Biology of B-Movie Monsters (2003)
(lib.uchicago.edu)
Size has been one of the most popular themes in monster movies, especially those from my favorite era, the 1950s. The premise is invariably to take something out of its usual context--make people small or something else (gorillas, grasshoppers, amoebae, etc.) large--and then play with the consequences. However, Hollywood's approach to the concept has been, from a biologist's perspective, hopelessly naïve. Absolute size cannot be treated in isolation; size per se affects almost every aspect of an organism's biology.
Size has been one of the most popular themes in monster movies, especially those from my favorite era, the 1950s. The premise is invariably to take something out of its usual context--make people small or something else (gorillas, grasshoppers, amoebae, etc.) large--and then play with the consequences. However, Hollywood's approach to the concept has been, from a biologist's perspective, hopelessly naïve. Absolute size cannot be treated in isolation; size per se affects almost every aspect of an organism's biology.
A filmmaker and a crooked lawyer shattered Denmark's self-image
(theguardian.com)
The trap was laid in a rented office: two rooms in downtown Copenhagen, furnished without a whisper of Scandi style. If it wasn’t for a Frida Kahlo print on one wall, the premises might have felt as impersonal and stark as a confessional. That, in any event, was what it became. For six months, beginning in mid-2022, a parade of people – members of motorcycle gangs, entrepreneurs, lawyers, real-estate barons, politicians – trooped through to recount their sins to Amira Smajic.
The trap was laid in a rented office: two rooms in downtown Copenhagen, furnished without a whisper of Scandi style. If it wasn’t for a Frida Kahlo print on one wall, the premises might have felt as impersonal and stark as a confessional. That, in any event, was what it became. For six months, beginning in mid-2022, a parade of people – members of motorcycle gangs, entrepreneurs, lawyers, real-estate barons, politicians – trooped through to recount their sins to Amira Smajic.
Blender releases their Oscar winning version tool
(blender.org)
Blender 4.4 is all about stability. During the 2024–2025 northern hemisphere winter, Blender developers doubled down on quality and stability in a group effort called “Winter of Quality.”
Blender 4.4 is all about stability. During the 2024–2025 northern hemisphere winter, Blender developers doubled down on quality and stability in a group effort called “Winter of Quality.”
The Conversation at 50: Why the paranoid thriller is more relevant than ever
(bbc.com)
Released between the Godfathers, Francis Ford Coppola's 1974 film was a passion project – and its tale of a surveillance expert disturbed by what he hears hits even harder in 2024.
Released between the Godfathers, Francis Ford Coppola's 1974 film was a passion project – and its tale of a surveillance expert disturbed by what he hears hits even harder in 2024.