To fully appreciate the found footage trope and the intrigue of media fakery, Ghostwatch is essential viewing. There’s a charming innocence to its “live TV special” premise, set in a claustrophobic, purple-carpeted British flat and driven by sincere performances that help sell the illusion. Michael Parkinson deserves particular praise for portraying a convincing host whose... Continue Reading →
I’m Thinking of Ending Things (2020)
Look, I’m an avid fan of Charlie Kaufman’s earlier work, and I still go back to Being John Malkovich (1999) and marvel at its masterfully crafted revelations—both psychological and humorous. Kaufman’s Gedankenexperiments are gold to the likes of the motion picture medium and the viewer who dabbles in Kafka and enjoys imagining things under a... Continue Reading →
Reely Bernie Faves: Magnolia (1999)
The chronological journey goes like this: During the summer of 1999, I saw the teaser trailer to Magnolia at the Movie Tavern in Aurora, CO. This was the shorter, ambiguous trailer that featured a woman shooting a stray warning bullet through the apartment window, only to coincidentally hit a body that was falling past the... Continue Reading →
Reely Bernie Faves: The Blair Witch Project (1999)
I’m a sucker for the found footage horror genre. Yes, there were prototypes and hybrids before 1999, but the origin of the now exploited device started with a witch in the woods caught on tape. (Or, was she?) I was privileged to be in one of the first audiences for the premiere of The Blair... Continue Reading →
Reely Bernie Faves: Halfway Point and More Lists!
25 down, 25 to go. It has been an absolute joy reflecting on the formulative movies of my life and the people I saw them with. To be honest, I have found it impossible to keep my list from evolving as I gradually release it one movie at a time. There are just too many... Continue Reading →