Billy Wilder
More stories
-
New on Video: ‘Kiss Me, Stupid’
Kiss Me, Stupid is an enjoyable movie, a crude farce with several laughs and worthwhile performances. If it doesn’t live up to some of Billy Wilder’s finer moments, it’s his own fault. Few directors have set their own bar so incredibly high. More
-
The Definitive Best Picture Losers
30. Apollo 13 (1995) Lost to: Braveheart In 1995, director Ron Howard brought a true life story of hope in the face of peril and started sweeping up awards. He won the Directors Guild Award. He won the Producers Guild Award. He won the Screen Actors Guild Ensemble Award. He lost the Golden Globe Drama to […] More
-
The Definitive Best Picture Losers
40. Beauty and the Beast (1991) Lost to: Silence of the Lambs 1991 was the first time an animated film ever grabbed a nomination for Best Picture with Disney’s version of “Beauty and the Beast.” The film also picked up nominations for sound, Original Score (for which it won) and three – count ’em THREE – […] More
-
The Definitive War Movies: 30-21
As we continue with the list, we still see a lot of World War II, but throw in some World War I and Persian Gulf War, too. While some of the films in this portion of the list spin the war film into something a little more ingenious, it doesn’t completely rule out the idea […] More
-
New on Video: ‘Ace in the Hole’
“Ace in the Hole” is a quintessential Billy Wilder movie… [with] all the hallmarks one associates with his best work: cynicism, humor, terrific performances, sharp dialogue, and impeccable direction. Here, to keep within the theme of the title, we get it all in spades. More
-
New on Video: ‘Sabrina’
“Sabrina” is a classic of American cinema … an exceptional example of the assured best the studio system had to offer. More
-
The Definitive Original Screenplays: 10-1
The end of the road. The scripts that should be studied, dissected, and taught for their quality, their timeliness, and their impact on the film industry as a whole. Some were perfect for their time and place. Some were ahead of their time. Some defined their generation. And one still rules all, forty years after […] More
-
The Definitive Original Screenplays: 40-31
As we continue to move forward through the list, let us consider: how do you define an original screenplay? In theory, everything is based on something. Woody Allen’s Blue Jasmine is basically a modern A Streetcar Named Desire. But, somehow, Jasmine is classified as an original screenplay. When a film is wholly original, nothing like it […] More
-
FNC 2013: ‘L’amour est un crime parfait’ is a chilling and clever thriller
Set in the icy backdrop of the Swiss Alps, L’amour est un crime parfait (Love is the Perfect Crime) is a dark thriller that blurs the lines between fantasy and reality. With a rich emphasis on the link between man, literature, and landscape, the film takes its audience for a chilling ride. More
-
‘The Lost Weekend’ is a nightmarish vision of chronic alcoholism
The Lost Weekend Directed by Billy Wilder Written by Charles Brackett and Billy Wilder 1945, USA Billy Wilder’s films are perfection. From Double Indemnity to Some Like It Hot, Wilder never made a bad film. And while his earlier films are some of my absolute favorites, I had always skipped over The Lost Weekend. Put […] More
-
‘Sunset Boulevard’ is a lament about the film industry and a great story
Sunset Boulevard (Also known as Sunset Blvd) Directed by Billy Wilder Written by Charles Bracket and Billy Wilder U.S.A., 1950 In cinema, as in life, the past informs and shapes the present, which in turn does the same for the future. One cannot concentrate too much on the present or risk losing sight on the […] More
-
TIFF Cinematheque presents a Summer in France: ‘Port of Shadows’ an undeniable game changer that revolutionized French filmmaking
Port of Shadows Directed by Marcel Carné Written by Jacques Prévert France, 1938 There’s a reason why it’s called ‘film noir’. Stylish, haunting, and lyrically cynical, the genre, however, has always been regarded as a staple in the American cinematic tradition. So why the French name? Because before the likes of Hitchcock, Huston or Hawks […] More
Load More
Congratulations. You've reached the end of the internet.