Recent Articles
SAVING PRIVATE RYAN and Altruism in the Face of Annihilation
This week, I close out my series on Steven Spielberg’s 90s filmography by looking back on the legacy of his other WWII epic of the decade. The opening is famously visceral and brutal, but it’s more than just a gimmick: it’s crucial to setting the stakes of the movie’s titular decision, one dramatized by an all-star cast and a director still at the top of his game.
The Well-Meaning Failures of AMISTAD
Long from the glow of his triumphant SCHINDLER’S LIST, Steven Spielberg’s return to the historical epic is a well-meaning step down. AMISTAD tells a story that deserves to be told, but does it in the most streamlined, Hollywood-safe way that it feels more like a history lesson than a dramatic film. Djimon Honsou good, tho.
THE LOST WORLD Can’t Capture The Magic of JURASSIC PARK
This week, we review Hollywood’s return to the prehistoric island that changed 90s filmmaking with the awkwardly-titled THE LOST WORLD: JURASSIC PARK. A regretful Steven Spielberg is kind of sleep-walking through this, and assembling a new cast around the returning Jeff Goldblum doesn’t recapture the magic of the first go-around. But, are there still enough individual thrills to justify this sequel? Kind of?
The Overwhelming Legacy of SCHINDLER’S LIST
This week, we cover the movie that forever altered Steven Spielberg’s legacy. SCHINDLER’S LIST proved that the director synonymous with family entertainment could find another gear, taking an intensely personal story and depicting it with an unflinching, brutal eye. It’s an astounding piece of work that has generated discussion for the thirty years since, even if it has its legitimate detractors among the Jewish community.
Sam Neill Is The Heart and Soul of JURASSIC PARK
This week, we revisit perhaps the most popular movie Steven Spielberg ever made. Let’s take a trip to JURASSIC PARK! Even though this is technically a part of yet another Spielberg Summer series, it’d be malpractice not to turn our eye to the work that the recently-deceased Sam Neill puts in here. The movie is almost unimaginable without him; let’s drill into why.
The Curse of POLTERGEIST’S Curse: One Final Bonus Spielberg Article
Just in time for Halloween, let’s extend Spielberg Summer 2 deep into October by digging into the other movie in 1982 that cemented his legacy, even though it was technically directed by Tobe Hooper. POLTERGEIST has an unfortunate legacy of being a “cursed film”, an infuriating moniker that masks what made this movie haunt all these years later. It’s here!
Spooky Spielberg Bonus: Entering the TWILIGHT ZONE MOVIE!
This week, Spielberg Summer goes into overtime with a dip into TWILIGHT ZONE: THE MOVIE! Yes, it’s an anthology film most famous for the behind-the-scenes tragedy that arguably ended the New Hollywood era. Is anything in the movie (including the section directed by Spielberg himself) strong enough to overcome this dark shadow?
Can’t ALWAYS Nail It: Spielberg Summer 2 Concludes!
Spielberg Summer 2 wraps up with one of the more obscure entries in Steven’s filmography, the old-fashioned throwback ALWAYS. There’s a lot of love and sweetness to this movie, borne out of a mutual passion between star and director of a particular 40’s war film, but…ALWAYS just isn’t that great, mostly as a result of casting. Ah well, at least we get Audrey one more time.
INDIANA JONES’ First LAST CRUSADE: Spielberg Summer 2 Continues!
This week, Spielberg’s signature franchise comes to its original close (even if the series would go on to drink from the cup of eternal life). INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE spends a little too much effort apologizing for TEMPLE OF DOOM, but makes up for it with an inspired crucial piece of casting and by…well, by being really fun and funny for two straight hours. Let’s ride off into the sunset together!
Steven Comes of Age With EMPIRE OF THE SUN: Spielberg Summer 2 Continues
A bit of a forgotten entry in Steven Spielberg’s 80’s filmography, EMPIRE OF THE SUN is still a worthy viewing due to its gorgeous visuals, insightful script, and a great central child performance, from an actor I don’t usually even like that much! So, why doesn’t it have the same clout as some of Spielberg’s other films? It may be a matter of timing.
Steven Grows Up With THE COLOR PURPLE: Spielberg Summer 2 Continues!
This week, Steven Spielberg begins to expand his directorial palette with 1985’s THE COLOR PURPLE, a sweeping literary adaptation featuring many great performances, and an ever-growing master behind the camera. However, it’s ever fascinating for the moments where you catch Spielberg being unsure with how best to depict serious stories of human misery. Yes, it begs the question: was he the right person for the job? But one also has to ask: without this, does Spielberg become the director we know him to be today?
THE TEMPLE OF DOOM and the Art of the Unintuitive Sequel: Spielberg Summer 2 Continues!
This week, Spielberg Summer 2: The E(igh)T(ies) continues with one of the darker-toned films Spielberg ever made: it’s INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM! A film that has only grown in reputation over the years (and was largely responsible for the creation of a new MPAA rating!), it’s got action and theatrics to spare…even if only there weren’t that one person screaming the whole time.
E.T. and the Light in the Darkness: Spielberg Summer 2 Continues!
Today, our look through the Spielberg works of the 80s continues with E.T. THE EXTRA-TERRESTRIAL, a movie that I watched often as a kid, but always held at a little bit of a distance. Maybe it’s because it was unafraid to be a little scary and a lot sad, elements I greatly admire about it now as an adult. Let’s shine a light on this film that delves into the darkness that can enter a household.
RAIDERS and The Lost Art of Action and Humility: Spielberg Summers Return!
This week, Spielberg Summer returns with a weekly walk-through of the Spielberg films of the 80’s. We start off with perhaps his biggest and most popular movie ever, the initial Indiana Jones adventure, RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK! The thrills! The action! The…surprisingly relatable fallibility of our main hero? Read along for more!
CLOSE ENCOUNTERS and the Cost of Passion: SPIELBERG SUMMER Continues!
This week, our trip through the 70’s Spielberg canon continues with CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND. As captivating and filled with wonder as you remember, there’s also a bleak undertone to the film that may reveal more about its director and his then-place in the world than he even intended. Grab a plate of mashed potatoes and read along!
JAWS REDUX: SPIELBERG SUMMER Continues!
This week, the First Annual Spielberg Summer begins with almost certainly his biggest movie of the 70’s, JAWS! It’s a movie we all know well and have likely discussed in granular depth over and over (I’ve even written about it in this space before!). But it turns out, when you see JAWS in a packed movie theatre, like I did earlier this month, it feels like a brand new film all over again. The magic of the movies!
On the Road with THE SUGARLAND EXPRESS: Spielberg Summer Continues!
Spielberg Summer continues with THE SUGARLAND EXPRESS, another road movie from the up-and-coming director. However, with an increase in scope and a set of terrific performances, Steven Spielberg’s first venture onto the silver screen becomes a slept-on gem.
Driving Around With DUEL: SPIELBERG SUMMER Begins!
This week, we begin our dive into the 70’s filmography of Steven Spielberg by taking a look at one of the finest television movies of them all, DUEL. The thing everyone remembers is that truck, but what makes the flick sing is the relatable sad sack driving the other car. Welcome to SPIELBERG SUMMER!
Jabbin’ About JAWS: A New Summer Series!
This summer, we’re jabberin’ about JAWS! We start, as always, at the beginning. Let’s dig into the original blockbuster and why it stands apart from most of its contemporaries all these decades later.