Posts by Sean Witzke
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Night of Vengeance: Wes Craven’s ‘The Last House on the Left’ 43 Years Later
A look back at the first film from the recently deceased master of American horror.
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A ‘Mission: Impossible’ Video Essay: The Auteurist Artistry of the Blockbuster Franchise
Sean Witzke breaks down the influences, themes, and tendencies of Brian De Palma, John Woo, J.J. Abrams, and Brad Bird, as we look at the art of the mission.
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Anatomy of the Car Chase: A History of Crash and Bang, From ‘The French Connection’ to ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’
A historical look at the great movie car chases.
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The Weird and Wonderful Career of ‘Power/Rangers’ Director Joseph Kahn
The music video director behind Taylor Swift’s “Blank Space” clip is actually one of the most interesting filmmakers working today, and his new “de-boot” is just another odd choice in a long series.
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Con Man Movies 101: A Primer on the Greatest Sleight-of-Hand Films
‘Focus’ features Smith playing a con man for the second time. It’s been 22 years since the last time he pulled a fast one. To mark the occasion, here’s a historical primer on con man movies.
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A Look Back at Steven Spielberg at the Height of His Powers
Let’s take a look back at a kinder, gentler, weirder Steven Spielberg.
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The Heat Wave: 20 Years of Michael Mann
To celebrate the release of Michael Mann’s ‘Blackhat,’ Chris Ryan and Sean Witzke look back at the last 20 years of one of the most provocative, stylish, thrilling, and frustrating filmmakers of his generation.
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‘Starred Up,’ ‘’71,’ and the Real Jack O’Connell
Jack O’Connell had a banner year. He’s currently starring in Amy Pascal’s favorite movie, ‘Unbroken,’ and his portrayal of Louis Zamperini has been talked up for a Best Actor Oscar nomination. But he also appeared in two of the leanest, meanest action films of 2014.
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The Godfather of What We Find Funny: Robert Downey Sr. Gets a Film Festival
The Los Angeles revival theater Cinefamily will hold a festival of Robert Downey Sr.’s films this December called Truth and Soul, Inc., and it will feature special appearances by both father and son Downey as well as big-name devotees like Louis C.K. and Paul Thomas Anderson.
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Why Won’t You Die: ‘Halloween’ 101
The idea that you could turn slashers into ATMs comes from ‘Halloween.’ Because of its success, ‘The Texas Chain Saw Massacre’ and ‘Psycho’ became franchises years after their initial releases. The expansion of the ‘Halloween’ franchise is, in many ways, the story of modern horror films.
