Elements of Madness

Recent Posts - page 2

• Fistful of Features explores writer/director BenDavid Grabinski’s dark comedy “Happily.”

  By Sean McClannahan on June 2, 2021 • ( 0 )

  

  Welcome to Fistful of Features, a celebration of film preservation through physical media and the discussion of cinematic treasures to maintain their relevance in the cultural lexicon. Today we’ll be focusing on the directorial debut of BenDavid Grabinski, a morality… Read More ›

• Relive your angsty teen years with “Shoplifters of the World,” a cinematic tribute to The Smiths from director Stephen Kijak.

  By Mallory Moore on June 1, 2021 • ( 0 )

  

  When you’re a teenager, every little upset feels like the end of the world. Failing a test, losing the big game, watching your crush take someone else to prom, or even finding out that your favorite band broke up can… Read More ›

• Director James Kicklighter’s “The Sound of Identity” is the rare documentary which delicately shifts the audience away from the expected.

  By Douglas Davidson on May 31, 2021 • ( 0 )

  

  First performed in October 1787, Wolfgang Mozart’s Il dissoluto punito; ossia, il Don Giovanni (The Libertine Punished; or, Don Giovanni) has since been performed countless times around the globe. Like other pieces of art, it’s been recreated and recontextualized to… Read More ›

• A Pinch of Cine-Men: “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.” [Patreon Special Episode Sneak]

  By Douglas Davidson on May 30, 2021 • ( 0 )

  

  December 16th, 2016 saw the release of the eighth Star Wars film, the one-off prequel story Rogue One. It tells the story of Jyn Erso (Felicity Jones) and a hodgepodge of individuals who band together to steal the Death Star plans to… Read More ›

• “Minari” is a no-frills tale of a family pursuing the American dream.

  By Douglas Davidson on May 29, 2021 • ( 0 )

  

  Of the many decisions made for the 93rd Academy Awards, the shift away from running clips of films seemed like the most bizarre according to vocal viewers online. Whether it was for technical awards or the top six, not running… Read More ›

• Fistful of Features explores the 10th anniversary 4K UHD release of J.J. Abrams’s “Super 8.”

  By Sean McClannahan on May 28, 2021 • ( 0 )

  

  Welcome to Fistful of Features, a celebration of film preservation through physical media and the discussion of cinematic treasures to maintain their relevance in the cultural lexicon. Let’s now take a look at the 10th anniversary of an uneven but… Read More ›

• The Cine-Men, Episode 49 – Favorite Summer Blockbusters.

  By Douglas Davidson on May 27, 2021 • ( 1 )

  

  Summer may not officially kick off until June 21st, but don’t tell The Cine-Men that! Right about the time the calendar flips to May, movie theaters start churning out releases with big action and big stars as they kick off… Read More ›

• Let the spectral agents in: Bring home independent gem “A Ghost Waits” on Blu-ray from Arrow Video.

  By Mallory Moore on May 27, 2021 • ( 0 )

  

  With limited resources at hand, the incredible cast and crew of A Ghost Waits truly came through with teamwork and creativity. Making the most of what they had and pooling resources from family and friends, the team shot the movie… Read More ›

• When it comes to Natalie Morales’s “Plan B,” there really is no alternative if you want humor and heart.

  By Douglas Davidson on May 26, 2021 • ( 0 )

  

  Usually, it takes several entries into a director’s catalogue before they push things or delve into hard to process topics. In Natalie Morales’s first film, Language Lessons (2021), she explored platonic love amid COVID-19 in a film she both wrote… Read More ›

• “Cruella” is brilliant and mad in all the right places, but is mostly frustrating.

  By Douglas Davidson on May 26, 2021 • ( 0 )

  

  In the spirit of past Walt Disney live action remakes or reimaginations such as Maleficent or Dumbo, comes Cruella, directed by Craig Gillespie (I, Tonya) and starring the talented Emma Stone (The Favourite), Emma Thompson (Love Actually), Mark Strong (Sherlock… Read More ›

• Open Dialogue with “A Quiet Place Part II” composer Marco Beltrami.

  By Noel Manning on May 25, 2021 • ( 0 )

  

  For over two and half decades award-winning composer Marco Beltrami has offered his evolving approach to scoring for feature film, documentary and episodic television. His projects and styles vary; from westerns like 3:10 to Yuma to docs like Free Solo… Read More ›

• Go on a sci-fi adventure with Shout! Factory’s restoration of “Explorers.”

  By Sean McClannahan on May 25, 2021 • ( 4 )

  

  Welcome to Fistful of Features, a celebration of film preservation through physical media and the discussion of cinematic treasures to maintain their relevance in the cultural lexicon. Courtesy of Shout Select, we’ll be looking at Joe Dante’s cult family adventure… Read More ›

• On the eve of its 10th anniversary, Paramount releases J.J. Abrams’s “Super 8” on 4K UHD.

  By Douglas Davidson on May 24, 2021 • ( 0 )

  

  Writer/director J.J. Abrams is one of the more controversial directors working today. Not “where are the feet?” controversial like Tarantino or “why always so serious?” controversial like Nolan, but in a polarizing love-or-hate way. Abrams is credited by many for… Read More ›

• Wouldn’t it be loverly to enjoy “My Fair Lady” in 4K UHD?

  By Douglas Davidson on May 23, 2021 • ( 0 )

  

  Adaptation is the bread and butter of cinema. Whether it’s remaking novels, short stories, plays, or even other films, adaptations allow storytellers to offer their own perspectives on someone else’s work. Sometimes this comes out poorly (Psycho, 1998), while others… Read More ›

• Light the fuse on the “Mission: impossible” 25th Anniversary special edition Blu-ray release.

  By Sean McClannahan on May 22, 2021 • ( 0 )

  

  Welcome to Fistful of Features, a celebration of film preservation through physical media and the discussion of cinematic treasures to maintain their relevance in the cultural lexicon. This time we’ll be looking at the 25th anniversary of the first foray… Read More ›

• Simon Barrett’s feature directorial debut “Séance” is a first class experience.

  By Hunter Heilman on May 21, 2021 • ( 0 )

  

  As someone who, like many, spent the entirety of their education in public schools, I’ve always had a sick fascination with the mystique of the private school experience, particularly that of the private boarding school experience. There’s something so strangely… Read More ›

• Q-Bits with the “Ted Lasso” casting director Theo Park and music composer Tom Howe.

  By Thomas Manning on May 20, 2021 • ( 0 )

  

  Multi-award-winning series Ted Lasso spoke to the hearts and minds of audiences young and old in Season One, available now for Apple TV+ subscribers. With Season Two launching July 23rd, 2021, expect more thought-provoking Lassoisms to join our collective lexicon. EoM contributor… Read More ›

• Save the future by stopping the past with this limited edition steelbook of “12 Monkeys” from Arrow Video.

  By Douglas Davidson on May 19, 2021 • ( 0 )

  

  The question as to whether or not the future can influence the past has plagued many a writer, and probably a few physicists, too. It’s a notion explored in a variety of films, most recently with Christopher Nolan’s Tenet (2020),… Read More ›

• Director Yasuzô Masumura’s 1958 satire “Giants and Toys” is remarkably prescient of today’s ailments.

  By Douglas Davidson on May 18, 2021 • ( 0 )

  

  It’s rarely more than coincidence when a piece of art intersects with moments in history neatly. Black Panther (2018) released about a year into the Trump presidency, a film in sharp contrast against an administration dealing with accusations of white… Read More ›

• Open Dialogue with “The Dry” writer/producer/director Robert Connolly and actor Genevieve O’Reilly.

  By Noel Manning on May 17, 2021 • ( 0 )

  

  Today on Open Dialogue, Noel T. Manning II interviews The Dry writer, producer, director Robert Connolly and acting talent Genevieve O’Reilly (Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith, Rogue One, and Rebels, The Matrix, Tin Star, The Glitch, Tolkien). Starring Eric… Read More ›

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