Jon Abrams

SLOW-MOTION QUICK-DRAW #169 – BLACK SWAN (2010).

  Process and perception.  Those are the two cinematic concepts I kept pondering throughout the entirety of Black Swan.  These are two themes that are clearly a focus of director Darren Aronofsky’s work to date.   When a director becomes an above-the-title auteur, it’s time to start talking about his thematic preoccupations.  I think Aronofsky … Continue reading

Slow-Motion Quick-Draw #166 – Faster (2010).

  Faster is the first time I’ve seen a movie attempt to become a badass action-movie classic by opening with a close-up of a man’s nipples.  I know you’ve seen the trailers and the posters and you’re going in there expecting to see Dwayne Johnson’s famous arched-eyebrowed glare, or even his surging biceps, but no, the first … Continue reading

A TRIBUTE: Robert Ryan.

  When you get in a habit of writing about movies and their makers, you get in a secondary habit of writing memorial pieces to the dearly departed.  Looking back doesn’t have to be a melancholy process; it can also be an occasion to celebrate favorite film presences who always deserve the attention. Today, November … Continue reading

CULT CLASSICS: Orca (1977).

  Legendary film producer Dino de Laurentiis passed away today at the age of 91.  If you page through his astounding list of credits, you’ll see as many interesting fringe items as generally-acknowledged classic movies.  For having a hand in some of my favorite movies (both to watch and to talk about), I will be … Continue reading

CULT CLASSICS: Link (1986).

  Link is currently enjoying a small surge in its cult following.  Last month there was a Cinefamily event in Los Angeles hosted by comedian Doug Benson a couple weeks ago, and a positive review by the one and only Vern (one of the better webcritics you could follow) around the same time.  The buck … Continue reading