Film
Los Angeles Plays Itself
By Michael Joshua RowinRecently watching the mindless masterpiece Speed—in which, famously, a bus must stay above 55 miles an hour or else get blown up by a deranged Dennis Hopper—I became fascinated with how its creators perfectly situated the action in Los Angeles, with its labyrinthine freeways floating almost detached from the city center.
Ken Jacobs-Star Spangled to Death
By Jonas MekasOrganic, living organism that grew and grew over the period of 47 years.
Two Lone Swordsmen: Hero by Zhang Yi Mou and Zatoichi by Takeshi "Beat" Kitano
By David N. Meyer"Always leave ’em wanting less," Warhol famously said, and American epic filmmakers have taken his words to heart. What the later editions of The Matrix or Troy—or the bloated 2 1/2 hour $10.25 nightmare of your choice—lack in ideas, drama, or emotional credibility, they make up for in sheer waste of time.
In the Belly of the Beast
By Saul AusterlitzMaking a feature film about corporations is a bit like trying to cram the entire history of the United States on the back of an index card. After all, the corporation is a phenomenon that has existed for well over 100 years, and its tentacles extend into every aspect of modern life the world over.
Docs In Sight
Can Archival Footage Change the World?
By Williams ColeAnyone who has seen the record-breaking political documentary Fahrenheit 9/11 knows that much of the rhetorical punch of the film comes from all the footage of W. & Co. that Michael Moore’s production team collected.
