In Which I Write About Movies

North by Northwest (MGM, 1959)

Posted on December 12, 2020December 12, 2020 by Charles Ackerman

Never back down when you’re right, or you WILL die.

Dawn of the Dead (United Film Distribution Company, 1978)

Posted on October 25, 2020October 25, 2020 by Charles Ackerman

As a televised debate between two prominent figures devolves into a shouting match, anger towards scientists and racial tensions soar. The government fails to mount an effective response to a global health crisis, and the nation remains in lockdown as a deadly virus sweeps through cities and towns.

Alas, this is how George A. Romero begins his timeless 1978 independent horror film, “Dawn of the Dead.”

Raiders of the Lost Ark (Paramount Pictures, 1981)

Posted on October 10, 2020 by Charles Ackerman

In fact, something about Raiders feels very Star Wars-y to me. It’s almost as if someone sat back, said, “Let’s take the guys who made a metric fuck-ton of money with Star Wars, but have it directed by the guy who made a metric fuck-ton of money with Jaws,” and then sat back and did a line of coke off a Rubik’s cube.

Dumb and Dumber (New Line Cinema, 1994)

Posted on September 30, 2020September 30, 2020 by Charles Ackerman

“Dumb and Dumber” is not “The Shawshank Redemption.”

2001: A Space Odyssey (MGM, 1968)

Posted on September 20, 2020September 30, 2020 by Charles Ackerman

Kubrick’s approach to portraying a future 34 years in the future was relatively grounded. While here in 2020 we still don’t have space stations like the one in the film or a moon base, we must remember that 2001 is a product of its time. While here in 2020 we can’t even go to the grocery store, let alone the moon, the future possibilities seemed limitless back then.

Star Trek: The Motion Picture (Paramount, 1979)

Posted on September 17, 2020September 30, 2020 by Charles Ackerman

Watch Kirk look at the Enterprise! Watch the gang watch a transporter malfunction (my first scar for life from a movie)! Watch the crew watch the view screen! Something like 60% of this movie must be reaction shots. It’s unreal.

Wonder Woman (Warner Bros., 2017)

Posted on September 7, 2020September 30, 2020 by Charles Ackerman

There’s stuff that happens. Something about chemical weapons, everybody wants to declare peace because the war sucks anyway, and Danny Huston smokes meth or something. I dunno. It’s kind of a mess of ideas. The point is, Gal Gadot is here to save the day.

The Godfather (Paramount Pictures, 1972)

Posted on September 4, 2020September 30, 2020 by Charles Ackerman

I found myself impressed by the lessons in leadership that Vito has to offer. And subsequently, found myself deeply disturbed by the previous statement, but whatever.