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I wrote a bunch of jokes about Chicago’s bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympics for my friend Mark Bazer’s The Interview Show tonight in Chicago. But he’s only going to be able to fit a couple of them into what he’s got planned. So, rather than let most of them go to waste, here they are: read more…
If AMC’s hit TV series Mad Men has you hungering for similar kinds of stories (and style), or you fear you may have to suffer through detox when the current season ends, here are eight movie suggestions that bear some similarities to the show. Put them in your rental queue, buy the DVDs, or check the screening schedule for your local arthouse cinema. All of these are quite good and well worth watching, whenever you’re able to track them down.
Serious Thoughts on Inglourious Basterds, Quentin Tarantino’s Most Serious Movie
2009 August 28
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Whatever one thinks of his movies, there’s no denying that Quentin Tarantino is an extremely clever, savvy, and knowledgeable filmmaker. His work always presents a remarkable synthesis of elements and techniques from a variety of genres, eras, and national cinemas. Tarantino’s got style to burn, but, at least for me, real substance has often seemed lacking. I usually leave the theater entertained, but without anything to chew on later.
Certain aspects of Inglourious Basterds make me very queasy, and it’s far from an unqualified triumph. But I was expecting a much more violent, gory, gleefully amoral action flick, and was surprised to discover (on the whole) an ambitious, slyly subversive, and thought-provoking commentary on evil, violence, war, justice, identity, and, believe it or not, America itself.