Professional wrestling and cinema intersect infrequently, despite wrestling being a vocation built on crafted bodies, costumes, characters and stadium-sized spectacle. The theatricality, flamboyance and often astonishing true stories behind the curtain would seem ideal material for filmmakers. Yet, outside of a handful of notable titles and company-controlled productions, relatively few films have convincingly captured what … Read more

Spellbound (1945)Director: Alfred HitchcockScreenwriters: Ben Hecht, Angus MacPhailStarring: Ingrid Bergman, Gregory Peck, Michael Chekhov, Leo G. Carroll, Rhonda Fleming Spellbound occupies an interesting place in Alfred Hitchcock’s filmography: it is widely admired by many fans and critics, yet it often slips under the radar when people list his most iconic works. The film is carefully … Read more

Psycho (1960)Director: Alfred HitchcockScreenplay: Joseph StefanoStarring: Anthony Perkins, Vera Miles, John Gavin, Janet Leigh, Martin Balsam, John McIntire Some films lodge themselves in cultural memory almost by accident. They may not aim to be the grandest technical achievements, yet a single shot, a line of dialogue, or a character’s nuance triggers a collective response that … Read more

Hellboy (2004)Director: Guillermo del ToroScreenwriter: Guillermo del ToroStarring: Ron Perlman, Selma Blair, Doug Jones, John Hurt, Rupert Evans, Karel Roden, Jeffrey Tambor, Brian Steele, Ladislav Beran, Biddy Hodson, Corey Johnson, Kevin Trainor Guillermo del Toro’s 2004 adaptation of Mike Mignola’s Hellboy arrived after a varied period in the director’s career. Having established himself with original … Read more

Godzilla x Kong: The New Empire (2024)Director: Adam WingardScreenwriters: Terry Rossio, Simon Barrett, Jeremy SlaterStarring: Rebecca Hall, Brian Tyree Henry, Dan Stevens, Kaylee Hottle, Alex Ferns, Fala Chen Three years ago Adam Wingard delivered a spectacle of giant monsters clashing in neon-lit Hong Kong with Godzilla vs. Kong. It was loud, silly, and energetic—visually striking … Read more

Singin’ in the Rain was warmly received when it premiered in 1952, and over the decades it has grown into one of the most celebrated musicals and films in cinema history. Co-directed and co-choreographed by Stanley Donen and Gene Kelly, the film assembles a collection of pre-existing songs—many originally written for other movie musicals—and integrates … Read more

10 Things I Hate About You (1999)Director: Gil JungerScreenwriters: Karen McCullah, Kirsten SmithStarring: Julia Stiles, Heath Ledger, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Larisa Oleynik, Andrew Keegan, Gabrielle Union, David Krumholtz, Susan May Pratt, Allison Janney, Larry Miller Ten Things I Hate About You, the spirited 1999 teen comedy loosely inspired by William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew, … Read more

The Matrix (1999)Director: Lana Wachowski, Lilly WachowskiScreenwriters: Lana Wachowski, Lilly WachowskiStarring: Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne, Carrie-Anne Moss, Hugo Weaving, Gloria Foster, Joe Pantoliano, Marcus Chong, Matt Doran, Julian Arahanga, Anthony Ray Parker, Belinda McClory There’s little left to say about The Matrix that hasn’t been observed, dissected, or celebrated, yet the film still rewards revisiting. … Read more

The Sugarland Express (1974)Director: Steven SpielbergScreenwriters: Hal Barwood, Matthew RobbinsCast: Goldie Hawn, William Atherton, Ben Johnson, Michael Sacks, Gregory Walcott, Steve Kanaly, Louise Latham, Dean Smith, James Kenneth Crone Steven Spielberg’s The Sugarland Express, released in 1974, stands as an intriguing and often overlooked debut feature in the director’s filmography. While his earlier work Duel … Read more

Discussing religious exploitation might seem out of place in an article about film, yet cinema and television have been powerful vectors for the misuse of Christian imagery and messaging. Over the years, the commercialization of faith on screen has contributed to the modern cynicism many feel toward Christianity. The rise of lucrative televangelists and for-profit … Read more