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American Independent Cinema

This category contains 118 posts

‘Moonlight’ (2016): When Dramatic Cinema is More Bizarre than Awards-Bait

Directed by: Barry Jenkins || Produced by: Adele Romanski, Dede Gardner, Jeremy Kleiner Screenplay by: Barry Jenkins, Tarell Alvin McCraney || Starring: Trevante Rhodes, Andre Holland, Janelle Monae, Ashton Sanders, Jharrel Jerome, Naomie Harris, Mahershala Ali, Alex Hibbert Music by: Nicholas Britell || Cinematography: James Laxton || Edited by: Nat Sanders, Joi McMillon || Country: … Continue reading

‘Don’t Breathe’ (2016): The Return of Mainstream Exploitation Cinema

Directed by: Fede Alvarez || Produced by: Fede Alvarez, Sam Raimi, Robert Tapert Screenplay by: Fede Alvarez, Rodo Sayagues || Starring: Jane Levy, Dylan Minnette, Daniel Zovatto, Stephen Lang, Franciska Torocsik, Emma Bercovici, Christian Zagia, Katia Bokor, Sergej Onopko Music by: Roque Banos || Cinematography: Pedro Luque || Edited by: Eric L. Beason, Louise Ford, … Continue reading

‘Hanna’ (2011): The Coming-of-Age Story, Remixed

Directed by: Joe Wright || Produced by: Leslie Holleran, Marty Adelstein, Scott Nemes Screenplay by: Seth Lochhead, David Farr || Starring: Saoirse Ronan, Eric Bana Cate Blanchett, Jessica Barden, Aldo Maland, Tom Hollander, Olivia Williams, Jason Flemyng, Michelle Dockery, Vicky Krieps, Martin Wuttke, Sebastian Hulk, Mohammed Majd Music by: The Chemical Brothers || Edited by: … Continue reading

A Ti West Sampling: ‘The Roost’ (2005), ‘The House of the Devil’ (2009), & ‘The Innkeepers’ (2011)

Directed by: Ti West || Produced by: Larry Fessenden [The Roost, The Innkeepers], Josh Braun, Roger Kass [The House of the Devil], Derek Kurl, Peter Phok [The House of the Devil, The Innkeepers], Ti West [The Innkeepers] Screenplay by: Ti West || Starring: Wil Horneff, Vanessa Horneff, Karl Jacob [R], Jocelin Donahue, Mary Woronov, Greta Gerwig, … Continue reading

‘The Birth of a Nation’ (2016): History Is Written by the Victors

Directed by: Nate Parker || Produced by: Nate Parker, Kevin Turen, Jason Michael Berman, Aaron L. Gilbert, Preston L. Holmes Screenplay by: Nate Parker || Starring: Nate Parker, Armie Hammer, Colman Domingo, Aja Naomi King, Jackie Earle Haley, Penelope Ann Miller, Gabrielle Union Music by: Henry Jackman || Cinematography: Elliot Davis || Edited by: Steven … Continue reading

‘The Purge’ (2013, 2014, 2016): Awesome Concepts with Hamfisted Social Commentary

Directed by: James DeMonaco || Produced by: Jason Blum, Sebastien K. Lemercier, Michael Bay,  Andrew Form, Bradley Fuller Screenplay by: James DeMonaco || Starring: (1) Ethan Hawke, Lena Heady, Adelaide Kane, Max Burkholder (2) Frank Grillo, Carmen Ejogo, Zach Gilford, Kiele Sanchez, Zoe  Soul (3) Frank Grillo, Elizabeth Mitchell, Mykelti Williamson, Joseph Julian Soria, Betty … Continue reading

‘Equilibrium’ (2002): An Ambitious yet Derivative Indie Action Flick

Directed by: Kurt Wimmer || Produced by: Jan de Bont, Lucas Foster, Bob Weinstein, Harvey Weinstein Screenplay by: Kurt Wimmer || Starring: Christian Bale, Emily Watson, Taye Diggs, Sean Bean, Sean Pertwee, William Fichtner, Matthew Harbour, David Hemmings Music by: Klaus Badelt || Cinematography: Dion Beebe || Edited by: Tom Rolf, William Yeh || Country: … Continue reading

‘Tremors’ (1990, 1996, 2001, 2004): Franchise Review

Directed by: [1] Ron Underwood, [2, 4] S. S. Wilson, [3] Brent Maddock || Produced by: [1] Gale Anne Hurd, Brent Maddock, S. S. Wilson, [2] Nancy Roberts, Christopher DeFaria, Ron Underwood, [3] S. S. Wilson [4] Nancy Roberts Screenplay by: [1, 2] Brent Maddock, S. S. Wilson [3] John Whelpley, [4] Scott Buck || … Continue reading

‘Blue Ruin’ (2013) & ‘Green Room’ (2015): Working-Class Revenge Thrillers

Directed by: Jeremy Saulnier || Produced by: [Both] Anish Savjani, [Blue Ruin] Macon Blair, Tyler Byrne, Richard Peete, Vincent Savino, Alex Orr [Green Room] Neil Kopp, Victor Moyers Screenplay by: Jeremy Saulnier || Starring: [BR] Macon Blair, Devin Ratray, Eve Plumb, Amy Hargreaves, Kevin Kolack [GR] Anton Yelchin, Imogen Poots, Alia Shawkat, Joe Cole, Callum … Continue reading

‘Raging Bull’ (1980): The Greatest Sports Drama Ever Made

Directed by: Martin Scorsese || Produced by: Irwin Winkler, Robert Chartoff Screenplay by: Paul Schrader, Mardik Martin || Starring: Robert de Niro, Cathy Moriarty, Joe Pesci, Nicholas Colasanto, Theresa Saldana, Frank Vincent, Mario Gallo, Frank Adonis, Johnny Barnes Music by: Robbie Robertson || Cinematography: Michael Chapman || Edited by: Thelma Schoonmaker || Country: United States … Continue reading

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