1968, Los Angeles. It’s a time and place that was recently brought back to life in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. It was also the year the French filmmaking couple Agnes Varda and Jacques Demy both shot films in Los Angeles. Demy’s Model Shop has been cited as inspiration for Tarantino’s film. But it in a way, I find Varda’s Lions Love to be the more interesting look at the city in this crucial year. Certainly, as a counter-culture counterpoint to Tarantino’s film, it offers a lot to consider. I wrote about it over at Aquarium Drunkard.

aquarium drunkardSean EricksonJanuary 6, 2022film criticism, film review, movies, Lions Love, Agnes VardaComment

Hitting Refresh: The Landlord (1970)

A look back at the 1970 film, The Landlord, the directorial debut of Hal Ashby and one of the first feature films of legendary cinematographer Gordon Willis. Written for the screen by the influential artist Bill Gunn, the racial satire remains vital and perhaps more relevant than ever.

Hitting RefreshSean EricksonSeptember 20, 2016film, film criticism, The Landlord, Hal Ashby, Gordon Willis, Bill Gunn, Beau Bridges, movie review, film reviewComment

On the Eye of the Beholder

Film isn't dead, and neither is film criticism. What's deteriorating is the thoughtfulness surrounding the medium and how we treat and share our opinions. I try to work my way toward the cause of today's message board mentality, shed some light on my own tastes, and offer some advice on how we can tone down the unproductive nonsense. Fair warning: it's a long one.

Into the VoidSean EricksonJuly 25, 2016film, film theory, manifesto, nostalgia, film criticismComment

Academy Award Apathy, Before & After

Brace yourself for yet another Oscar think piece as I brace myself for Mad Max: Fury Road's inevitable best picture loss. Then I get more philosophical about what effect the Oscars really have on the movie's we watch and how bad Spotlight's win is for movies in general and for the chances of anyone taking the Academy Awards seriously.

Into the VoidSean EricksonMarch 4, 2016movies, oscars, academy awards, mad max, mad max: fury road, spotlight, film theory, film criticismComment

Snowpiercer (2014)

I'm probably a little too harsh on the heavily anticipated return of one of my favorite directors, Bong Joon-Ho, and the Chris Evans apocalyptic train spectacle, Snowpiercer.

Something NewSean EricksonMay 8, 2014Snowpiercer, Chris Evans, Bong Joon-Ho, movies, movie review, film, film criticism, movie, film reviewComment

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