"RKO 281" offers a vividly compelling presentation of the troubled history behind Orson Welles and his magnum opus "Citizen Kane." This historical drama about the so-called “boy wonder” helming a film inspired by the life of a powerful man highlights the ego clashes and politics surrounding Hollywood. As a cinematic offering, it frames itself as a dramatically sound genesis of what is often described as “The Greatest American Film of All Time” through its amalgam of fictional recreations and historical accounts partly based
Film Reviews
‘The Red Balloon’ Short Film Critique: Relationship and Poetry Through a Child’s Gaze
A short essay for my Film Theory and Criticism Class The 1956 French short film classic “The Red Balloon” (Le ballon rouge) features a tender drama with a fine touch of flight of fancy. Its subdued setting features a lot of grays, suggesting the depressing quality of the film’s mood and tone, which is then contrasted with the blazing red balloon in mid air. This post-war motion-picture classic written and directed by Albert Lamorisse features a seemingly cynical world that turns magical
‘Hedgehog in the Fog’ Short Film Critique: The Phantasm of Venturing Into the Unknown
A short essay for my Film Theory and Criticism Class The 1975 short animated film “Hedgehog in the Fog” (Yozhik v tumane) by Yuri Norstein offers an amalgam of terror and pleasure using the phantasm of venturing into the unknown. This evocative work of imagination features the journey of a hedgehog one evening to see his bear cub friend. As he travels in the foggy forest, he encounters many scary things that eventually become transformative moments of wonder. This 11-minute Russian
‘Tango’ Short Film Critique: Overlapping Routines as a Collective Ritual
A short essay for my Film Theory and Criticism Class Filmmaker Zbigniew Rybczyński presents his critically acclaimed 1981 Polish short film “Tango” as a rhythmic play set in a stage that gradually progresses. It begins with a vaguely minimalist room where there are three points of entrance and exit: two doors and a window. These points become the gateways of a plethora of characters that initially starts with easily recognizable parts until each one’s repetitive acts create layer after layer of
(Response Paper) Finding Legitimacy on Film Criticism and the Value of Film Literacy
In response to: “On Poetics and Practice of Film Criticism in the Philippines - A Roundtable Discussion and Videos” by Patrick Campos, published at the Plaridel Journal A response paper for my Advanced Film Theory and Criticism class After watching over 3 hours, 40 minutes of productive discussion of the University of the Philippines Office of Research and Publication project entitled "On Poetics and Practice of Film Criticism in the Philippines - A Roundtable Discussion and Videos," it was interesting and eye-opening
(Response Paper) In Making Sense of This Particular Order: Film Reviewing – Film Criticism – Film Scholarship
In response to: The Manila Review article “Pinoy Film Criticism: A Lover’s Polemic” by Joel David A response paper for my Advanced Film Theory and Criticism class Film scholar Joel David presented key issues hounding the arrested development of Pinoy film criticism in this 2015 article entitled “Pinoy Film Criticism: A Lover’s Polemic,” published by The Manila Review. Early on in the reading, he addressed the separation between film scholarship and production – raising the issue where “specialists suffered from serious lack in
(Response Paper) The Conundrum in the Stars: Appeasing the Human Mind with Art and Criticism
In response to: “What is Criticism? (A Preliminary Dialogue)” and “The Critic as Artist and Vice Versa” in the book “Better Living Through Criticism: How to Think About Art, Pleasure, Beauty, and Truth” by A. O. Scott A response paper for my Advanced Film Theory and Criticism class After reading “What is Criticism? (A Preliminary Dialogue)” and “The Critic as Artist and Vice Versa” in the book “Better Living Through Criticism: How to Think About Art, Pleasure, Beauty, and Truth,” writer A.O.
(Response Paper) Besides Perfection: The Nooks and Cranny of Film Reviewing with Anthony Lane
In response to: The introduction of the book “Nobody’s Perfect: Writings from the New Yorker” by Anthony Lane A response paper for my Advanced Film Theory and Criticism class The introduction part of Anthony Lane’s book “Nobody’s Perfect: Writings from the New Yorker” was a nurturing read, while reminding me of how movies for spectacle’s sake work like junk food – indulging instead of nourishing. At the same time, in the ages of video games and social media, movies work like many
Influential Movies in Hollywood Film History: 1990 to 2010
Who can forget films that influenced eras and generations of film enthusiasts? Anyone from film school or just about any film buff well adept with classics would have seen films like "The Birth of a Nation," "Battleship Potemkin," "Citizen Kane," and "2001: A Space Odyssey." Even the young filmgoers of today would most likely know big movie franchises such as "King Kong," "Jurassic Park," and "Star Wars." The past 30 years has its own offering of influential Hollywood motion-picture projects worth chronicling
Capsule Film Review: ‘Ang Larawan, The Movie’ (2017)
"Ang Larawan, The Movie" is a film for Filipinos — something to treasure for its artistic and cultural initiative of pioneering the musical film adapted from the work of an acclaimed Filipino literary artist, no less than a National Artist at that. Kudos to all those behind this ambitious cinematic endeavor, as the film, with both its strengths and forgiveable shortcomings, reflects the love and passion of the people who worked on it from start to end. This period piece may not