Author: Matt Geiger
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The Secret Queer Subtext of ‘An American Werewolf in London’
‘An American Werewolf in London’ possesses a possible queer reading in the way it envisions a heterosexual romance being undone by the presence of a creature who embodies self-contentment in the face of social alienation.
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‘Swan Song’ is a Scattered But Sincere Story of Small-Town Redemption
Udo Kier takes center spotlight in ‘Swan Song’ as Pat Pitsenbarger, a gay beautician who comes out of retirement for one last job and rediscovers himself along the way.
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Why Pit ‘Alien’ Against ‘Aliens’ When Ripley is Great in Both?
Ripley is a great character because she serves two distinct, but rewarding, purposes in the original film and the sequel.
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‘Legally Blonde’ Was a Woke Feminist Comedy — Then It Kind of Wasn’t
‘Legally Blonde’ remains a standard of feminist filmmaking over two decades after its release, although its poor treatment of racial and sexual minorities make it a product of its time.
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Who Needs ‘Independence Day’ When You’ve Got ‘Sorry to Bother You’?
Sorry to Bother You ultimately speaks to the unfair advantages that the country’s power structures award to those with the resources to control others, as Lift’s easy access to the media allows his opinion to be the only one that matters in the eyes of the unsuspecting and easily impressed public. Moreover, it reveals the…
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‘Luca’ is No Classic, But a Worthy Celebration of Acceptance and Italy
When you don’t factor in the plethora of inferior sequels that have been produced, Luca is one of Pixar’s simplest and most unassuming films in years — and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. The film thrives on being a visual feast with a warm message for all ages, so much so that its…
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Marion Ravenwood, the Unsung Hero of ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’
For the entirety of Raiders of the Lost Ark, Marion remains in full control of both her body and her personality, a rarity for female characters at the time of the film’s release. She’s granted depth with personal demons from her past and emotional vulnerability when the situation deems it appropriate for her to grow…
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A 25-Year Ode to Frances McDormand and ‘Fargo’
It’s easy to dismiss Joel and Ethan Coen for writing from the world they build from outside the box of overarching Hollywood stereotypes, but their inability to compromise their collective vision is precisely what makes the simplistic nature of their world-building and characters so brilliant. It’s also what led Fargo to collect seven Oscar nominations…
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‘Army of the Dead’ is Meh Enough Without the Forced Representation
Even now, the well-established Snyder has yet to learn this as he continues to allow misguided decisions to convince him that his projects hold the same kind of intelligent and emotional weight. Army of the Dead is a tonal mess, one that never decides what it’s trying to be, and, for all we know, doesn’t…
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‘Oxygen’: Mélanie Laurent Helps Elevate a Familiar Premise
These confines won’t really encourage you to read the film as a metaphor for the nerve-inducing experience we’ve all been through over the last year, however — and in the interest of maintaining your dignity, you probably shouldn’t. While the sociopolitical commentary may have worked for the similarly-themed Buried (2010), in which we find Ryan…