Bruce Springsteen’s Artful Criticism of American Culture
This is an ambitious undertaking, weaving American history, popular culture, and Bruce Springsteen’s music into a cohesive narrative.
Jon Lisi
Jon Lisi writes about film and television. He lives in New York City.
Cinephilia Culture and the Fear of Missing Out
There just isn't enough time in the human lifespan to see all the films one 'should'. So why not just declare the death of the cinephile?
A General, a Princess and Two Greedy, Dim-Witted Peasants
The Hidden Fortress is more "accessible" and "entertaining" than Rashômon, but Kurosawa's artistry is ever present.
David Dow Is Compassionate Enough to Humanize the World’s Most Hated People
There are a plethora of memoirs and true crime stories to read, but few of them are as eloquent and passionate as Things I’ve Learned from Dying: A Book About Life.
The Embers of the MOVE Bombing Still Smolder
To some, the FBI's handling of MOVE screamed of the Attica prison riot; to others, it was more like the hunt for Osama Bin Laden, if you will.
Rich People Have Problems Too: Teenage Angst in ‘Sixteen Candles’
A film like Sixteen Candles suggests that wealthy teenagers are not immune to life’s harsh caprice, and that no amount of affluence can cure high school’s sense of alienation and anxiety
Should ‘Thief’s Protagonist Be Punished or Praised?
Thief, like the best crime films, forces the viewer to rethink traditional conceptions of criminality.
The Bosnian War Deserves a Better Film than ‘Twice Born’
Twice Born takes what has the potential to be an engrossing cinematic backdrop—the horrific Bosnian War—and turns it into cheap sentiment.
What Drives the Brave Journalists in ‘Reportero’?
Reportero is a must-see documentary that forcefully demonstrates the importance of the press.
‘Free Fall’ Feels Very Familiar
In many ways, Blue is the Warmest Color is everything Free Fall should have been.
What Does the Success of ‘Sharknado’ Reveal About Social Media?
In 2013, Syfy's Sharknado became a trending topic on Twitter and a pop culture phenomenon. Here's why none of it matters.
‘Fruitvale Station’ Is a Powerful Film That Demands to Be Viewed and Discussed
To what extent is Grant responsible for his life, and to what extent is he a product of a larger culture and society that thrives and survives on the institutional racism against African-Americans?