Top 51 Things I Love About Reservoir Dogs (that no one talks about)

Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight drops this Christmas in glorious throwback fashion. For the first two weeks of its release, the film will screen in theaters specifically equipped with a projector that can properly display the film’s 70mm film stock. I’m beyond excited for a new QT film, so in preparation for The Hateful Eight’s release, I’m going to spend every Friday between now and Christmas discussing Tarantino’s body of work. Today, we start at the beginning, with Tarantino’s fierce and iconic debut, Reservoir Dogs. Enjoy! And remember to come back next Friday for Pulp.

Top 10 About-Face Films

We all have what I refer to as “about-face” movies. These are films that did nothing for you on the first viewing, but that you grew to love when you revisited them. Maybe you didn’t “get” the movie the first time around, maybe you were too young to comprehend its obscurity. Maybe it was too long, too weird, too plain. Or maybe it hit too close to home, and you were afraid to open yourself up to it. Below is a list of films I’ve completely redefined my opinion on, simply because I gave them another go. Do feel free to share your favorite about-face films as well!

In Character: Paul Sorvino

Paul Sorvino has been killing us with his charm since the early ‘70s. Even when he plays lethal thugs, we can’t help but be drawn to him. We hinge on his every word, studying his slow, purposeful movements, and letting his soothing Italian New York voice school us in the lessons of life. Sorvino has clocked a ton of credits in his career, so do please feel free to share your favorites as well.

Top 52 Things I Love About A Few Good Men (that no one talks about)

Rob Reiner’s A Few Good Men is one of those movies I can watch anytime, anywhere. Which is fitting, given that it’s one of the most popular TNT Movies (Cinema Romantico™) around. It also contains one of Aaron Sorkin’s finest scripts to date. So with the Sorkin-penned Steve Jobs hitting theaters tomorrow, here’s a look back at some things I love about A Few Good Men that are rarely discussed.

the Directors: Denis Villeneuve

There are two sides to Denis Villeneuve: the playful surrealist, and the dead-serious dramatist. The best of his films often combine those two sides, creating a story juxtaposition that makes the work memorable. And the fact that they all look amazing certainly doesn’t hurt.

In addition, Denis Villeneuve is one of the few modern directors who always include strong parts for women. His films often show what desperate people do in desperate situations. Sometimes they respond with harsh violence, other times with frank sexuality. Many lie, some kill, most make poor decisions. But all of them face dilemmas in the context of a great story, executed masterfully by the filmmaker in question.

6 Years

You ever have something really bad happen to you but it takes you a long time to realize how bad it actually was?

I have friends (more than I care to admit, though I suppose any number greater than zero is one too many) who have been sexually assaulted. Some of them continued to hang out with their assailants in the hours, days or even weeks after their attack. Had coffee, grabbed dinner, went to a movie. This is for two reasons. One, they knew their assailants personally and, up until the assault, always assumed they could trust them. Two, my friends didn’t have the emotional context to understand how horrific their attack was. It took weeks to fully settle in.