Interview with cinematographer Andrew Droz palermo – Moon Knight

The Run-Down on Movies manager Thomas Manning recently interviewed cinematographer Andrew Droz Palermo about his work on the Marvel Studios series Moon Knight. Over the course of this 20-minute conversation, Palermo speaks about the challenges of working with a visual style that relies so heavily on reflections, the on-location filming in Budapest, and capturing Oscar […]

Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings – Review

At this point in 2021, it is not necessary to be a fan of comic books or even movies in general to have a surface level familiarity with the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU). With a total of 24 films across 13 years grossing nearly $23 billion at the worldwide box office, this franchise has become […]

Akira Kurosawa Series – Yojimbo (1961) and Sanjuro (1962)

The Akira Kurosawa double-feature of Yojimbo (1961) and Sanjuro (1962) sees Kurosawa scaling back the scope of his previous samurai features like Seven Samurai (1954) and The Hidden Fortress (1958) for a more concentrated focus on one warrior’s interactions with small towns, rival gangs, juvenile samurai pupils, and political warfare. In Yojimbo and Sanjuro, Toshirô […]

Akira Kurosawa Series – The Hidden Fortress (1958)

As someone who has been a massive fan of Star Wars for longer than I have been a major cinephile and film enthusiast, whispers of Akira Kurosawa’s 1958 film The Hidden Fortress have entered the conversation many times surrounding George Lucas’ space opera. I had always heard that Kurosawa was perhaps Lucas’ biggest inspiration […]

Akira Kurosawa Series -Seven Samurai (1954)

“In life, one finds friends in the strangest of places.” This is a quote spoken by a samurai warrior in 16th-century Japan, but it rings true centuries later all over the word. An array of variables and possibilities in everyday life produce endless permutations for the different relationships you build with people. Your best friends […]

Bao Tran Interview – The Paper Tigers – Fantasia Film Fest

In this interview, Thomas Manning speaks with Bao Tran, the writer and director of the new kung fu comedy and Fantasia Film Festival selection, “The Paper Tigers.” Three Kung Fu prodigies have grown into washed-up, middle-aged men, now one kick away from pulling their hamstrings. But when their master is murdered, they must juggle their […]

Apollo 13 – 25 Years Later

The Apollo 13 mission is one of the most infamous ventures in the history of space travel. Launching on April 11, 1970, the astronaut trio of Jim Lovell, Jack Swigert, and Fred Haise set out on a lunar exploration assignment. However, a disastrous oxygen tank malfunction on April 13 forced the three men to forfeit […]

Netflix’s “Extraction” Lays Down the Hammer

Brought to you by Netflix, directed by Sam Hargrave, and in association with Joe and Anthony Russo, “Extraction” is a banger. You do not really come to these types of movies for high-concept, thematically-rich storytelling, but rather for the high-octane action and hard-hitting punches. And man, does this one deliver. The stunt performances and fight […]

Star Wars Prequels – Review and Reflection Supercut

Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (1999) I am going to be completely honest, I loved this film growing up. I was a Prequel Era Star Wars kid, and this trilogy will always hold a special place in my heart. That being said, this is an extremely average movie, and quite frankly, a “bad” movie by […]

FACE/OFF Provides Plenty of Thrills and Feels

So John Travolta is playing a version of Nicholas Cage who is playing John Travolta. On the other hand, we have Nicholas Cage playing a version of John Travolta who is playing Nicholas Cage. Yes, it gets pretty trippy. But wow, is this fun to watch! John Woo is a master at directing over-the-top, insane, […]