No Man’s Land (1987) is a film I hadn’t even heard of until yesterday when I found it on my jailbroken firestick. It presents a narrative that delves into the dangerous world of high-end car theft, setting the stage for exploring identity, ethics, and the seductive allure of life on …

The Arrival, released in 1996, is a science fiction thriller that navigates the intricacies of alien invasion and environmental calamity with a nuanced perspective. Directed by David Twohy, the film stars Charlie Sheen, Ron Silver, and Lindsay Crouse, among others. Despite its intriguing premise and solid execution, other sci-fi blockbusters …

Point Break is one of those rare sublime films that are enjoyable and transcendent. Far from the mindless action cinema that preceded it a decade earlier in the 80s, Kathryn Bigelow’s film has themes and depth and is trying to pose interesting questions. Indeed, Point Break incorporates elements that challenge …

Holocaust films can be tough viewing, and rightly so, but it also serves as a brutal and stark reminder of the Nazi regime. The Holocaust was a genocide during World War II, primarily targeting the Jewish population by the Nazi regime under Adolf Hitler’s leadership in Germany. It is estimated …

Wes Craven’s The People Under the Stairs is a masterclass in horror filmmaking that expertly blends chilling terror, social commentary, and riveting storytelling. Released in 1991, the film showcases Craven’s ability to create an atmosphere of dread while delving into thought-provoking themes. It does qualify for Unsung Cinema despite the …

“Revenge is a meal best served cold.” Denzel Washington’s Creasy states at one point during Man on Fire. This is a common saying repeated in many revenge thriller films. What Man on Fire has to add to the genre isn’t particularly new; the narrative beats we’ve all seen before; it’s …

Bertrand Tavernier’s In The Electric Mist takes a well-worn formula (small-town Southern cop story) and adds some added weight and levity. Think of it as a John Grisham movie without lawyers and with a pulse. The film is based on the novel In the Electric Mist with Confederate Dead by …

Kurt Wimmer’s Equilibrium is a curious case. It explores themes of individuality, free will, and the power of human emotion. It’s a bit of a jumbled mess and sloppy at times, but some good action scenes and a few thought-provoking ideas are also interspersed. Roger Ebert wrote, “Equilibrium would be …

Some movies, as they say, are right up your alley, and Gregor Jordan’s Buffalo Soldiers is an example of a film that exudes a mood that I identify with. Notably, in this case, a somewhat cynical outlook on life in general. Buffalo Soldiers is different from many Army movies because …

“Baseball is made for kids. Grownups only screw it up.” – Hall of Fame pitcher Bob Lemon This quote is the thesis of Andrew Scheinman’s Little Big League, a fantastic and intelligent baseball movie buried beneath the surge of kids sports movies in the 1990s. In particular, baseball movies were …

“I was worried that a wild-eyed director would get a hold of this material and sensationalize it just to shock people. And that, to me, wouldn’t do the script justice. My vision of this story has always been the idea that it is a very edgy script that pushes a …

“Everyone will enjoy this movie. But New Yorkers will enjoy it especially because they know how bad their city really is.” – Bill Murray Some movies fall through the cracks without any explanation. When Quick Change came out in 1990, Bill Murray was at the height of his stardom, Geena …

“The reputation of Psycho II continues to grow because Norman’s character had an arc to it – he starts out as someone who is desperately trying to hold onto his sanity, and he ends up as mad as a hatter! I never realised the power of film until I saw …