Is stoner comedy a genre? At any rate that's what this is. The film follows a day in the life of Jane, a perpetually stoned actress, through increasingly absurd misadventures set in motion when she "accidentally" consumes her roommate's cupcakes.
"Smiley Face" is more like extended sketch comedy than a story arc. But that's fine as it's quite funny and entertaining throughout.
Through a series of increasingly improbable scenarios, attempts to replace the cupcakes and a bizarre encounter with a…
The mundane meets the apocalyptic... This is a dialogue heavy single location film where a group of old friends gather for their regular "couples' brunch". What begins as a typical social gathering, complete with relationship tensions and social awkwardness, swiftly devolves into complete chaos. First the phones go out, then the power. They come to realize that the outside world is experiencing some kind of major catastrophic event. Things go from bad to worse and comedy ensues.
The ensemble cast…
John Carpenter's The Thing is a masterclass in sci-fi horror, a chilling and paranoia-fueled tale of an alien shape-shifter picking off a team of men one by one. "The Thing" is a study of human nature under extreme pressure. As the body count rises and the lines between man and monster blur, the characters become increasingly distrustful and isolated.
Carpenter's direction is masterful. The film's isolated setting creates a palpable sense of claustrophobia, and the practical effects are still stunning…
1978 was a simpler time; a time before Marvel and DC universes and other big giant loud monster franchises with 8 figure budgets. It was a time when Star Wars was king. We all wanted more of that. The announcement of a film version of a decades old comic book seemed honestly odd to say the least. But "Superman" somehow worked. It was fun and, believe it or not, believable, and fills in a vital part in Hollywood's new spectacle…
