Jean-Pierre Melville’s most accomplished, most personal movie gets a new reissue. Ignored in 1969 and released in the United States only 37 years later, this somber, ultra-realistic look at the French resistance has never been equalled. Forget thrilling adventure tales with daring escapes, patriotic oaths and beautiful spies; Melville presents resistance activities in the…

  Don’t do it Vittorio! The Italian master’s last neorealist project was done ‘in collaboration’ with American producer David O. Selznick, who proceeded to crowbar his way into every directorial decision. The resulting ‘creative differences’ spoiled Signor De Sica’s Italian version, but that wasn’t enough. Selznick put it through a sausage machine for the American…

The COVID-19 pandemic and its associated self-isolation and quarantine measures have given many of us a lot of extra time.  I’ve been spending my extra time by drinking wine and watching movies. So, no, my life hasn’t changed much. Grocery shopping has changed.  Who would have believed that when panic hit the streets, the toilet…