• Interviews/Podcasts,  Movies/Entertainment

    Interview…Director Sean Ellis on the Physical and Psychological Anguish of ‘The Cut’

    How far will you go to get something you think you want? At what cost do you keep pushing? And do the obsessive ends justify the means? These are some of the heavy and impacting building blocks of Sean Ellis‘ latest film. And coming from the man whose career is built on movies where characters make life-changing sacrifices, this might be the crown jewel in his CV. The Cut is an exploration into what drives someone. With nothing but training and instincts to lean on, it’s easy to imagine how much weight a boxer carries in their minds each time they enter the squared circle. After all, the mind is…

  • Movies/Entertainment,  Quick 5/Top 10

    G-S-T Quick 5 – Favorite Cameron Crowe Films

    This summer we’re bringing back our series of posts dedicated to great directors, starting with Cameron Crowe whose first screenwriting effort, the cult classic Fast Times at Ridgemont High, grew out of a book he wrote while posing for one year undercover as a student at Clairemont High School in San Diego, California. Since the film’s release in 1982, Crowe has written and directed several hit features and rock documentaries. While best known for his character-driven narratives, centering on couples in love, Crowe’s style has proven successful in creating a variety of roles and narratives. His journalistic background gives Crowe’s storytelling a unique perspective and heightened sense of realism that…

  • Movies/Entertainment,  Off the Shelf

    Off the Shelf…'Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End'

    Boy was this a bloated piece of barnacle run off. Now I’m not going to try and hide the fact that I just did not like this film. While it was the biggest adventure thus far, it just tripped over its own convoluted sea legs and the result was an exposition/character heavy film that was as pointless as it was boring. Whew, glad I got that out. Now as someone who can usually see both sides to a film and is usually a bit more fair than is necessary, I’ll admit there were some interesting bits but I think you’d agree with me when I say I feel At World’s…

  • Movies/Entertainment,  Off the Shelf

    Off the Shelf…'Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest'

    Picking up realtively right after the high of the The Curse of the Black Pearl film, Dead Man’s Chest is everything you’d expect in a sequel. But what Dead Man’s Chest does very well is provide interesting back story and character development. Specifically we find out more about how Jack became Captain as well as the story behind old Bootstrap Bill and Davy Jones’ Locker. Expanding on the wild elements of the first film The Curse of the Black Pearl, namely the Aztec curse, and as Barbossa was one tough act to follow we get not one but three new heavies. It’s yo ho all the way through this epic…

  • Movies/Entertainment,  Off the Shelf

    Off the Shelf…'Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl'

    Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides comes out this Friday, May 20th so to get ready I revisited the previous three films this past weekend. Huzzah, man was that a good time (except for the last one which is kind of crappy). Disney re-released their trilogy on Blu Ray back in March and I can honestly say that adventures on the high seas have never looked this good which made it all the more enjoyable! So who would have seriously thought than a static amusement park ride would serve as inspiration for such a thrilling and fun-filled film? Well this is Disney we’re talking about and they have the…