A few months ago, as the final edits on my first-ever western screenplay were hitting the home stretch, I decided to indulge in a 20-movie Spaghetti Western Bonanza marathon to recharge and recalibrate. My script, Bull Head & Blind Rage, is an epic-sized oater rendered in the late ’60s, early ’70s spaghetti western style with … Continue reading Spaghetti Western Bonanza →

**NOTE: This article was originally published on Cashiers De Cinema in the summer of 2016.  Now that summer's almost over, I think it's safe to declare May to August 2016 one of the worst popcorn movie seasons on record. Every big budget popcorn movie I dragged myself to in a theatre either disappointed or predictably … Continue reading Raiders of the Lost Imitators →

When David Lynch cryptically revealed a few weeks ago that the much-maligned Twin Peaks movie prequel Fire Walk With Me was going to be an important touchstone for the 2017 series, it was cause for alarm for some. But, for me, it was reason for rejoicing and, then, some reminiscing. I consider myself a dyed-in-the-wool … Continue reading HAZY ANGELS, RAVING HOMECOMING QUEENS & LSD →

Bill Paxton's passing on February 25, 2017 came as a sudden, devastating blow to all who knew him, loved him and worked with him in real life. To those who got to know him him only through the veil of the silver screen, it was also something of a gut punch. A reliable fixture in … Continue reading BILL PAXTON BUMS A RIDE: Catching Up with the Late Actor’s Lesser-Known Films →

It all begins with a hard elbow to the face. It's late December 2015, fifteen minutes into an opening weekend matinee of Quentin Tarantino's The Hateful 8. In a stagecoach bound for Red Rock, John "The Hangman" Ruth has just delivered an unexpected, bone-crunching blow to the nasal bridge of his previously bruised prisoner, Daisy … Continue reading JENNIFER JASON LEIGH: Black + Blue For You →

**This article originally appeared on UGO.com (RIP). Re-posting here as the link no longer exists. “Go ahead , make my day.” “Hasta la vista, baby.” “Yippie-kai-yay, motherf**ker.” These are the tough guy movie lines so near and dear to our hearts. We love them because we wish we had said them. Like that time the … Continue reading TOP 50 TOUGH GUY LINES →