Tag / catherine o’hara

by Jaime Rebanal

‘After Hours’ Review: A Hitchcockian Comedy from Martin Scorsese

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After Hours isn’t the sort of film that many would normally associate a director like Martin Scorsese with; yet despite that I also believe it to be one of his best films to date. Amidst his struggle to find the necessary funding in order to bring The Last Temptation of Christ to the big screen, he follows up the box office failure of The King of Comedy with After Hours, one of the funniest films of the 1980’s. What already shows itself to be one ordinary guy’s bad night, Martin Scorsese turns what should seem like a simple comedy about a blind date gone horribly wrong into the most bizarre film of his career. Yet the fact that Martin Scorsese was able to make something like this in his long career also showcases his many talents as a filmmaker.

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by Jaime Rebanal

Home Alone – Review

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Home Alone was never one of my favourite Christmas films growing up even though over the years I had never passed it by whenever it was on television. In truth over the years I had only found myself liking the film much less and eventually my own growing disdain had become enough for me just to outright dislike it. I’ve mentioned my many issues especially with the films of John Hughes as a director and quite frankly I can’t say that his work as a writer fared much better with me. Even during the time I remember enjoying Home Alone I always struggled seeing why it was labelled as a favourite and over the years hoping my view would change it becomes much stronger instead.

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by Jaime Rebanal

The Nightmare Before Christmas – Review

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Age has never always been the best friend for films that we remember loving when we were younger. As a matter of fact I had not seen Henry Selick’s The Nightmare Before Christmas in over ten years and that was back at a time I remember having absolutely loved the film but my perspective now has turned into something else. While I still recognize this Henry Selick/Tim Burton collaboration as a success especially in terms of what it presents with its wonderful animation, I have only found that said appreciation has faded a little more over time. It’s easy to see in part where it has become a family favourite especially during either the Halloween or Christmas seasons but outside of such events I can’t say I find myself compelled to revisit The Nightmare Before Christmas – as if that takes away from what it offers.

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by Jaime Rebanal

Where the Wild Things Are – Review

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When I was much younger, Maurice Sendak’s book Where the Wild Things Are was a story I held so dear to my heart and I always wanted my parents reading it to me before heading into bed. In 2009, the time finally came when I was seeing something that defined my childhood coming to the screen. It’s hard enough translating a beloved piece of what helped me growing up onto the big screen in this manner but somehow, what Spike Jonze managed to provide had triumphed and brought back so many fond memories for myself. For not only was it those memories that came back to me which struck me in awe at Where the Wild Things Are, but Spike Jonze’s incredible understanding of childhood that only strike for more imagination.

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