Archive for the 'Forgotten Friday Flick' Category
March 24th, 2021 by Jason Coleman
Having recently witnessed the glorious opening slow-motion spectacle of Zack Snyder’s Justice League, complete with full man of steel angst and long-reaching death howl, it inspired me and reminded me just how powerful an effective opening scene can be. Sometimes as the only saving grace of a flawed flick and sometimes an appetizer of tasty things to come, a good first scene impression is always welcome in the world of movie magic. So I’m taking some time out to pay a little tribute to some of MY favorite first scenes that have long lingered with me even after the flick finished unspooling. Take heed – these may not be the best film openings of all time (hence no Jaws, The Dark Knight, or 2001: A Space Odyssey here!), but these are the ones that personally made me excited both then and now. So run hot, choose life, drive fast, feel melancholy, check the calendar, get arrested, prepare for 100% Alabama ass-kicking, get into a knockdown brawl, grab some hot jewels, and gain some serious deep reflection – here are my own…TOP TEN MEMORABLE MOVIE OPENINGS!
Continue reading ‘Jason Coleman’s Top Ten Memorable Movie Openings’
September 7th, 2018 by Jason Coleman
As everyone knows the iconic actor/director Burt Reynolds passed yesterday, but fortunately he left behind an immense body of work that was unparalleled in terms of diversity and longevity. Having created so many cool characters, memorable movies and all with joyful everyman quality, Reynolds was one of the last of the Hollywood movie stars. So when I found myself scouring his various cinematic wares to select five of the best pieces of work from the man known for his legendary smirk and swagger, it became almost impossible to pick just a handful of films that he should be remembered for. His dramatic turn in Deliverance, his joy in comedies like The Cannonball Run, Smokey And The Bandit and Stroker Ace (my guilty pleasure!), his action prowess in 80’s fare like Stick, Heat, Malone and Rent-A-Cop and of course his Academy Award nominated role as charismatic pornographer Jack Horner in Paul Thomas Anderson’s Boogie Nights, prove that Reynolds was far from a one hit wonder. So in tribute to one of my favorite actors of all time I’m putting up some movie remembrance in the form of a lesser known Reynolds gem the only way I know how – welcome to…Forgotten Friday Flick. Today we delve into the recesses of Reynolds movie lore to dissect a 1989 outing that has plenty of beautiful Burt bravado. It’s the classic tale of an elder criminal who befriends a younger counterpart and the things they equally learn from each other along the way. Ready for your lesson in safe cracking 101? Time to get….Breaking In!
Continue reading ‘Forgotten Friday Flick – “Breaking In” (Burt Reynolds Tribute Edition)’
March 23rd, 2018 by Jason Coleman
Time to head down the awards road this week in search of some great lesser known films helmed by women (even my #1 film of 2017 The Lure was directed by female filmmaking force to be reckoned with Agnieszka Smoczynska!) – welcome to Forgotten Friday Flick. Heading north to the home of some stellar Canadian cinema, today’s selection was the debut of a fabulous actress who decided to exercise her filmmaking chops. Taking an inspiring short story and creating a layered and utterly emotional first feature, this one focuses on what all great films do – the characters. Proving true love for another knows no bounds, it’s impossible for a gent smitten to be…Away From Her.
Continue reading ‘Forgotten Friday Flick – “Away From Her”’
March 17th, 2018 by Jason Coleman
Keeping the current theme of dissecting the work of wondrous women behind the camera alive and well, this week sees yet another awesome indie with a talented female filmmaker proudly at the helm – welcome to Forgotten Friday Flick! Continuing the highlighting of films with a distinctive feminine flair, the selection below was an impressive feature from a gutsy gal with serious cinematic style. Combining bold ideas like ambition, inspiration, love and their cost within the turbulent world of being an artist and then matching it with sincere performances and a stark but stripped-down camera style, this debut flick was an outing that to no surprise took Sundance by storm. True to its name in every fascinating frame, such stellar stuff is truly…High Art.
Continue reading ‘Forgotten Friday Flick – “High Art”’
March 9th, 2018 by Jason Coleman
We’ve recently touched upon dramatic work, suspense cinema and even a little horror for the genre fans all under the watchful eye of women. Feels about time for a past picture with some sassy superhero fun – welcome to Forgotten Friday Flick! Today we’re loading up and putting it in gear for a blast from the past that proves that a spirited gal does indeed rule the roost. Armed with merely quick quips and a rebellious nature (oh, and yes a very big and cool monster tank!), this week’s selection features one lethal lady in charge who knows how to have fun. Water and power, genetically modified supersoldiers, a long and deadly shrinking pipe, a gigantic jet and one metal vehicle with some very decorative modifications – all play things for the feisty female known as Tank Girl!
Continue reading ‘Forgotten Friday Flick – “Tank Girl”’
March 2nd, 2018 by Jason Coleman
Today’s distinctively female helmed past flick marks a twisted family pairing to die for – welcome to Forgotten Friday Flick! Ever remember watching early work by odd auteurs and having an epiphany moment of ‘here is a talent not to ignore’ – welcome the Soska Sisters. Steeped in both a love of horror and a skill of making truly unforgettable films, the Soska’s revel in all things genre related and this week’s perversely and passionately abnormal flick is one of their best. A wonderfully insane conundrum of horror, drama, revenge and the effect power has over people – in other words a seriously savory mind job known as….American Mary!
Continue reading ‘Forgotten Friday Flick – “American Mary”’
February 23rd, 2018 by Jason Coleman
Dark wondrous cinematic wares from women continue this week with a look at another movie helmed by a talented female filmmaker – welcome to Forgotten Friday Flick. This week’s selection proves that some filmmakers do indeed get better with age. Case in point is Boxing Helena filmmaker and daughter of wizard of weird Jennifer Lynch, who after making the half-decent film with an unfortunately atrocious ending over fifteen years earlier, went on to create one disturbing, thought provoking and totally lingering piece of celluloid. That’s the film we focus on this week – an unsettling story that can be dissected with just the right…Surveillance.
Continue reading ‘Forgotten Friday Flick – “Surveillance”’
February 16th, 2018 by Jason Coleman
Highlighting poignant past film work by way too-few female filmmakers (more please!), who says love and sex have to end with death – welcome to Forgotten Friday Flick! This week we are waxing nostalgic about a controversial film that raised a ton of eyebrows upon its release. It weaved a simple tale of a girl who takes her new job working at a mortuary very seriously. So seriously in fact that she throws herself into her work – body and soul. Death, sex and a pinch of necrophilia – time to get….Kissed!
Continue reading ‘Forgotten Friday Flick – “Kissed”’
February 9th, 2018 by Jason Coleman
Time travel in cinema it doesn’t always have to have big extravagant effects to be effective as sometimes smaller can be better – welcome to Forgotten Friday Flick! Still within the realms of the wide world – but focusing outside the US of course – this week we head to Spain for a little past picture inspiration in the form of a foreign flick that dares to do high tech on no-budget. It’s a nifty little ditty that’s a clever mix of horror, suspense and drama (all the things Hitchcock used to love!) all the while being a believable sci-fi flick about traveling through time that appropriately bends the brain and heightens the senses. Careful what you spy through those prying eyes as you could accidentally witness some…Timecrimes. Continue reading ‘Forgotten Friday Flick – “Timecrimes”’
February 2nd, 2018 by Jason Coleman
For those who claim that dark tales of woe are the only thing I know, I submit this week’s past picture selection as proof that positive cinema does get its due with me too – welcome to Forgotten Friday Flick! Continuing the examination of all things foreign film, sport a smile and break out the love for a whimsical tale with plenty of good vibes. Featuring a timid gal who finds her cupid calling and begins to make lives better for strangers (and herself to boot!), this French fable has ample parts sweetness and signature style guaranteed to melt movie hearts. Mysterious boxes, ghost plagued photo booths and lawn elves that love to travel – welcome to the wonderful world of Amélie!
Continue reading ‘Forgotten Friday Flick – “Amélie”’
January 26th, 2018 by Jason Coleman
Sometimes even foreign filmmakers have a few notable movie skeletons in their high-profile cinematic closet that yearn to be exposed – welcome to Forgotten Friday Flick! This week we highlight a lesser-known but still masterful thriller about a determined mother willing to go to any (and I do mean ANY!) lengths to keep her sweet son out of harms way. A murder, a mystery and mom is on the case! It’s my #1 movie pick of that year brought back to life for your convenience – Bong Joon-ho’s five-star film…Mother.
Continue reading ‘Forgotten Friday Flick – “Mother” (2009)’
January 19th, 2018 by Jason Coleman
Want a little five-star foreign film avant-garde experience for the couch crowd with added controversial kick – then welcome to Forgotten Friday Flick! Can there actually be a film that captures colors and visuals that scream stunning, but is also immersed in some of the most explicit, disgusting, vile and downright jaw-drop shocking moments ever caught on celluloid? If your name is Peter Greenaway, master filmmaking craftsman, it’s not only possible, but can be found at the local video store. (Or available via the nearest streaming device!) The title may be long, but the effect of the film will linger a lot longer, as we delve into the 1989 NC-17 classic…The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover.
Continue reading ‘Forgotten Friday Flick – “The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover”’
January 13th, 2018 by Jason Coleman
Keeping the love of all things past foreign film going we’re heading into movie battle with an ample outing that has no less then two different versions – welcome to Forgotten Friday Flick! Today we’re hitching a ride with a modern master of action who after making a notable US run headed back home to helm one of the most glorious epic Asian war films to date. It’s a tasty little ditty staged at the end of the Han dynasty filled with love, passion and some brutal battles that all but announce the signature style of the films’ famous Hong Kong helmer. With two movies of different lengths for fans to choose from it’s time to dissect the various versions of John Woo’s…Red Cliff!
Continue reading ‘Forgotten Friday Flick – “Red Cliff” (US & International Versions)’
January 5th, 2018 by Jason Coleman
With a brand new year ahead I have a desire to delve into all things cinema outside the US for a while and highlight some memorable movies with a fine foreign flair – welcome to the first 2018 Forgotten Friday Flick! Today we’re heading to the city of lights for a little sizzling sequel action that doesn’t require first film knowledge to seriously satisfy. Seems some ambitious government boys decide to pull a fast one on the regular folk and a rogue cop and his high-flying buddy must use their fast fists skills to take them down. (Alongside a bevy of brutal gang leaders out to do some damage of their own!) Set-ups, double crosses, corruption at the highest levels and a pinch of parkour – there’s gonna be trouble in…District 13: Ultimatum!
Continue reading ‘Forgotten Friday Flick – “District 13: Ultimatum”’
December 29th, 2017 by Jason Coleman
The end of the year is near and I’m down to my final previous site Top Ten #1 flashback dissection just before my Top Ten Films of 2017 appears next week, so let’s finish it off – welcome to Forgotten Friday Flick! This blast from the recent past comes from my 2015 film list and – surprise, surprise – it’s in the form of one damn fine documentary. Combining both personal and professional insight with natural and engaging ease, it’s the story of a man who prided himself on creating candid make believe…while taking down those who claimed their trickery was real. Elevating real-life storytelling to a whole other level, it’s time to meet…An Honest Liar.
Continue reading ‘Forgotten Friday Flick – “An Honest Liar”’
December 22nd, 2017 by Jason Coleman
With the holidays happening, why not celebrate the season with a little #1 pick from 2014 that adds a little creep to your Christmas – welcome to Forgotten Friday Flick! While filmmakers resort to all sorts of tactics these days to unsettle movie fans like thick blood and gore to slow building tension with a shocking payoff, this week’s past picture perfection has the rare accomplishment of being unnerving from start to finish. Underground oddballs, gamey gurus, mayhem mind trips and one menacing little man you should never invite in who goes by the name of…Borgman!
Continue reading ‘Forgotten Friday Flick – “Borgman”’
December 15th, 2017 by Jason Coleman
And my #1 picks of past Top Ten lists just keep on coming with this little ditty from my 2013 selections that dares to mix kids and combat – welcome to Forgotten Friday Flick! This week we’re heading behind enemy lines to seek out a cinematic tasty little treat that lovingly mixes genres and succeeds. With stellar comedy, action, drama and a pinch of pint-sized revenge, the flick in question is a bold and brilliant blend of Goonies and Platoon for the kid in us all. Raise the flag as…I Declare War!
Continue reading ‘Forgotten Friday Flick – “I Declare War”’
December 8th, 2017 by Jason Coleman
Keeping the stellar #1 selections of my previous years going, this week sees the film that captured the top prize from 2012 getting a little past picture love – welcome to Forgotten Friday Flick! Original is the name of the game for this Swedish import that dared to combine inspired musical concerts with an anarchist sensibility. The toe tapping tale of a gang of drummers who decide to play out their four musical movements terrorist style – all the while with a music hating cop hot on their tale. It’s orchestra with an edge via the fully five-star gem…Sound Of Noise.
Continue reading ‘Forgotten Friday Flick – “Sound Of Noise”’
