Published inFanfare·1 day agoMember-onlyFalling Leaves: A 1912 TearjerkerWhen the moving image first emerged in the late 19th century, it was at first used in a documentarian fashion, presenting real locations and events as actualities, although unlike documentaries they were not structured around a narrative or topic, presenting footage for its own sake. The transition from actualities to…Film History8 min readFilm History8 min read
Published inFanfare·Sep 17Member-only“Cleopatra” and the Alluring Hope of Lost Films1917: Thousands of frames flicker through the projector in quick succession, while a beam of light shines and casts the images onto a screen, larger than life. An Egyptian fantasy unfolds, the most famous pharaoh experiences the ups and downs of love while attempting to hold her country together in…Silent Films6 min readSilent Films6 min read
Published inFanfare·Sep 14Member-onlyIreland’s Eternal Past in the Irish Folklore Trilogy“I have lived through many ages, through the eyes of salmon, deer, and wolf. I have seen the Northmen invading Ireland, destroying all in search of gold. I’ve seen suffering in the darkness. Yet I have seen beauty thrive in the most fragile of places.” The Secret of Kells That…Film16 min readFilm16 min read
Published inFanfare·Sep 8Member-onlyHouse of Dark Shadows: A Not-So-Guilty PleasureFor most of my life when I have had a guilty pleasure movie or become fond of a less-than-stellar production, my attitude would typically be “it’s bad but I enjoy it.” Enjoying movies because they’re bad is a fine hobby to have, and I imagine most people have at least…Cinema12 min readCinema12 min read
Published inFanfare·Sep 1Member-onlySuspense: A Nail-Biting Thriller from 1913Lois Weber is one of the most important names in early film history, but for a long time, she was not given the attention or praise she deserved. She was an early pioneer of the moving image medium, showcasing innovative use of cross-cutting and split-screen, was an early experimenter with…Film History7 min readFilm History7 min read
Published inFanfare·Aug 24Member-only“Heartstopper” is Joyous and BittersweetWhen the first season of Heartstopper was released on Netflix in April 2022, I had no prior knowledge of the webseries which had begun in 2016. I’m not quite sure how it slipped under my radar, but as a young man who was finishing secondary school, about to start college…TV Series10 min readTV Series10 min read
Published inFanfare·Aug 17Member-onlyLon Chaney Does Comedy: “The Monster”Before he became the Man of a Thousand Faces, Lon Chaney began his career on-stage, travelling across America in vaudeville acts which to someone only familiar with his darker turns in his films, would perhaps seem odd. Chaney was more than a talented actor, he was a talented performer all…Film8 min readFilm8 min read
Published inFanfare·Aug 10Member-onlyWilliam Friedkin’s “The Exorcist” at 50In Memory of William Friedkin (1935 — 2023) On August 7th, the world bid farewell to one of the great names of filmmaking. William Friedkin was a fascinating, intriguing man, and a wonderful director. His peculiar sensibilities and eye for visuals ensure that his films stand out among sea of…Horror Movies10 min readHorror Movies10 min read
Published inFanfare·Aug 4Member-onlyThe Witches: The Scariest Children’s Movie Ever MadeWhen I was young, I was no stranger to frightening content. Between watching Beetlejuice from behind the couch to books of ghost stories, I both loved and hated to be scared. There was something about the nightmarish and macabre that drew me in as much as it repulsed me, and…Film11 min readFilm11 min read
Published inFanfare·Jul 26Member-onlyThe Best “Hunchback of Notre Dame” Movie is 100 Years Old“The church of Notre-Dame de Paris is still no doubt, a majestic and sublime edifice. But, beautiful as it has been preserved in growing old, it is difficult not to sigh, not to wax indignant, before the numberless degradations and mutilations which time and men have both caused the venerable…Film14 min readFilm14 min read
