Eyes Wide Shut (dir. Stanley Kubrick, 1999) The scene is Manhattan at the end of the millennium. Bill Harford (Tom Cruise) is a physician with a wealthy clientele. He is married to Alice (Nicole Kidman), who once owned an art gallery. They attend a Christmas party hosted by Victor Ziegler (Sydney Pollack). Alice has a … Continue reading Eyes Wide Shut (1999)

Tangerine (dir. Sean Baker, 2015) Just out of a four week stint in Los Angeles County lockup, Sin-Dee Rella (Kitana Kiki Rodriguez) connects with her best friend and fellow sex worker Alexandra (Mya Taylor) on Christmas Eve. Alexandra tells Sin-Dee that her pimp and boyfriend Chester (James Ransone) has been cheating on her these past … Continue reading Tangerine (2015)

Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (dir. Shane Black, 2005) Shane Black had one of the most enviable careers a screenwriter could hope to have in Hollywood. A few years out of film school he sells the script for Lethal Weapon for 250,000 dollars. The nineties are even better for him. His work on The Last Action … Continue reading Kiss Kiss Bang Bang (2005)

The Long Kiss Goodnight (dir. Renny Harlin, 1996) My name is Samantha Caine. At least I think it is. You might not believe it, but I was born only eight years ago on a beach in New Jersey. I entered the world fully grown, wearing clothes I don't remember buying. In the back pocket, a … Continue reading The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)

Krampus (dir. Michael Dougherty, 2015) It is a miserable Engel family Christmas. Tom and Sarah (Adam Scott and Toni Collette) are standard unhappy, upper middle class liberals having to tolerate her alcoholic aunt Dorothy (Conchata Ferrell), her sister Linda (Alison Tolman) and her stereotypical conservative husband Howard (David Koechner). The children aren’t faring much better. … Continue reading Krampus (2015)

The Last Boy Scout (dir. Tony Scott, 1991) Joe Hallenbeck (Bruce Willis) is a private investigator, and like everyone in that profession, basically a scumbag. We are introduced to him passed out in a car and pulling his gun on some children trying to steal his watch after all. His wife Sarah (Chelsea Field) is … Continue reading The Last Boy Scout (1991)

The Ice Harvest (dir. Harold Ramis, 2005) Charlie Arglist (John Cusack) is—in the words and intonation of Jesse Pinkman—a criminal lawyer. He works for Wichita, Kansas mobster Bill Guerrard (Randy Quaid). This employment in no ways translate into loyalty, as Arglist and fellow criminal associate Vic Cavanaugh (Billy Bob Thornton) have stolen two million dollars … Continue reading The Ice Harvest (2005)

Serendipity (dir. Peter Chelsom, 2001) Jonathan (John Cusack) and Sara (Kate Beckinsale) quite literally meet cute when they reach for the same pair of clothes on sale at Bloomingdale’s one Christmas Eve. They talk, they banter, they flirt, they share dessert at a popular Manhattan patisserie that has the same name as the movie, but … Continue reading Serendipity (2001)

The Sure Thing (dir. Rob Reiner, 1985) Walter Gibson (John Cusack) is what we would politely call a fucking dweeb. He hopelessly, lucklessly hits on every woman he meets, and it’s understandable why he keeps failing. It’s because he looks like a sixteen year boy who had to be legally emancipated in order to work … Continue reading The Sure Thing (1985)

Better Off Dead (dir. Savage Steve Holland, 1985) Lane Meyer (John Cusack) is a high school student and mediocre skier who is in love with the idea of his girlfriend Beth (Amanda Wyss), much to the consternation and confusion of his parents Al and Jenny (David Ogden Stiers and Kim Darby). When Beth dumps him … Continue reading Better Off Dead (1985)