The Film Issue #4

BARTON FINK
I love this for the Faulkneresque character, author of 'Nebuchadnezzer'

CONTEMPT
Good on so many levels that the levels hatch levels

CROUCHING TIGER, HIDDEN DRAGON
A wuxia epic, serene and hectic, with four strong leads

THE DISCREET CHARM OF THE BOURGEOISIE
I think of it whenever subway noise interrupts my chatter

THE KILLING
A beautiful piece of pop clockwork. Best heist movie ever.

THE LEOPARD MAN/THE GHOST SHIP (VAL LEWTON COLLECTION)
Castaneted creepiness chased with nautical paranoia—a solid double feature

MAN WITH THE MOVIE CAMERA
This will permanently change the soft architecture of your eye

THE SHOP AROUND THE CORNER
Utter perfection, a Lubitsch Hollywood Budapest bonbon, charming as ever

SIDEWAYS
Slam dunk perfs buoy some dodgy plotting. Giamatti nails it

SPELLBOUND
How do you spell 'quality'? Kids and alphabet mingle heroically.