Yoko Ono has always seemed to be a very divisive figure among Beatle fans. For far longer than she was married to rock icon John Lennon, the court of popular opinion has, for very few legitimate reasons, pointed an accusatory finger at the Japanese artist. Yoko Ono, for her part, has taken the criticism with…
Category: 100 Most Important Film Directors
The 70s Films of Pam Grier – ‘Beyond the Valley of the Dolls’ (1970)
It is ironic that Pam Grier’s first film appearance would come in a Russ Meyer film. Meyer carved out a film car in the 1950s & 1960s making rather tame by today’s standards “Nudie-Cuties; softcore films from the 1940s, 50s & 60s that focused more on the actresses in various states of undress. This was…
LBJBR’s Actor’s Guide: William Powell
If you know who William Powell is, dear readers, then you are among the lucky few. A case could be made that Powell is one of the greatest actors of all time. While neither handsome nor an imposing figure, Powell commands the screen like no other, save maybe Spencer Tracy. Powell’s suave charisma, debonair charm,…
This Month in Film History – November 5, 1982: French Comic Jacques Tati Passes Away
Most cinema fans, with a basic knowledge of film history, can tell you a little bit about Charles Chaplin, his life and work. However, only true cinephiles can provide an inquisitor with the same amount of information on French comedian/director Jacques Tati. It was on this month of November; more specifically November 5th, 1982; Jacques…
Vilgot Sjoman: Sweden’s Forgotten Film Genius?
Ingmar Bergman casts a large shadow in his native Sweden even today. Whenever you talk about Swedish, it’s not too long before his name is brought up, even 11 years after his death. The Swedish film industry has had a long and creative history. It has produced many talented and brilliant film auteurs, Ingmar Bergman…
Guide to Directors of the French New Wave: Jean-Luc Godard
The French New Wave brought the director to the forefront. For the members of the New Wave, Truffaut, Godard and company, the director was the true star of the show. The true artist among these stars holds the most prestige possible, at least as far as film geeks are concerned. This person, who crafts a…
100 Most Important Film Directors of All Time #95. David Lean
The studio system in Hollywood was collapsing by the mid-1950s. Big studios, like MGM and Warner Brothers were retreating from film making, turning instead more and more to the distribition side of the business. Independent companies would produce the film, getting financing from the major studios with the promise of distribution in hand. The old…
