Films and Feelings

   Wherever any given cinephile falls on the totem pole, they are certainly familiar with the idea of the film canon, this idea of an elect selection of films that signal the height of the artform's cultural value, touchstones for all who consider themselves good and true lovers of cinema. Films that belong to "the canon" are secure in continued cultural relevance even decades after their premiere.    Any person's chosen reference for the canon will certainly vary between which list they believe carries the most authority (AFI Top 100, IMDb Top 250, The Academy Awards), or just as likely will synthesize a number of sources, but however any one person defines it, the canon is real, and it demands to be recognized.            It will surprise some, baffle others, and offend others still, to think that  Walt Disney Animation has its own film canon of sorts. Belonging to this selective society come with some very specific be...

In a world overflowing with disaster and human atrocity, one can't help but wonder if there's enough time in one lifetime to combat all the world's calamities. That seems to be the fixation of Gina Prince-Bythewood's new action thriller, The Old Guard, which premiered on Netflix today. This film imagines a fantasy wherein a team of altruistic soldiers who cannot die dedicate their eternal existence to fighting such calamities. Neither mindless nor heartless, even in a slate of film releases not afflicted by a pandemic, this film would be a viable competitor for the honor of best action film of the year. Actress KiKi Layne and director Gina Prince-Bythewood The plot of the film is tightly structured with its many setups and payoffs so symphonically arranged. There are admittedly one or two sequences, like Andy's initial retrieval of Nile from her base camp, that feel a little rushed, especially in comparison to their fantastically realized encounter on the plane in t...