With the recent passing of beloved character actor John Heard, I revisit his performance in the 1981 neo-noir Cutter’s Way. As a burned out veteran out for revenge, Heard has never been better. Full essay here.

While the reboot of The Mummy performed dismally this year, it did provide an opportunity to revisit the 1999 version in all its campy, action-packed glory. Full essay here.

Jonathan Demme created indelible scenes by putting us in the protagonist’s shoes. And what better way to honor his passing than by delving into his 1991 masterpiece The Silence of the Lambs. Full essay here.

While La La Land dominated the pop culture landscape of 2016, it was actually the second time that writer/director Damien Chazelle ventured into the musical genre. The first time was with the 2009 indie film Guy and Madeline on a Park Bench. Full review here.