The Departed
The craft is all top notch. But where The Departed really succeeds is in its explorations of human nature and guilt.
Crime
Insomnia
On the surface we’re watching a cop thriller (with a hint of noir), but at its core Insomnia is a morality tale.
When Heaven Weeps
Obviously, I had my issues with When Heaven Weeps, but it was still an engaging read. The sentiment was genuine and it provoked some introspection, and for that I appreciate it.
In the Heat of the Night
Beyond its impeccable screenplay and superb acting, the enduring appeal of In the Heat of the Night is in its nuanced consideration of racial relations at a tense time in United States history.
The Hit
The film’s shift away from the gangster tropes of its introductory scenes to a more contemplative and philosophical mode of storytelling makes the final scenes much more jarring.
Le Samouraï
He is skilled at his profession, but takes no joy in it—not a glamorized hitman, but an isolated man, stripped of his humanity, enduring a downward spiral toward his own personal eschaton.