Struck by Lightning

It’s no spoiler to reveal that Glee’s Chris Colfer kills off the character he plays in his screenwriting debut. Like in Sunset Blvd. and American Beauty, he’s, well, Struck by Lightning before the opening credits end and narrates the events of the film from beyond the grave. Also like in those classic films, one tends to forget this tidbit as the plot unfolds, only to be poignantly reminded as the extended flashback catches up with the opening scene....  read more

The Central Park Five

Critically acclaimed filmmaker Ken Burns (along with co-directors Sarah Burns and David McMahon) is almost deceptive in his approach with his latest documentary, The Central Park Five. Audiences may be prepared for a movie about a group of young black and Hispanic men, wrongfully convicted of one of the crimes of the century—raping and nearly killing a woman (known famously as the Central Park Jogger) out on her nightly run in Central Park. However, this brilliant documentary is actually about the human psyche—specifically the ego—and the lengths to which all members of society (police, lawyers, members of the media, the...  read more

John Dies at the End

Freewheeling, gleefully meta sci-fi/horror/comedy John Dies at the End opens with a most appropriately gory allegory on the nature of reality. It functions as both wisdom and warning to the audience, but it’s disarmingly funny enough to appeal to those who would otherwise be deaf to its frequency. Cult favorite director Don Coscarelli knows which way to twist the knobs and navigate through the static of mindfuckery that follows....  read more