The Magic Lantern

Recent Episodes

Episode 019 – Blue Collar

Posted April 25, 2016 • 01:04:45

Blue Collar (1978) was Paul Schrader’s first foray into film direction after the notable success of his screenplay for Taxi Driver (1976), and it...

Episode 018 – Groundhog Day

Posted April 4, 2016 • 00:59:41

I’ve written and deleted a lot of opening statements for this post. First, I set out to simply state that Groundhog Day (1993) is universally beloved....

Episode 017 – The Long Goodbye

Posted March 21, 2016 • 01:04:35

The Long Goodbye (1973) is my favorite Robert Altman film. For the longest time that was McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971), but as soon as I saw this...

Episode 016 – Wings of Desire

Posted February 29, 2016 • 00:53:42

And we, spectators always, everywhere, looking at, never out of, everything! —Rainer Maria Rilke, “The Eighth Elegy” Dear Compañeros, I invite...

Episode 015 – Suspiria

Posted February 15, 2016 • 00:47:38

Suspiria (1977) is Dario Argento’s lurid, unreal masterpiece. Its garish palette (it was one of the last films made in Technicolor), baleful sound...