Chosen by special guest Brett Herrick (Welcome to Black Rock), The Rock, is an action-adventure film directed by Michael Bay, starring Nicholas Cage, Sean Connery, and Ed Harris. Jeanne says that while she doesn't see The Rock as "pure cinema," and it doesn't pass the Bechtel test, the movie's characters are elevated by the performances of the actors portraying them. A cinematographer, Brett calls attention to many of the camera movements used, and points out how well various plot points, items, and locations were developed throughout the film. Brett also has some serious questions about Connery's hair. David points out how the film balances the super patriotism and military fetishization that Michael Bay is known for, with a script that undercuts many of those very things. Matt lets it be known that while he can enjoy a dumb film on the basis of it being a dumb film, he can't abide talking about the "dark underbelly" of the American military without saying death, murder, and mayhem are the open business of the American military. Many lines from the movie were quoted, and many laughs are had.
The Criterion Collective
Join poets and film lovers, Jeanne Marie Spicuzza (Night Rain), Matt Sedillo (Mowing Leaves of Grass), and David A. Romero (My Name Is Romero) as they meet each week, to form The Criterion Collective, discussing some of their favorite classic/foreign/art films. These are the films they connect with most deeply, the films that move and inspire them. They hope to inspire a new generation of cinephiles and cinéastes!
The Criterion Collective is a special production by the dA Center for the Arts in Pomona, CA. https://www.dacenter.org/
Intro and outro music, "Exploring the Inferno," by Myuu. https://www.thedarkpiano.com/