About

ABOUT THE BLOG

Cinephilia – cin∙e∙phil∙ia, noun

A term used to refer to a passionate interest in cinema, film theory and film criticism. A person with a passionate interest in cinema is called a cinephile. – Wikipedia

The Critical Cinephile is a series of reviews and essays geared toward showcasing lesser known films I believe are worthy of attention. These are films that can be thought provoking, emotionally effective, funny, and sometimes even disturbing, but have somehow never found a general audience. It amazes me the number of times I’ve asked, “Hey, have you seen this film?” Only to be answered with a resounding, “No”. Either I’m hanging out with the wrong people, or I watch some pretty obscure films. This blog is meant to broaden your cinematic horizons.

The reviews found here will typically be for movies that should already be available on Blu-ray/DVD; or on such sites as Netflix, Hulu, Amazon, and iTunes (hell, if you don’t know how to rent a movie then this relationship is already off to a bad start). If you are looking for reviews on newer releases, the blog Thy Critic Man, is an excellent mix of both obscure films and the latest blockbusters.

The essays presented will generally expand my thoughts and theories on a particular film and are intended to be read by those who have already seen the movie. Warning! These essays may contain spoilers. Of course you can still read them if you have no intention of seeing the film (which defeats the whole purpose of the blog and pretty much makes me obsolete – thanks for that), or if you want to read it before seeing the movie like a dirty cheater, in which case we’ve probably dated.

In some instances some of you may have already seen some of the films featured here. If so, we should be friends. I still urge you to read the reviews and essays and see whether you agree or disagree with my assessment. And if you are one of the other three people who read this blog and you haven’t seen the movie, please make an effort to do so. I can think of no greater compliment I can pay to a filmmaker than to support them by encouraging others to see their work.

Please note this blog and the films discussed are intended for an adult audience. Strong language, adult themes, sexual situations, nudity and violence are always a possibility. And the films are pretty risqué as well.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

To say I have a passionate interest in cinema is quite the understatement. I am not a film student, nor am I affiliated in any way to the movie industry. But I am that person that watches every DVD extra and listens to every commentary. I collect movies like Hummel figurines, and maintain a toddler-like ability to watch them multiple times.

I reside in Oklahoma City, OK. With my cat, Josie (Yes, of Josie and the Pussycats – but not the cartoon specifically – it’s actually in reverence to Mike Myers’ slam poetry in So I Married an Axe Murderer…did I mention that I really love movies?).

ABOUT THE EDITOR

I would be remiss if I did not include a thank you to my editor and friend, Rick. His patience, advice and guidance have been an invaluable catalyst to this creative endeavor.

Rick Cook Jr. is a self-published novelist (Something More, Our Crumbling Ivory) and author of the blog, Panning For Clouds. You can check out his work on Amazon, or peruse his remarkably engrossing short stories at panningforclouds.com (Rose Petals Spinning in Space and Penny for your Thoughts are two of my personal favorites).