The 1980s carved out a unique, often peculiar, niche in the annals of fantasy cinema. Distinctly less polished and frequently more audacious than the genre offerings of later decades, these films left an indelible mark, a legacy that, while briefly obscured in the 1990s, re-emerged in the 2000s with a more refined aesthetic. Yet, it […]
Roger Zelazny’s Jack of Shadows: A Resurgent Classic and Testament to a Genre-Bending Master
CHICAGO, IL – A decade ago, the literary world saw the welcome return of Roger Zelazny’s groundbreaking novel, Jack of Shadows, reissued in print by Chicago Review Press in 2016. This re-release pulled the 1971 Hugo and Locus Awards finalist from a period of relative obscurity, even among the most ardent fans of the author […]
The Critical Nadir of a Legend: Roger Ebert’s One-Star Verdict on Clint Eastwood’s ‘Pink Cadillac’
In the vast and storied career of Clint Eastwood, a figure whose name is synonymous with the rugged individualism of American cinema, there are few stains on his professional record. As both an actor and an Oscar-winning director, Eastwood has commanded respect from audiences and critics alike for over six decades. Among his most prominent [&hellip
The Contrarian Lens: Revisiting Roger Ebert’s Surprising Defense of ‘Hollywood Homicide’
In the annals of film criticism, few figures loom as large or as influential as the late Roger Ebert. Known for his populist approach and his ability to synthesize complex cinematic theory into accessible, thumb-oriented prose, Ebert was rarely accused of being a contrarian for the sake of provocation. However, he possessed a fiercely independent [
The Audacious Rise and Dramatic Fall of Roger Mortimer: England’s Uncrowned King
London, England – November 29, 1330 – In a dramatic climax to a life marked by ambition, daring escapes, and a scandalous affair with a queen, Roger Mortimer, 1st Earl of March, was executed at Tyburn. His death marked the end of a turbulent period in English history, a time when a powerful nobleman dared […]
