The Movie Journal

In the Heat of the Night (1967) 1967’s In the Heat of the Night is an incredibly tense, racially-charged drama that is very important and relevant-back in 1967 and in today’s racially-tense world. The film came out during the Civil Rights Movement and only a few years after the Civil Rights Act and Voting Act were enabled. It was a tense time for the traditional South, and this movie accurately depicts that tension in the small town of Sparta, Mississippi. This is one of the first movies to show black people in a fair, positive light when opposed to white people. It’s a movie about wary townsfolk not keen on outsiders and so forth. The drama is intense and sometimes chilling. But in the end, director Norman Jewison and star Sidney Poitier gave us one unforgettable movie. The film was based off John Ball’s bestselling novel and adapted to the screen by Stirling Silliphant. The screenplay is powerful and boasts some incredible lines of dialogue which are expertly delivere...

Modern Times (1936) 1936’s Modern Times is my first look at Charlie Chaplin. Despite everyone raving about his work, I never felt particularly attracted to his films because silent films were never my jam. Lucky for ever-changing tastes! This particular film is often considered one of Chaplin’s best so why not use this film to enter his filmography. I loved this film! During it’s breezy 1 hour and 27-minute length, I was enthralled with what this legend brought to the screen. This film, which was seen as far-sighted when initially released, is a politically relevant film even here in the 21 st century. The film is also beautiful, romantic, hilarious, well-acted, well-directed, and just a wonderful film in general. The film was released in 1936, when talky films were in full force. Chaplin’s main appeal was silence and his famed character “The Tramp” was based on actions, not words. He felt sound would alienate many of his fans, which is why he retired the character aft...

The Apartment (1960) 1960’s The Apartment is one of the better, more realistic films of the early 1960’s. It’s a timely, sharp film that features classic director Billy Wilder at his best. This film focuses on the theme of adultery, which was still a subject that many filmgoers did not take lightly. In fact, Fred MacMurray claimed that women would accost him in the street and disapproved of his performance. That said, contemporary critics call this film a masterpiece and I would be inclined to agree. The film, while timely and often sardonic, infuses a mixture of wry humor and a hint of sadness to make this a film you can never forget. There are actually people out there who believe this is a good holiday movie because of its setting, but I’m not entirely sure about that. Billy Wilder is considered one of cinema’s greatest auteurs. I still cannot believe that this is the first film of his that I saw with my own eyes. Some Like It Hot , Double Idemnity , and Sunset Boule...