In the film that inspired the Tarantino-masterpiece, The Inglorious Bastards is a devilishly fun Italian update to the 60's era American Men-on-a-Mission film. The film nods to several touchstones of the genre, most notably The Dirty Dozen, Where Eagles Dare, and Kelly's Heroes. It also includes all the necessary tropes and idioscyrincies that have defined the genre. The film glorifies war and features extreme violence that is meant to be exploitive for the sake of fun. An ensemble cast, including…

While Give Me a Sailor is notable for being the first film to feature Bob Hope in the lead role, it is also pedestrian, poorly executed, and largely unfunny. Hope brings energy to the role and pairs very well with Martha Raye (whom he appeared alongside in two other productions). At the same time, the film lacks the usual self-reflexive flourishes and fourth-wall breaking that defines Hope's later, greater works. The highlight of Give Me a Sailor is undoubtedly Raye,…

The Holdovers may be Alexander Payne’s greatest film. It features the same cynical comedy that has defined the filmmaker for decades, but it also has a dramatic weight that I seldom see from him. The film feels like a marriage between Election and About Schmidt, where school setting meets the broken, aged, protagonist. It goes without saying that the entire cast gives wonderful performances, but Paul Giamatti stands out by giving the greatest performance of his career. I wouldn’t be…