Debrief XVIII: Fassbinder’s ‘World on a Wire’
I’m interested in the genesis of ideas. How can we definitively say where our ideas originate from? Perhaps this question is more applicable now more than ever, because our senses are so utterly bombarded. As each day passes and you intake the world into your knowledge base, you start to recognize the web that exists....
Debrief XVII: Clouzot’s ‘Diabolique’
In previous Debriefs, I have expressed my love for the Criterion Collection. In February, when Criterion announced they would be releasing a blu-ray edition of Henri-Georges Clouzot’s classic 1955 film, Diabolique, I knew I would have to pre-order it so I could add it to my library. Even if you haven’t seen an Alfred Hitchcock...
Debrief XVI: Burton’s ‘Batman’ & Nolan’s ‘The Dark Knight’
When I called for Debrief recommendations at the beginning of the month, I got such a tremendous group of films that I’ve had to bank the suggestions because I fully intend to return to a good deal of them. For more than a few weeks, I have been considering how I could tackle a two...
Debrief XV: Jones’ ‘Moon’
As a child in elementary school, I was obsessed with most things science fiction. In grades four through six, I was a dedicated Trekkie (for shame, I know) and I was hassled for my passion by the school yard bullies. My grade seven homeroom teacher introduced me to a plethora of important novels in the...
Debrief XIV: Fincher’s ‘The Curious Case of Benjamin Button’
As per my goal to write every second Debrief on a film from someone else’s recommendation, I asked for input on Twitter just as I did last month. I got quite a few suggestions and was stuck with the problem of which one to choose. I ultimately went with @gbellddsc’s recommendation of David Fincher’s The...
Debrief XIII: Kubrick’s ‘Eyes Wide Shut’
When the inspirational-people Listography was being put together a few weeks ago, I realized that despite my love of Kubrick’s work that I had yet to feature him in a Debrief. It was clearly something that had to be done. And while selecting just one of his films was a task, actually writing this has...
Debrief XII: Lee’s ’25th Hour’
Ultimately, the challenge of composing only two Debriefs each month is sifting through all the cinematic trains of thought I have in my head and selecting only one film every two weeks to sit down and parse. I get backlogged rather quickly; the moment I published Debrief XI, I already had two new films on...
Debrief XI: Siodmak’s ‘The Killers’
In the long run, it is my goal to have the structure of the Debrief change so that it becomes more of a conversation, more of a debate. I want to be able to walk away from each Debrief with a new perspective on a film because of an insightful discussion with our Debonair readers....
Debrief X: Leone’s ‘Once Upon a Time in the West’
As a proud Canadian, I have this insatiable appetite for attempting to understand the restless beast that is America. The Western film is a brilliant window through which we come to define America as a myth and as a concept. And every director gives us a new perspective that corroborates some form of truth about...
Debrief IX: Gast’s ‘Smash His Camera’
When it comes to inspiration for my bi-monthly Debriefs, I’m always looking to find bits of information that I find interesting so that I can piece them together with a film to make a point, or open a door to perceive something a new way. The night that I posted Debrief XIII, my girlfriend and...
Debrief VIII: Corbijn’s ‘The American’
On Boxing Day, my girlfriend and I went to see True Grit at a big multiplex here in Toronto. We got there early, figuring it might sell out and fill up ahead of schedule. Sitting in our seats, we had the privilege of overhearing a group of teenage boys talk in the row behind us....
Debrief VII: Wenders’ ‘Wings of Desire’
Throughout 2010, we at Dapper & Debonair have expressed our love for Toronto in an assortment of ways. The facts are that the city is vibrant, the various architecture is more than worthy of our cameras and the people that inhabit it are inspiring; we are simply giving respect where it’s due. That love and...
