4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Jess Franco Edition

Posted on May 12, 2024 by Lisa Marie Bowman

4 Shots From 4 Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films lets the visuals do the talking!

Today is the 94th anniversary of the birth of Jesus Franco! One of the most prolific filmmakers of all time, Franco made movies that …. well, they’re not easy to describe. Jess Franco was responsible for some of the most visually striking and narratively incoherent films ever made. He made films that you either loved or you hated but there was no mistaking his work for being the work of someone else.

Today, in honor of his birthday, here are….

4 Shots From 4 Films

The Awful Dr. Orloff (1962, dir by Jess Franco, DP: Godofredo Pacheco)

Count Dracula (1970, dir by Jess Franco, DPs: Manuel Merino and Luciano Trasatti)

Vampyros Lesbos (1970, dir by Jess Franco, DP: Manuel Merino)

Female Vampire (1973, dir by Jess Franco, DP: Jess Franco)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special David MacKenzie Edition

Posted on May 10, 2024 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Today, the Shattered Lens wishes a happy birthday to Scottish director, David MacKenzie! It’s time for….

4 Shots From 4 David MacKenzie Films

Young Adam (2003, dir by David MacKenzie, DP: Giles Nuttgens)

Starred Up (2014, dir by David MacKenzie, DP; Michael McDonough)

Hell or High Water (2016, dir by David MacKenzie, DP: Giles Nuttgens)

Outlaw King (2018, dir by David MacKenzie, DP: Barry Ackroyd)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special J.A. Bayona Edition

Posted on May 9, 2024 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Today, we wish a happy birthday to the great Spanish director, J.A. Bayona! It’s time for….

4 Shots From 4 J.A. Bayona Films

The Orphanage (2007, dir by J.A. Bayona, DP: Oscar Faura)

The Impossible (2012, dir by J.A. Bayona, DP: Oscar Faura)

A Monster Calls (2016, dir by J.A. Bayona, DP: Oscar Faura)

Society of the Snow (2023, dir by J.A. Bayona, DP: Pedro Luque)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Roberto Rossellini Edition

Posted on May 8, 2024 by Lisa Marie Bowman

118 years ago, on this date, the great Italian neorealist director (and husband of Ingrid Bergman and father of Isabella Rossellini), Roberto Rossellini was born in Rome. It’s time for….

4 Shots From 4 Roberto Rossellini Films

Rome, Open City (1945, dir by Roberto Rossellini, DP: Ubaldo Arata)

Europe ’51 (1952, dir by Roberto Rossellini, DP: Aldo Tonti)

Fear (1954, dir by Roberto Rossellini, DP: Carlo Carlini, DP: Heinz Schnackertz)

Journey to Italy, (1954, dir by Roberto Rossellini, DP: Enzo Serafin)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Orson Welles Edition

Posted on May 6, 2024 by Lisa Marie Bowman

4 Or More Shots From 4 Or More Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films lets the visuals do the talking!

Today we celebrate what would have been the 109th birthday of the great Orson Welles! It’s time for….

4 Shots from 4 Orson Welles Films

Citizen Kane (1941, dir by Orson Welles, DP: Gregg Toland)

MacBeth (1948, dir by Orson Welles, DP: John L. Russell)

Touch of Evil (1958, dir by Orson Welles, DP: Russell Metty)

Chimes at Midnight (1965, dir by Orson Welles, DP: Edmond Richard)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Cinco De Mayo Edition

Posted on May 5, 2024 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Happy Cinco De Mayo to all of our readers! It’s time for….

4 Shots From 4 Mexican Films

Los Olvidados (1950, dir by Luis Bunuel, DP: Gabriel Figuero)

Like Water For Chocolate (1992, dir by Alfonso Arau, DP: Emmanuel Luzbeki)

Cronos (1993, dir by Guillermo Del Toro, DP: Guillermo Navarro)

Pan’s Labyrinth (2006, dir. by Guillermo Del Toro, DP: Guillermo Nava)

6 Trailers For May 4th

Posted on May 4, 2024 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Star Wars not only launched an entire expanded universe. It also launched a few thousand rip-offs. For this weeks edition of Lisa Marie’s Favorite Grindhouse and Exploitation Film Trailers, we’ve got six trailers that might seem just a little familiar….

Battle Beyond The Stars (1980)

From Roger Corman comes this film, which is as much a rip-off of The Magnificent Seven as it is of Star Wars. Battle Beyond The Stars was a surprise box office success when it was first released.

2. Space Raiders (1983)

Also from executive producer Roger Corman, Space Raiders tells the story of what happens when a quirky band of intergalactic outlaws pick up an annoying (and frankly, rather stupid) kid.

3. The Humanoid (1979)

From director Aldo Lado, The Humanoid features the great Richard Kiel as the title character. There’s also a cute robot, an older mystic, and an evil Empire.

4. Message From Space (1978)

Do you remember another film that had a message from space?

5. Flash Gordon (1980)

Interestingly enough, Star Wars was as inspired by the original Flash Gordon as the Flash Gordon reboot was inspired by Star Wars.

6. Starcrash (1978)

And finally, we have Starcrash, the Star Wars rip-off that is actually better than Star Wars!

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Star Wars Edition

Posted on May 4, 2024 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Today, we wish all of our readers a happy May The Fourth Be With You Day! It’s time for….

4 Shots From 4 Star Wars Films

Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope (1977, dir by George Lucas, DP: Gilbert Talyor)

The Empire Strike Back (1980, dir by Irvin Kershner, DP: Peter Suschitzky)

Return of the Jedi (1983, dir by Richard Marquand, DP: Alan Hume and Alec Mills)

Rogue One (2016, dir by Gareth Edwards, DP: Greig Fraser)

4 Shots From 4 Films: Special Joseph Kosinski Edition

Posted on May 3, 2024 by Lisa Marie Bowman

Today, TSL wishes a happy birthday to director Joseph Kosinski! It’s time for….

4 Shots From 4 Joseph Kosinski Films

Tron: Legacy (2010, dir by Joseph Kosinski, DP: Claudio Miranda)

Oblivion (2013, dir by Joseph Kosinski, DP: Claudio Miranda)

Only The Brave (2017, dir by Joseph Kosinski, DP: Claudio Miranda)

Top Gun: Maverick (2022, dir by Joseph Kosinski, DP: Claudio Miranda)

Lisa Marie’s Way Too Early Oscar Predictions For May

Posted on May 2, 2024 by Lisa Marie Bowman

We’re nearly halfway through the year and so far, we have two films that seem like they might still be in the Oscar conversation at the end of the year, Dune 2 and Civil War. With the Cannes Film Festival coming up this month, we should soon have some more contenders to consider.

My predictions below are a bit heavy on sequels. In fact, if the predictions below came true, it would a record year for sequels at the Oscars. Of course, it’s early and it’s totally probable that the majority of the films listed below will not be nominated. Right now, it’s pretty much a guessing game. The production delays caused by last year’s strikes have opened the door for a lot of sequels to receive consideration that they might not receive in other years.

What will happen when the nominations are announced in 2025? Who knows? For now, let’s just have fun guessing. You can check out my predictions for April by clicking here.

Best Picture

The Apprentice

The Bikeriders

Blitz

Civil War

Dune, Part II

Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga

Gladiator 2

Inside Out 2

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

SNL: 1975

Best Director