I am sad to say that one of my favorite directors passed away, radical Japanese auteur Nagisa Oshima. Oshima’s career took flight and flourished during the 1960’s, helping to push the Japanese New Wave while also seemingly tearing it all down piece by piece. He was referred to often as the “Japanese Jean-Luc Godard” and…

Chris Marker, a wildly influential French filmmaker/poet, has sadly passed away at the age of 91. His most well known work is the 1962 short film La Jetée, a mind bending science fiction story told exclusively through amazing photography. Chris Marker’s films have been generally seen as filmic essays, in the sense that he told…

Noted screenwriter and director Nora Ephron has sadly passed away at the age of 71 from complications for a treatment for leukemia. She was also a noted essaying, playwright, novelist and journalist. She was famous for writing memorable and edgy romantic comedies that featured strong and interesting characters, especially in regard to female leading roles….

Davy Jones (second from right) It is sad to hear that Davy Jones of famed 1960’s group The Monkees, has passed away due to a heart attack at the age of 66. The Monkees were an extremely popular group who had such hits as “Daydream Believer,” “Last Train to Clarksville,” “I’m a Believer,” and “Pleasant…

  I wanted to express my condolences here for Ken Russell, a great innovative filmmaker whose vision has inspired me and opened my mind. He passed away recently at the age of 84. Ken Russell is probably best known for the film adaption of the musical Tommy which was of course based on the 1969…