Oblogatory:
Classic Movie Reviews

Oblogatory reviews classic movies (2000 or earlier), and asks why they’re “must-see” viewing. More importantly, it also finds out if these timeless films stand the test of time.

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The Latest

Used for Oblogatory's review of "Black Narcissus" on S4Screenplay.com

Black Narcissus

Deborah Kerr had Hollywood calling after her starring role in 1947's "Black Narcissus," the gothic horror from filmmaking duo The Archers, Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger. Oblogatory explores why this film still rings out 75 years later.

Blow Out

Oblogatory reviews Brian De Palma's "Blow Out," with John Travolta. See how it syncs up to Antonioni's "Blow Up."
Used for Oblogatory's "Why are old PG-rated movies from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s More Graphic?" A Why Does Hollywood post on S4Screenplay.com

Why are old PG-rated movies from the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s more graphic?

Oblogatory explores the history of the PG rating, how it's changed, and why movies rated PG were more intense in the '70s and '80s.

The Umbrellas of Cherbourg

Oblogatory watches "The Umbrellas of Cherbourg," the color-theory obsessed, retina-overstimulating French musical that inspired "La La Land."
Used for Oblogatory's post "The 400 Blows" on S4Screenplay.com

The 400 Blows

Oblogatory confronts the overblown legacy of Francois Truffaut's excellent film "The 400 Blows," one of the classic examples of French New Wave cinema.
Used for Oblogatory's post "Arsenic and Old Lace" on S4Screenplay

Arsenic and Old Lace

Oblogatory loves dark comedy and '40s screwball antics, so why does "Arsenic and Old Lace," starring Cary Grant and Peter Lorre, leave a funny aftertaste?
Used for Oblogatory's "My Ten Favorite Disney Animated Movies"

My Ten Favorite Animated Disney Movies

Oblogatory reveals its ten favorite Disney animated movies for the studio's 100th birthday. Read it now before it goes back in the vault!

Divorce Italian Style

Oblogatory continues exploring dark comedy with the riotous 1961 classic "Divorce Italian Style," a movie whose humor is so caustic, you could dissolve a body in it!

Some Like It Hot: An Obligatory Rewatch

"Some Like It Hot" has surged back to the forefront of cultural relevance after nabbing 13 Tony nominations and winning Best Actor in a Musical. Oblogatory rewatches the 1959 film to find out if this jazzy comedy is still as fiery as advertised.

Annie Hall (@nnie H@ll)

Oblogatory watches Woody Allen's greatest comedic work, "Annie Hall," starring Diane Keaton. Far from old-fashioned, this movie is neat! ChatGPT 3.5 also reviews "Annie Hall," in a "John Henry Vs. The Machine" type duel.

Why Does Hollywood?

Why Did the One Piece Live Action Work?

Netflix has finally struck gold with "One Piece," their latest live-action anime adaptation. Oblogatory looks into how this show made such a big wave.

Why Did Barbieheimer Work?

Oblogatory spends six hours in a theater to learn why Barbieheimer, the dual release of "Barbie" and "Oppenheimer," was profitable for all.

Why is Hollywood on Strike?

For the first time since 1960, both the actors AND writers guilds have walked out on studios. Oblogatory gets into the reasons why Hollywood is on strike.

M3GAN: Coded Gay

"Oblogatory" and "Why Does Hollywood?" investigate the latest doll of the LGBTQ+ community, including her placement on a shelf alongside classic villains.
Used in Oblogatory's post "Can 'Praise This' break the church movie curse?" on S4Screenplay.com

Can “Praise This” Break the Church-Movie Curse?

A Gospel "Pitch Perfect," "Praise This" angles for the masses. Oblogatory finds out if this film reconciles its disparate audiences.

Why Did the Oscars Snub Angela Bassett?

Jaime Lee Curtis finally won an Oscar this year while Angela Bassett lost for the--wait, this virtuoso actress has only been nominated twice?! Oblogatory confronts a thorny pattern in the Academy's choices.

Hollywood’s Jewish History: An Oblogatory Deep Dive

Oblogatory traces Hollywood's oldest lie, going back to the beginning of film and connecting it to recent celebrity comments.
Used in "Why are so many movies 'Made in Georgia'?" post Yesterday's News

Why are so many movies “Made in Georgia”?

Ever wonder why the peach state is at the end of so many movie credits? Oblogatory tracks how Atlanta, Georgia, became Hollywood's southern branch office.

Why did they recast Henry Cavill in The Witcher?

Why did "The Witcher" recast? Yesterday's News explores other times TV shows have had to recast their lead actor.

How do you read a screenplay?

INT./EXT., V.O., CON'T--What does it all mean? Oblogatory walks readers though basic screenplay formatting (and offers some helpful tips for constructive feedback).

Or choose your own adventure!

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Upcoming Oblogatory: Classic Movie Reviews Schedule

Note: Beginning in late March, I began a transformative yet energy-draining health procedure. I've had to take unexpected breaks from posting, so, unfortunately, I can't always get to everything I have planned. I'll do my best to keep it as accurate as possible.

November 6th

The 400 Blows: Leftover from both January and April’s themes

November 13th

The Umbrellas of Cherbourg: Leftover from April and September’s themes

November 20th

Blow Out: Leftover from August’s theme

November 22nd

Why are PG Rated Movies from the ’70s and ’80s So Graphic? A “Why Does Hollywood?” Post/Oblogatory Deep Dive

Likely Posts

Why Aren’t There More Family Sitcoms Nowadays? A “Why Does Hollywood?” Post

Adventure Time: Partially Obligatory

Why do European movies look different than American ones? A “Why Does Hollywood?” Post

Obligatory Animated Viewing from 2023

Likely Posts

Obligatory Live-Action Viewing from 2023

Rocky: Yo, Adrian!

Midnight Cowboy: Hey, I’m Walkin’ Here!

Road House: Pain Don’t Hurt…

The Big Sleep: “You’re Cute.” “Gettin’ Cuter Every Minute.”

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Movies

Godzilla Minus One
A period-piece reboot, this "Godzilla" film takes place in post-WWII Japan, a country finding a new identity while also rebuilding. Building things isn't really Godzilla's forte, though... Currently at 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.
Silent Night
Action maestro John Woo directs his first American film in 20 years! Joel Kinnaman stars as a man who lost his son and the ability to speak on Christmas Eve. One year later, he delivers one heck of a Christmas present to the gang behind the killing.
Thanksgiving
First featured as a fake trailer in 2007's "Grindhouse," "Thanksgiving" provides delicious, cheesy horror from Eli Roth if you're craving a midnight snack at the relatives' place.
Napoleon
French critics hate it, British critics love it, and Hollywood critics feel like it's only a preview for the 4-hour cut coming to Apple TV+. All of them say that Joaquin Phoenix and Vanessa Kirby explode with incendiary chemistry.
Saltburn
Emerald Fennell's highly anticipated follow-up to "Promising Young Woman," "Saltburn" stars Barry Keoghan as an Oxford scholarship kid who spends the summer at his aristocratic friend's enormous estate. Twisted decadence ensues. 
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Television

Monarch: Legacy of Monsters
Kurt Russel stars in the continuation of the American Godzilla franchise. This series, however, tracks Monarch's morally murky history dealing with kaiju. Rotten Tomatoes says it stomps the movies in terms of quality.
Fargo: Season Five
Mad Men's Jon Hamm and Ted Lasso's Juno Temple star in another stellar season of the quirky Minnesota anthology crime series. This chapter takes place in 2019!
A Murder at the End of the World
Emma Corrin (breakout star of The Crown season 4) plays a hacker/detective who is invited to a reclusive billionaire's (Clive Owen) retreat. Yep, you guessed it: Someone gets murdered. Both Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic give this one top marks.
Our Flag Means Death Season Two
The historical pirate spoof returns, with Rhys Darby playing a “gentleman pirate” captain and Taika Waititi as Blackbeard. With a 75/100 on Metacritic and 94% on Rotten Tomatoes, this farce sails the high seas with minimal stormy weather.
The Fall of the House of Usher
Horror auteur Mike Flanagan cleverly updates Edgar Allen Poe while spoofing "Succession." Carla Gugino, Bruce Greenwood, and Mark Hamill star. The miniseries has garnered Flanagan's best reviews since "The Haunting of Hill House."
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Animation

Scott Pilgrim Takes Off
An adaptation of the acclaimed graphic-novel series including the ENTIRE voice cast from the 2010 movie and the animation team behind Devilman: Crybaby and Keep Your Hands Off Eizouken, this series delivers a K.O. Punch!
Blue Eye Samurai
From the writer of "Logan" and "Blade Runner 2049," "Blue Eye Samurai" follows a mixed-race swordsman in 1600s Japan who, ordered by the shogunate, must expel Europeans that've remained in the country illegally. Rotten Tomatoes puts it at 100%.
Leo
Adam Sandler puts in another great performance (I know, right?) as a pet lizard trying to escape his classroom cage and live life outside.
Pluto
Netflix releases the 8-part, hour-long-episode event about Gesicht, a detective investigating a string of human and android murders. The culprit could be a robot, which would mark only the second time in history that such a thing has occurred. From the mastermind who made ‘Monster,” this grim mystery is a spinoff—believe it or not—of “Astro Boy”!
Scavengers Reign
Survivors of a wrecked spacecraft must survive on their wits and skills as they contend with the odd planet upon which they’ve crashed. This planet, according to viewers, is one of the most strange and creative ever put to screen. Rotten Tomatoes puts the show at 100% while Metacritic has it at 90/100.
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