410 Gone

"Forget it, Jake. It's Chinatown."

by Frank Showalter

Hi there, I'm Frank, a husband and father old enough to have sat wide-eyed during E.T's first theatrical run, I've been watching, absorbing, and dissecting films ever since.

This site began in 2003 when I realized two things: I had become the designated “movie guy” among my friends (you know, the one everyone asks about every new release), and I was frequently experiencing the peculiar déjà vu of realizing, halfway through a film, that I'd already seen it. Clearly, I needed a system.

What began as personal record-keeping evolved into this little corner of the internet where I share my thoughts on everything from blockbusters to obscure indies that deserved better.

New visitors might want to start by reading about how I grade films. After that, feel free to browse my reviews. If you're looking for something that flew under the radar but deserves your attention, I recommend my underseen gems section. Or, for those moments when you want to feel righteously contrarian, I maintain an list of overrated disappointments.

I also keep a viewing log that tracks everything I watch, whether it gets a full review or not, complete with stats. In an age of endless content, sometimes the act of remembering what we've seen becomes as important as the seeing itself.

And finally, if you're curious about what's on my critical horizon, my watchlist details the films I plan to review and why they've caught my interest.

In an era of algorithmic recommendations and corporate marketing machines, consider this site a human alternative—one person's attempt to catalog the vast ocean of cinema and maybe help a few fellow travelers along the way.

Home
How I Grade
Reviews
Viewing Log
1. Stats
Watchlist
1. Progress

All reviews by Frank Showalter. All images used in accordance with the Fair Use Law.

Tab to navigate ESC to close