At the movies: The Purge: Anarchy.

Another year, another ritual bloodletting... This year's Purge expands upon its initial installment with verve and adrenaline-fuelled rage, and I can't help but recommend it to anybody who is exasperated with/terrified by the reactionary foolishness that's bludgeoning the people of the U.S.

One thing that I wanted to emphasize in my review but that sort of got pared down into a less grammatically contentious phrase (something which happens a lot in the editing process, which is certainly a good thing) is how there's been an insidious strategy, both in the film's dramaturgy and in real life, where the poor get brainwashed into thinking that their enemy, the only thing standing between them and untold riches, are other poor people. It's divide and conquer theory, but somehow more peacockish about its evil.

A few words about the whole Christian Bale thing.

He was 100% right. I went to Film School for Cinematography, and one of the first things you learn is that you don’t mess with lights while you’re shooting a scene. As a cinematographer, you get the lights right before the cameras roll. To physically adjust lights during shooting is unprofessional, dangerous, and disrespectful to the dozens of other people working on set. We’ve all had bad days, and it sucks to be on the business end of that, but there is no reason for people to be acting like Christian Bale is some horrible out-of-control monster on set because he rightfully called out someone who was doing their job incorrectly. He may have all sorts of issues and drama, but as regards the Shane Hurlbut calling-out on set, Christian Bale was 100% right.

This is rumor control; Here are the facts.

I made it up North (no thanks to my initial ride and after a fortysomething dollar cab ride) and am currently kicking it in Boston. I'll be busing my way into NYC on Sunday to gear up for Day One of the NYFF press screenings. It should be as epic as always.