The Last Station
If you didn’t see The Last Station in the theater, chances are what you might know about it is that it earned two Oscar nominations, for Helen Mirren as Best Actress and Christopher Plummer as Best Supporting Actor. After watching the film, I certainly understand those nominations. What I don’t get is why there wasn’t any buzz (at least, none that I heard) about James McAvoy’s performance as wel...[Read More]
The Damn United
The Damned United looks at British footballer Brian Clough’s 44 days as manager of the Leeds United football club. So, yes, it’s about soccer, that sport the rest of the world is obsessed with (particularly in this, a World Cup year). But, this is a soccer movie with very little actual soccer in it. It’s much more about a proud, arrogant man who provides his own undoing.
The International
Clive Owen is seriously pissed off throughout The International. He’s fighting a losing battle, and he more or less knows he can’t win, but he’s going to go down trying. Or maybe he’s just irritated because of how long it takes for the story to work its way out.
License to Kill
If there were a family tree of actors who have played James Bond on film, I think it would look like this: At the top, alone, is Sean Connery. His Bond combines fierce focus and sly humor. George Lazenby is a little shoot off somewhere by himself; with only one Bond film to his credit, it’s hard to categorize his portrayal. That leaves the other four Bonds: Roger Moore, who appeared in seven ...[Read More]
Saturday Night Fever
Oh, this one brings back memories! Saturday Night Fever came out in 1977 (so, it’s actually been 32 years), moving John Travolta from being a very popular TV actor (playing Vinne Barbarino in Welcome Back, Kotter) to a huge movie star, and giving the Bee Gees a new start in the process. After watching this Blu-ray edition and the many special features, I’m going to have to go get the soundtrack ...[Read More]
Frost/Nixon
Frost/Nixon is Ron Howard’s film adaptation of a stage play that looks at the historic on-camera showdown between British television personality David Frost and disgraced former U.S. President Richard Nixon. A few years out of office after his resignation related to the scandal surrounding the attempted cover-up of the break-in to Democratic National Headquarters at the Watergate complex in Washi...[Read More]
The Transformers: : The Complete First Season 25th Anniversary Edition
Oh, my lord! I just had a flashback of The Transformers from the 80s. No, wait! Paramount seems to be releasing a 25th Anniversary Edition of the first season for us fanatics out there. In all seriousness, it just got announced today and I couldn't be happier. Such a fantastic series for such an un-fantastic decade. Check out the details: ----------------------------------------------------
The Last Kiss
The Blu-Ray for The Last Kiss is full of gushing from cast members, the director and the producer about what a great script they had to work from and how marvelous the movie is. Unfortunately, I must have been watching a different film.
Arctic Tale
Arctic Tale is a cautionary tale; while chronicling the lives of a walrus and a polar bear, it also warns of the effect global warming is having on these creatures’ habitat and consequently on their survival.
Brokeback Mountain
I suspect most everyone knows the story of Brokeback Mountain, whether you actually saw the film or not. Dismissed during production with the catchphrase “the gay cowboy movie,” it turned out to be much, much more. As directed with tremendous emotion by Ang Lee, Brokeback Mountain greatly burnished the careers of Heath Ledger (Ennis Del Mar), Jake Gyllenhaal (Jack Twist), Michelle Williams (Alma...[Read More]
Milk
Milk is at once a history lesson worth learning, a story of an ordinary man doing extraordinary things, and an outstanding acting turn by Sean Penn, who won the Best Actor Oscar for his portrayal of gay rights activist, and martyr, Harvey Milk.
A History of Violence
How to write about A History of Violence, the first terrific pairing of director David Cronenberg and actor Viggo Mortensen? (Followed recently by the equally compelling Eastern Promises.) If you’ve seen the film, then you know what happens, and you’ll just be curious about what the Blu-ray adds. If you’ve not seen the film, then telling too much will spoil the story, or at least, change the ea...[Read More]