• What to Get the Man Who has Everything

    The Game
    March 28, 2014

    Before I refer to the main title, I must first announce that long-time character actor James Rebhorn passed away last week at the age of 65. Though perhaps not a household name, the tall balding man (who looked the same age for as long as I can remember) will surely be missed, as he played small yet memorable roles for more than 30 years.

  • Russell Does the Hustle, American Style

    American Hustle
    March 23, 2014

    "Some of this actually happened." Released last week on Blu-Ray and DVD, David O. Russell’s 2013 hit American Hustle (which was nominated for 10 Academy Awards) out Scorsese’d Scorsese, as many critics put it. I will not go that far, but Russell creates a lively crime comedy/drama in the vain of past Scorsese classics such as Goodfellas, Casino and others – and it can compete on most levels.

  • The Tramp Finds his Voice

    The Great Dictator
    March 13, 2014

    In 1939, it was known that Charlie Chaplin was making a new film.

  • Westerns, Eastwood Style

    High Plains Drifter
    March 10, 2014

    It is hard to believe that Clint Eastwood has been directing movies for over four decades. His second directorial effort, the 1973 western High Plains Drifter, is now celebrating its 40th year.

  • War, What is it Good For?

    Paths of Glory
    March 2, 2014

    Stanley Kubrick, one of the great directors of the 20th Century, was a unique artist who was able to experiment with many different genres throughout his four plus decades of work. From film noir to horror, Kubrick’s movies were varied so that no two were similar, other than perhaps in theme. Of his 13 motion pictures, only two were war based, with the 1987 Vietnam narrative Full Metal Jacket being one of his most iconic. Yet, I am going to talk about his earlier anti-war film, the 1957 classic Paths of Glory.

  • Cuckoo’s Nest a Classic Film

    One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
    February 23, 2014

    We are now less than one week away from the Academy Awards and I thought it would be a good time to visit one of the biggest Oscar winning movies of the 1970's – the classic 1975 motion picture One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest – which took home five of the biggest prizes; namely, Best Picture (a young Michael Douglas won for producing the movie), Best Actor in a Leading Role, Best Actress in a Leading Role, Best Director and Best Adapted Screenplay.