Films That Matter
Hammer Horror?
Leaning heavily into advertising their latest picture as a horror film, Hammer promptly used its trailers and advertising posters to highlight those spooky aspects, going so far as to name it Night Creatures (1962) for the United States market, while in England, they went with the more accurate title of Captain Clegg – focusing on the swashbuckling action adventure elements that revolve around pirates, smugglers, and the Royal Navy. Set in the eighteenth century, the story follows the supposed death of the infamous titular pirate Captain Clegg in 1776, who has been hanged to death by the Royal Navy for his long list of crimes... but not before Clegg maroons one of his men (Milton Reid) and cuts out his tongue for assaulting his beloved wife.
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Star Pick with John Rhys-Davies
When the Clock Strikes 12High NoonJune 7, 2016There may be no film that better encapsulates the idea of doing what is right or just rather than what is popular or easy than the classic 1952 western High Noon. I recently chatted with iconic character actor John Rhys-Davies, who has created wonderful personas in memorable films such as The Lord of the Rings trilogy (Gimli), Raiders of the Lost Ark/Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade (playing Indiana Jones’ loyal pal Sallah), or portraying General Pushkin in the 1987 James Bond flick The Living Daylights, to name but a few.
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Star Pick with Brian O'Halloran
In the Heat of the Day… and NightDo the Right ThingMay 25, 2016Often considered the best film of 1989, Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing sets the tone early with Rosie Perez (who plays Tina) dancing to Public Enemy’s song "Fight the Power". It was rather interesting to learn that Lee was actually influenced by Ann Margret’s opening in Bye Bye Birdie (which has a very different vibe). In any case, what follows is a powerful, character driven dramedy that widely encompasses life, death, race, poverty and everything in between – all found within the neighbourhood of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn.
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Annie Get Your Gun
Gun CrazyMay 16, 2016I am sure most of you have heard of the classic 1967 crime flick Bonnie and Clyde. Perhaps a film that is lesser known and is also based off of Great Depression bandits Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker (though the two characters have different names) is the legendary 1950 film noir Gun Crazy – which, when viewed, will clearly be seen as a precursor to the Warren Beatty and Faye Dunaway offering.
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Star Pick with Marilyn Ghigliotti
Love After DeathGhostMay 12, 2016There was always something highly entertaining about the late Patrick Swayze, whether he was having a comedic dance off against Chris Farley on Saturday Night Live, or he was the criminal mastermind of a surfer gang in the action flick Point Break. He always brought a charming, entertaining and realistic human side to the characters that he portrayed. One role that epitomises his varied career is the romantic dramedy Ghost.
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Vigilante Justice USA/UK Style
Dirty HarryGet CarterMay 6, 2016Dirty Harry, starring the legendary Clint Eastwood, has to be one of the most iconic characters in film history. Eastwood truly brings the essence of Harry Callahan to life, delivering a gritty performance that captures the hero’s gruff, no nonsense ways and vigilante-style justice. In 1971, the same year Eastwood starred in Dirty Harry, Michael Caine was cast as the lead in a British motion picture called Get Carter, which carries many of the same themes.
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A Southern Delicacy
Fried Green TomatoesMay 3, 2016Certain novels, and their respective films, capture the beautiful yet complicated nature of the American south. The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and To Kill a Mockingbird are two such examples. A third book that has been transformed into a motion picture that illustrates this intriguing subject is Jon Avnet’s 1991 movie Fried Green Tomatoes.
