Films That Matter
Déjà vu Dalliance
Channeling the mesmeric movies churned out by the studio system back in the 1930s and 40s, Allied (2016), directed by Robert Zemeckis, channels the likes of Morocco, Casablanca, Across the Pacific, Gilda, To Have and Have Not, and numerous others – attempting to find a spark from the classic themes of melodrama, romance, suspense and the epic nature of the annals of the cinematic past, with quite successful results. Set the year Casablanca and Across the Pacific were released – 1942, the story in fact starts in Morocco, with recently parachuted in Canadian spy Max Vatan (Brad Pitt) meeting up with another undercover agent, Marianne Beauséjour (Marion Cotillard), who will be pretending to be his wife.
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A Wild Ride
The NymphetsDecember 14, 2015Sometimes the opening credits of a film can signal the type of experience you are in for and this is clearly the case with Gary Gardner’s The Nymphets. The credits are large, bold and frantically paced, which, along with the similarly themed musical score, highlights that we are in for quite the ride.
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Darkness Shines Bright
Darkness on the Edge of TownDecember 8, 2015It is not often that I am able to review a movie that claims to be an Irish Shakespearian Western, but that is simply, or perhaps complexly, what Patrick Ryan’s feature film directorial debut Darkness on the Edge of Town is.
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Star Pick with Eric Duncan
One Man’s Long Road to RedemptionAmerican History XJanuary 28, 2015Though it may feel like it has been a while, I return once again to my reporting on the celebrities of the Children's Treatment Centre Roast of Guy Lauzon. Having covered the panel prior to Christmas, I now tackle the event's master of ceremonies, North Dundas Mayor Eric Duncan (one of the youngest mayors in the history of Canada, the youngest Warden of SD&G in its 165-year history and chair for the Eastern Ontario Warden's Caucus).
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Star Pick with Jacques Demers
Demers Enjoyed the Box of ChocolatesForrest GumpDecember 17, 2014Sen. Jacques Demers, the former head coach of the Montreal Canadiens who led the team to its last Stanley Cup in 1993 and Habs analyst on RDS, was another one of the roasters at the recent Children's Treatment Centre roast of Guy Lauzon. The man spoke very highly of the worthwhile cause and earlier in the evening he spoke to me of his two favourite movies, the first of which will be discussed today.
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Star Pick with Sharon Osbourne
Lawrence of Arabia an Epic MasterpieceLawrence of ArabiaDecember 17, 2014Last week, Sharon Osbourne, the media personality known for her reality television show The Osbournes (along with rock star husband Ozzy and their children), as well as being a judge on America’s Got Talent and more recently, one of the co-hosts of the daytime series The Talk, was gracious enough to sit down with me for a few minutes to talk film. It did not take Mrs. Osbourne long to single out her favourite – the 1962 epic Lawrence of Arabia. She was captivated by the superb scenery and the brilliant cinematography of legendary director David Lean (The Bridge on the River Kwai, Doctor Zhivago), which made this movie and its imagery unforgettable.
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Star Pick with Jesse Winchester
Good Will for This Classic 90’s MovieGood Will HuntingDecember 17, 2014The National Hockey League season is now underway and for those who are fans of the sport, this is an exciting time of year. I was lucky enough to golf with Jesse Winchester this year, and though it was a somewhat rainy afternoon, it was still an excellent day. The Long Sault native is making his way back to our neck of the woods, as his team, the Colorado Avalanche, are playing in Ottawa on Thursday and in Montreal on Saturday – so I thought it would be a good time to visit this NHLer’s favourite movie – Good Will Hunting.
