Films That Matter
Montreal Magnum
When it comes to car chase scenes, the one that is always highlighted, and for good reason, is from Peter Yates’ 1968 action thriller Bullitt starring Steve McQueen... but some eight years later, the city of San Francisco was replaced by Montreal, Quebec in this little known Italian production with quite the epic speedy sequence of its own, Shadows in an Empty Room (1976), directed by Alberto De Martino. Fusing this touch of Bullitt with a Dirty Harry style storyline – hence why it is called Blazing Magnum in some markets (including the UK), while also including a hint of the ever popular at the time 70s giallo for some murder mystery elements, the narrative follows gritty, hard as nails Ottawa cop Capt. Tony Saitta (Stuart Whitman) as he dispatches some bank robbers in his own city... before getting the tragic call that his much younger sister, Louise (Carole Laure – Sweet Movie), who lives in Montreal, has died under very suspicious circumstances.
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Law and Order
SecretaryAugust 7, 2016Much has been made of Fifty Shades of Grey. The phenomenon (be it the books or the film) has taken the world by storm, creating an ever-growing buzz around the subject of kinky sexual escapades. But, after watching the movie, I must say that it is a cold, clinical production that lacks nuance, emotion, heart, depth or eroticism. For a more engaging portrayal of the themes found in Fifty Shades, I would recommend turning to the 2002 motion picture Secretary. Following in the vein of other erotic flicks like 1972's Last Tango in Paris and 1986's 9½ Weeks (to name just two), director Steven Shainberg (who adapted Mary Gaitskill’s short story along with Erin Cressida Wilson) introduces us to our lead character: the shy, sensitive and socially uncomfortable Lee Holloway (Maggie Gyllenhaal). Dealing with many psychological issues, she is first seen leaving an institution after being caught causing herself harm.
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Rock the Boat
Pirate RadioJuly 31, 2016If you’re into classic rock music, there may be no better film to watch than Richard Curtis’ 2009 motion picture Pirate Radio (sometimes referred to as The Boat That Rocked), as it provides the viewer with an epic soundtrack as well as a rich retrospective look back at the chaotic era that was the 1960s. Loosely based on a true story, Curtis (who also wrote the screenplay) tells the tale of a group of rogue DJs who anchor in the waters off of Britain (in the North Sea, to be exact), playing rock `n roll music to the masses, much to the chagrin of the classical music loving establishment – wonderfully illustrating the turbulent clashes of chaos found in the 1960s.
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A Bloody Good Time
What We Do in the ShadowsJuly 29, 2016The vampire has become over-used in recent years, making the market feel over-saturated. It has become increasingly difficult to find a way to depict something creative and new within the sub-genre, while not departing from all that is intriguing about the creature. One film that expertly pays tribute to ‘creatures of the night’ while concocting a unique and comedic vision is the 2014 mockumentary What We Do in the Shadows.
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Shot Through the Heart
Slow WestJuly 22, 2016I have recently been hyping several modern westerns (including the 2005 Australian flick The Proposition and the 2015 horror crossover Bone Tomahawk) that have created unique visions that pay homage while adding something new to the historic genre. Another film that fits the mould is the 2015 motion picture Slow West. The meandering tale (written and directed by first timer John Maclean) follows the young, hopeful Jay Cavendish (Kodi Smit-McPhee – The Road) as he journeys westward,
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Don’t Knock It Till You Try It
Don't Bother to KnockJuly 15, 2016When one thinks about Marilyn Monroe’s acting career, they would likely imagine her performing in a light musical comedy in the vein of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, How to Marry a Millionaire, The Seven Year Itch or Some Like It Hot. Yet, an early Monroe performance that may catch some off guard is when she plays Nell Forbes in the 1952 film-noirish drama Don’t Bother to Knock. Set entirely in a posh New York City hotel, bar singer Lyn Lesley (Anne Bancroft) has broken it off, by letter, with her beau Jed Towers (Richard Widmark), reasoning that he is too cold and does not have the heart for a long term relationship. The man arrives, booking a room in the hotel, hoping that he will win her back.
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Star Pick with Eliza Dushku
A Day at the BeachBeachesJuly 5, 2016Friendship, something we can all hopefully relate to. We all strive to have long-lasting bonds with at least a few people throughout our lifetime. A movie that takes a look at the ups and downs of a lifelong friendship is the 1988 Garry Marshall film Beaches. I recently chatted with actress Eliza Dushku, who has had a fruitful career in the business. In her early teens, she was already procuring roles in relevant titles such as This Boy’s Life and True Lies. She then went on to co-star with Kirsten Dunst in one of her major break-out roles in the cheerleading movie Bring It On.
