Ad Astra: Another Look

This piece began life as an inquiry as to why whose in charge in Hollywood, whomever that might be, seldom if ever employ real science fiction writers to write the story for science fiction movies. Then I happened to see a movie from a couple of years ago titled, AD ASTRA (Latin for: Is this trip necessary?) After seeing it I […]

The Mule

Film Title

The Mule

Synopsis

A 90 year old Korean War Vet goes to work as a drug mule 

Director

Clint Eastwood

Cast

Clint Eastwood
Patrick L. Reyes
Laurence Fishburne
Bradley Cooper
Andy Garcia
Dianne Wiest
Taissa Farmiga

(A tirade in the form of a movie review) Based on a true story. Clint Eastwood plays Earl Stone, a nonagenarian down on his luck. Lucky enough to be alive but homeless and broke at age 90. The internet played havoc on his flower business. He is estranged from his family. The times have no […]

The Tomorrow War

Film Title

The Tomorrow War

Synopsis

A really stupid story about a man conscripted to fight in a future war

Director

Chris McKay

Cast

Chris Pratt
J.K. Simmons
Yvonne Strahovski
Sam Richardson
Jasmine Mathews
Edwin Hodge

The sun’ll come out tomorrow Bet your bottom dollar that tomorrow There’ll be sun Just thinkin’ about tomorrow Clears away the cobwebs and the sorrow ‘Til there’s none Director Charles McKay and writer Zach Dean slathered on the sunblock for this shlock, with the inspired title of The Tomorrow War. (A personal note: This humble […]

All Is True

Film Title

All Is True

Synopsis

The final days of the magnificent Bard

Director

Kenneth Branagh

Cast

Kenneth Branagh
Ian McKellen
Judi Dench
Nonso Anozie
Lolita Chakrabarti



In his autobiography LittleWilson and Big God, Anthony Burgess ( for those of you who did not know, his complete name was John Anthony Burgess Wilson. Furthermore, for those of you who do not know, he was author of A Clockwork Orange, Tremor in Intent, The End of the World News, among many other  novels, […]

The Bishop’s Wife: Another Look At The Making Of A Great Film

The Bishop’s Wife puts you in mind of another bit of magical fantasy, Portrait of Jenny. Both films are based on novels by Robert Nathan and both enjoy the idea that a charming almost magical personality can enter your life at the most unexpected moments. The obviously banal aspects to the story are simple. Bishop […]

An Open Letter to David Fincher

Mr Fincher, I must confess this would have been a fan letter to your father had circumstances been different. Mank enjoys a superb screenplay bearing the stamp of its subject matter. It gave us a wonderful sense of period, Hollywood, the studios of the 30s. The Paramount writer’s room had the feel of the press […]

Vertigo (1958)

Film Title

Vertigo

Synopsis

A traumatized former police detective falls hopelessly in love with a woman who doesn’t exist

Director

Alfred HItchcock

Cast

Jimmy Stewart
Kim Novak
Barbara Bel Geddes
Tom Helmore
Ellen Corby

“The language of the camera is the language of our dreams.”-James Baldwin. No director was more fluent in that language than Alfred Hitchcock. Vertigo is the most conspicuous example of his fluency. Vertigo is a Pygmalion and Galatea story. The question in this case, who is Pygmalion and who is Galatea? When, is a better […]

Heaven’s Gate (1980)

Film Title

Heaven's Gate

Synopsis

The Gate Is Broken

Director

Michael Cimino

Cast

Kris Kristopherson
Christopher Walken
John Hurt
Sam Waterson
Brad Dourif
Joseph Cotten
Jeff Bridges
Isabelle Hupert
Mickey Rourke
Willem Dafoe

I had just emerged from the hills on highway 93 at the north end Flathead Lake on the way to Kalispell when I saw the first bumper sticker that read, To Hell With Heaven’s Gate. I was soon to see many more. This was August of 1981. Over a year after the film wrapped, ugly […]

The Truth Of The Matter

Keeper of the Flame (1942) Directed by George Cukor. With Spencer Tracy and Kathrine Hepburn. 36 Hours (1965) Directed by George Seaton. With James Gardner, Eva Marie Saint, and Rod Taylor The “truth of the matter” can be an elusive concept. What is real? This is the persistent theme in the works of Philip K. […]

Third Encounters Of A Close Kind -or- Standing On A Corner In Muncie, Indiana

Ruthless Reviews presents: I Love a Mystery! Follow our tireless critics of the A-1 Detective Agency as Jack, Doc and Reggie ferret out the best, and worst in movies. Sponsored by Pee Clean, “never fear the pee police again, use, Pee Clean and have clean pee!” Your host:So fellas, tonight we have a blast from […]