Men have reasons for the evil acts they commit. Some men. The new film streaming on Amazon Prime, The (Torture) Report, makes this clear. The men of The Irishman practice evil as a matter of course, without a thought. As mob accountant Otto Biederman, famously said, “Nothing personal, it’s just business.” The effect, however, is […]
1917
December 1, 2019 by
Film Title
1917Synopsis
Two young British soldiers are given a critical mission that, if accomplished, will save 1600 soldiers from certain death
Cast
Andrew Scott
Benedict Cumberbatch
Dean-Charles Chapman
George Mackay
John Hollingworth
Richard Madden
1917 is a horror story. It is a journey to hell and back. It ends at the place where it began, in a field of flowers under a tree. It is a story of duty, comradeship and loss. It is a technical marvel. It takes place on April 6, 1917, the day the United States […]
The King (2019)
November 24, 2019 by
Film Title
The King (2019)Synopsis
The young king, crowned by Henry V must manage politics, war, and other issues
Director
David MichodCast
Timothee Chalamet
Sean Harris
Joel Edgerton
Tom Glynn-Carney
Ben Mendelson
Steven Elder
I brought two prejudices to watching The King, the new film about England’s Henry V. This was Shakespeare’s Henry V, and the Henry V of history. The King is not Shakespeare, and is certainly not history. It is however, a mildly enjoyable film. In the beginning, the film has Prince Hal or Harry, the future […]
The Trail Boss Ayatollah
November 19, 2019 by
Recently I ran afoul of the faithful when I attempted to herd some precious cattle off the Elysium fields of cinema. The result was hurt feelings. Not mine. I know it just a movie but some people insist on putting way too much of themselves into it. They embrace adjectives like, genius, and innovator, phrases […]
An Open Letter to Mike Flanagan
November 15, 2019 by
Spoilers Follow I want you to know how much I enjoyed your miniseries adaption of Shirley Jackson’s iconic novel, The Haunting of Hill House. All story elements were tied-up at the end. The door that could not be opened leading to different rooms for different people was inspired. It had many scary moments. OK, Doctor […]
Terminator: Dark Fate: What Else?
November 6, 2019 by
Terminator: Dark Fate bears the visual stamp of James Cameron, regardless of the screen credit. Cameron understands a good action sequence is made with little bits of film; shots of only a few frames, that when edited together moves the action faster than the eye can behold, creating the action more in the mind of […]
Downton Abbey (2019)
October 22, 2019 by
Film Title
Downton Abbey (2019)Synopsis
The story of the Crawley family in the early 20th Century in England
Director
Michael EnglerCast
Matthew Goode
Tuppance Middleton
Maggie Smith
Michael Dockery
Elizabeth McGovern
Kate Phillips
Allen Leech
Laura Carmichael
The Triumph of the Servant’s Hall It begins with news of a royal visit and ends with a waltz. In between you see romance, duty, honor, intrigue, respect for tradition and hope for the future. You hear that rarity in today’s movies, literate dialogue. It is a joy to watch. The cinematography has natural look […]
The Kid (2019)
October 9, 2019 by
Film Title
The Kid (2019)Synopsis
A young boy witnesses the encounter between Billy The Kid and The Sheriff.
Director
Vincent D'OnofrioCast
Jake Schur
Ethan Hawke
Leila George
Chris Pratt
Dane HeHaan
Vincent D'Onofrio
We are in familiar territory here. The story of Billy the Kid has been told several times. Sam Peckinpah’s Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid suffered from confused story with actors too old for the characters they played. Kristoffer Kristofferson was 37 and looked 47, far too old to play the 21 year old Billy. […]
A Look Back At Kevin Costner and His Westerns
October 10, 2019 by
Dances with Wolves. Welcome to Fort Sedgewick (1990) We are introduced to Costner’s Lt. Dunbar as he lay on the surgeon’s table somewhere in Tennessee, waiting to have a foot removed before it goes the way of all gangrene.In those days amputation was the treatment for severe arterial or bone damage. A bone smashed by […]
Bullets Over Broadway (1994)
September 16, 2019 by
Film Title
Bullets Over Broadway (1994)Synopsis
A struggling writer is forced to use a mobster’s untalented girlfriend to get it produced
Director
Woody AllenCast
John Cusack
Dianne Wiest
Jack Warden
Joe Viterelli
Rob Reiner
Chazz Palminteri
Tracey Ullman
In the spirit of full disclosure I must confess I am a Woody Allen fan. I was a fan of his stand-up comedy, and was delighted when he moved into making motion pictures. His brand of humor was stamped on Take the Money and Run, and Bananas. Love and Death was a satire on bleak […]
