The sensitive drama Hope Floats (1998) is one of five movies and TV-movies directed by actor Forest Whitaker. He seems to know his way around issues like grief, fear of abandonment and public humiliation, because they are all front and […]
Continue reading »Month: December 2012
Real Genius (1985) ☆ ☆ ☆ 1/2
One of my favorite movies of the past quarter century is the brainy comedy Real Genius (1985). It’s mix of comic genius ranges from silly to sublime and it contains enough clever, hilarious dialogue to cover several routine coming-of-age teen […]
Continue reading »The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974) ☆ ☆ ☆ 1/2
Ahead of the big-budget remake due out next summer (2008) starring Denzel Washington and John Travolta, I thought I’d profile the terrific original version of the urban hostage thriller The Taking of Pelham One Two Three (1974). The title refers […]
Continue reading »Conspiracy of Hearts (1960) ☆ ☆ ☆
This British WW II-era resistance drama was highly recommended by Weda Mosellie a while back and I concur with her judgment. Conspiracy of Hearts (1960) is a fine, suspenseful and dramatically solid movie. The nuns at an Italian convent are […]
Continue reading »Ride Lonesome (1959) ☆ ☆ ☆
I was drawn to this fine Western because it features my favorite actor, James Coburn, in his film debut. Coburn is skinny as a rail and has the film’s funniest line of dialogue, late in the story. He doesn’t have […]
Continue reading »He Walked by Night (1948) ☆ ☆ ☆
Jack Webb, who plays a supporting role in this thriller, utilized the structure of He Walked by Night (1948) for his television show “Dragnet.” Viewers will note the similarities of narration, identity disclaimer, solid police procedure and low-key drama. In […]
Continue reading »International House (1933) ☆ ☆ 1/2
Another comedy I recommend is the wacky, risqué tomfoolery of International House (1933). An assortment of people meet at the title hotel in China to witness and bid upon a Chinese inventor’s new invention — television! Several countries send delegates […]
Continue reading »Seven Chances (1925) ☆ ☆ ☆ 1/2
I’ll confess that I am rather new to the silent comedies of one Joseph Francis “Buster” Keaton, Jr. It was just last year (2007) when I finally saw his great comedy The General and I still have not seen The […]
Continue reading »Playing for Keeps (2012) ☆ ☆ 1/2
It is easy to see why Gerard Butler accepted the role of a former star soccer player now trying to put his life back together in rural Virginia. Not only is it a nice role that blends athleticism with comedy […]
Continue reading »Anna Karenina (2012) ☆ 1/2
This is my first brush with Leo Tolstoy’s famous story; I have never read the book, nor seen any of the numerous earlier versions, many of which are considered to be classics. What a mistake I made to see this […]
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