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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]