Before Spielberg was the box-office titan that he would become with 1975’s Jaws , he made his North American theatrical debut (Duel, a television movie had been released theatrically in Europe) with 1974’s Sugarland Express. Based on an actual event that occurred in 1969, the story follows Lou Jean (Goldie Hawn), her husband Clovis (William…
Author: TD Rideout
Hill Street Blues (1981) – Hill Street Station, and Presidential Fever
When I was a teen every time I came across Hill Street Blues I would find myself stopping to watch it, and would even set the VCR to record it (when I remembered to). I always found it interesting in the way that it worked to show the police officers of the Hill Street precinct…
Rambo: Last Blood (2019) – Adrian Grunberg
Sylvester Stallone is back for one last go-round as John Rambo. It has to be, it’s right there in the title! Once again Stallone involves himself in the film’s script, crafting a story that shows that Rambo, no matter the age, is still the same man he has always been, but he’s just better at…
Fringe (2010) – Over There: Part One, and Part Two
The season two finale of Fringe got underway on 13 May, 2010. It was written by J.H. Wyman, Jeff Pinkner, and Akiva Goldsman, who also served as the episode’s director. We know we’re on the other side from the beginning but the red-colored opening credits cements that idea. Peter (Joshua Jackson) joins Walter-nate (John Noble)…
Eversion (2022) – Alastair Reynolds
Alastair Reynolds takes the reader on an epic journey across time. Tinging his new tale, Eversion, with hints of Verne, Lovecraftian cosmic horror, O’Brien, and 50s sci-fi Reynolds introduces us to Silas Coade, ship’s doctor, We slide through time, across a variety of vehicles, sailing ships, airships, and spacecraft, but it is always the same…
Mission: Impossible (1972) – Leona, and TOD-5
Robert Goulet guest stars in Leona, an episode that sees the IMF taking on the mob, again. Written by Howard Browne this story first debuted on 7 October, 1972. Phelps (Peter Graves) and the team are tasked with rescuing a federal agent being held by the mob and being tortured for information. Apparently, the best…
Fringe (2010) – Brown Betty, and Northwest Passage
Peter (Joshua Jackson) is in the wind somewhere, and Walter (John Noble) is attempting to deal with things in his own way, he smokes up on some Brown Betty and gets insanely high. All of this wouldn’t be too bad if Olivia (Anna Torv) didn’t show up with her niece, Ella (Lily Pilblad) in the…
The Gift (2000) – Sam Raimi
The Gift is definitely an underrated entry in Sam Raimi’s filmography. It lacks the frenetic energy in a number of his films but is completely engrossing in the way it unfolds. With a ceaselessly moving camera, Raimi tells a captivating ghost story that was written in part by Billy Bob Thornton, which was based in…
Insidious: The Last Key (2018) – Adam Robitel
The final (?) installment of the Insidious films brings us full circle. It takes place shortly after the events of the third film and ends leading us into the events of the first. Elise (Lin Shaye), Specs (Leigh Whannell), and Tucker (Angus Sampson) are all back delving into an investigation into Elise’s own past. Whannell…
M*A*S*H (1983) – Goodbye, Farewell, and Amen
On 28 February, 1983, millions of viewers bid goodbye to the 4077th and its residents over the course of two hours. It’s one of those moments burned into my brain, and I remember exactly where I was and how emotionally it affected me. The only other time I was affected in the same way would…
The Mind Reels 