Field of Dreams (1989) – Phil Alden Robinson

  The next recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book for my screening of Raging Bull is this beautiful and highly enjoyable film from Phil Alden Robinson who wrote and directed the film based on the book Shoeless Joe Jackson by W. P. Kinsella. Kevin Costner plays Ray Kinsella, an Iowa…

Wall-E (2008) – Andrew Stanton

  Well, as I am working my way through the Sci-Fi Chronicles book, I figured I could use a trope of science fiction, and leap forward in time from the point of the book I am in, to the end, and work backwards, bouncing back and forth in time! So I was delighted to be…

Chariots of Fire (1981) – Hugh Hudson

  Today, I dive into the recommendations from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book for my screening of Raging Bull. This four time Oscar winner (Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Score, and Best Costume Design) had never before graced my screen, so I was looking forward to settling in and watching…

Monster on the Campus (1958) – Jack Arnold

  Jack Arnold makes one more appearance in the Sci-Fi Chronicles book, and this time, it takes us to school, with Monster on the Campus (I personally feel they could have dropped the ‘the’, but oh well). This one is, sadly, nowhere near as fun as Creature from the Black Lagoon, or The Incredible Shrinking…

East Side Sushi (2014) – Anthony Lucero

  Starting a theatrical run in select cities State-side, is this perfect little concoction that delighted, entertained, and fired my appetite. Director Anthony Lucreo has whipped up a splendid little offering that is wonderfully cast, doesn’t cheat or talk down to its audience, and makes us feel for all of the characters involved. At the film’s…

Raging Bull (1980) – Martin Scorsese

  We move back to Drama in the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book, and take a look at Martin Scorsese’s biopic on boxing legend Jake La Motta, brought to visceral life by an Oscar wining performance by Robert De Niro. As succesful as La Motta would prove to be inside the boxing ring,…

TIFF 2015: P.S. Jerusalem (2015) – Danae Elon

  Having its World Premiere today at Scotiabank, and screening again on the 16th and the 19th is this poignant and powerful documentary from filmmaker Danae Elon. Elon invites us into the life of her and her family, as she documents a journey of the heart, and the search and discovery of home. Born in Jerusalem,…

Reservoir Dogs (1992) – Quentin Tarantino 

  The final recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book for my screening of Rififi is Quentin Tarantino’s first film, Reservoir Dogs. Now, it’s been a number of years since I had watched this film, but it’s always there in the back of my head about how good a film it…