Veep: Season 3

  Also available from HBO today, is the third season of their critically acclaimed, and award-winning White House comedy series, Veep. Julia Loius-Drefus, who has won an Emmy for her performance in each season, is Vice President Selina Meyer. And considering my love of the Sorkin series The West Wing, I should have been watching…

Silicon Valley: Season 1

  Releasing from HBO today is the premiere season of this brilliant comedy from Mike Judge, the creator of the cult classic, much-loved and oft-quoted, Office Space. The 8 episode first season is available today on DVD and Blu-Ray, just in time for the start of Season 2, which debuts April 12. You can honestly…

Journey to the Center of the Earth (2008) – Eric Brevig

  Jules Verne, his writing, and the films inspired by his creations is next up in the Sci-Fi Chronicles (I’m loving this book so far, and I’ve barely started it). I’ve previously covered the definitive cinematic version of Journey to the Center of the Earth, the 1959 version starring James Mason and Pat Boone. The only other…

White God (2014) – Kornel Mundruczo

  White God is an amazing film, by turns beautiful and brutal, and rife with social commentary. This Hungarian film opens today at Toronto’s Lightbox, and other select theaters across the nation, and I implore you to go and see it if you are able. Mundruczo has made a film that isn’t afraid to venture…

Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1994) – Kenneth Branagh

  The final version of Frankenstein to be suggested for viewing by the Sci-Fi Chronicles book is this 1994 adaptation by actor/writer/director Kenneth Branagh. He takes on this version of the tale by creating a lush and beautiful looking period film. Despite the films he would later make, this one feels restrained, not quite stuffy but…

Relative Happiness (2014) – Deanne Foley

  The Canadian Film Fest continues this evening, beginning at 7pm at the Royal Cinema on College St. Deanne Foley directs the rom-com feature, Relative Happiness, which this evening is preceded by the beautifully shot short, Speak Now, directed by Raj Ramnauth, which is about a relationship leading up to the big day… Relative Happiness…

The Cocksure Lads Movie (2014) – Murray Foster 

  From the 25 to the 28th, The Royal Cinema on College St is playing host to The Canadian Film Fest. A festival intent on showcasing and promoting Canadian film. It starts off this evening  at 6:45, with a delightfully retro-pop confection; a musical comedy from Great Big Sea’s Murray Foster. The Cocksure Lads, Dusty (Lyndon…

Paths of Glory (1957) – Stanley Kubrick

  Kirk Douglas stars as French army Colonel Dax in this next film recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book following my screening of All Quiet on the Western Front. Kubrick brings his inimitable style to bear on the Great War in this film that tells the tale of a failed…

Sergeant York (1941) – Howard Hawks

  The next film in my viewing line-up following my screening of All Quiet on the Western Front for the chapter on war films for the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film is this biopic based on the diary of Alvin York, himself. This may seem like an odd statement, but this film does…