The Pinkertons S01E01- Kansas City

  If you’ve missed the US broadcasts, starting this evening in the Great White North on local CHCH channels, from co-creators Kevin Abrams and Adam Moore, is this western series that follows the cases of the legendary Pinkertons, the original detective agency. Leading the charge is the always delightful Martha MacIsaac as Kate Warne, a smart, capable…

Kings of the Road (1976) – Wim Wenders

  The next road movie following my viewing of Easy Rider for the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book is this German road film. It definitely falls into the road movie category, but there is a somberness to it, that doesn’t seem to be reflected in its North American counterparts, no matter what…

Body (2015) – Dan Berk & Robert Olsen

  Screening today and again on Thursday at the Slamdance film festival is this taut, tightly written and paced thriller starring three talented young women, Helen Rogers, Alexandra Tushen and Lauren Molina. It’s the Christmas holidays and three BFFs, Holly (Rogers), Cali (Tushen), and Mel (Molina) are hanging out and trying to figure out what…

Cabiria (1914) – Giovanni Pastrone

  The first recommended title following my screening of Intolerance for the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film is this epic tale set during the Punic Wars. Apparently the director of Intolerance, D.W. Griffith, was highly influenced by this film when he saw it, and created Intolerance to tell his own epic. The film…

The Atticus Institute (2015) – Chris Sparling

  Available from Anchor Bay today on DVD and Blu-Ray is this horror film that takes us inside paranormal research in the 1970s. Made to resemble a documentary, I ended up being a little divided on this title. In terms of horror and scares, there is nothing new here, all the beats are measured out into…

Two-Lane Blacktop (1971) – Monte Hellman

  The next road movie I take on for the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book’s recommendation following Easy Rider is this flick that stars James Taylor (yes that James Taylor) as The Driver. The Driver, and his pal, The Mechanic (Dennis Wilson), work together, with as little dialogue as possible, as they…

Vanishing Point (1971) – Richard C. Sarafian

  The first recommended title for my screening of Easy Rider from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book is this road movie that doesn’t let up until the credits roll. Barry Newman is Kowalski, an ex-cop, a believer in right and wrong, and the freedom that was the American dream that seems…

Boardwalk Empire: Season 5

  HBO’s Emmy and Golden Globe winning period series comes to a close this week, with its final season being released to Blu-Ray and DVD today. A truncated eight episode season wraps up storylines for the show’s characters as Nucky Thompson’s (Steve Buscemi) career seems to be coming to an end. Set six years after…

Housebound (2014) – Gerard Johnstone

  The Toronto After Dark 2014 winner (and for good reason) hits DVD and Blu-Ray courtesy of Anchor Bay today. I had missed this New Zealand horror-comedy when it screened at TAD this year, because I was in Hawaii, so was glad I was afforded the chance to screen a copy before it’s home video release. Let…