The Third Man (1949) – Carol Reed

  Joseph Cotten finds himself caught up in a dark thriller in this next recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book for my viewing of The Big Sleep. Cotten plays Western novelist Holly Martins, who arrives in post-war Austria to see his friend, Harry Lime (Orson Welles). Unfortunately after his arrival,…

Corner Gas: The Movie (2014) – David Storey

  One of Canada’s most beloved sitcom had a theatrical release this month, and now, it’s been released to DVD and Blu-Ray. Corner Gas: The Movie, takes us back to Dog River, and catches us up with all of our old friends, Brent (Brent Butt), Lacey (Gabrielle Miller), Hank (Fred Ewanuick), Oscar (Eric Peterson) &…

The Glass Key (1942) – Stuart Heisler

  The journey into film noir continues with the recommendations from my Great Movies – 100 Years of Film for my screening of The Big Sleep. Alan Ladd is Ed Beaumont, the right hand man, and best friend of corrupt politician Paul Madvig (Brian Donlevy). When Madvig shuts down a gangster, Nick Varna (Joseph Calleia)…

Extraterrestrial (2014) – The Vicious Brothers

  I quite enjoyed the Vicious Brothers previous efforts – Grave Encounters and Grave Encounters 2, and were curious how they took on subject matter that really unnerved me, so I dug into Extraterrestrial, which is currently available on VOD and iTunes, and had a look. Whereas with Grave Encounters I felt they took on…

The Maltese Falcon (1941) – John Huston

  Humphrey Bogart stars in this classic film noir that is the first recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book for my screening of The Big Sleep. Dashiel Hammett’s book comes to life under the direction of John Huston, who also penned the adapted screenplay, with gumshoe Sam Spade (Bogart) finding…

The Big Sleep (1946) – Howard Hawks

  The first title in the Crime and Thriller chapter of the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book is this wonderful classic based on Raymond Chandler’s book, adapted by William Faulkner, Leigh Brackett and Jules Furthman, it is directed by Howard Hawks and features Humphrey Bogart as Chandler’s hardboiled detective Phillip Marlowe. The…

Kite (2014) – Ralph Ziman

  Last week, Anchor Bay entertainment released Kite to DVD, directed by Ralph Ziman and starring India Eisley, Callan McAuliffe and Samuel L. Jackson, this action flick is based loosely on the Japanese anime of the same name. I love an action flick with a strong ass-kicking female in the lead, so I happily signed…

Frank (2014) – Lenny Abrahamson

  Michael Fassbender is the titular Frank in this amusing and entertaining dark comedy that is being released to DVD and Blu-Ray today from Magnolia Home Entertainment. The film follows a young, would-be musician, Jon (Domhnall Gleeson), and how he becomes involved in a rather eccentric pop band that is fronted by Frank, who never…

Marty (1955) -Delbert Mann

  Ernest Borgnine stars as the titular Marty in this wonderful film recommended in the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book following my screening of On The Waterfront. This is a gem of a film, lovely in its simplicity and honesty, and I can hear the echoes of it in my own life….