Sunrise – A Tale of Two Humans (1927) – F.W. Murnau

  Following on the tail of Pandora’s Box, this recommendation from Great Movies – 100 Years of Film,a splendidly filmed silent movie, is a moving and involving drama, that follows two characters on their rediscovery of their love for one another, and the threat of its loss. Set in a small village, frequented by city dwellers,…

Possession (1981) – Andrzej Zulawski

  A bizarre, and troubling tale was recommended to me by this odd list I came across listing horror movies, the majority of which I’d seen, but this one I’d never heard of… After his turn as Damien Thorn in the Omen III, Sam Neill took on the role of Mark in this haunting and…

Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid (1982) – Carl Reiner

  Where Monsieur Hulot’s recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book suggested Blazing Saddles as a western send-up, the hilarious Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid starring Steve Martin skewers the noir genre lovingly by intercutting out hero Rigby Reardon (Martin) with actual footage from classic noir films. Reardon, a cynical gumshoe…

2014 Toronto Screenwriting Conference

The annual Toronto Screenwriting Conference is coming up next weekend (April 5 & 6), and I have to tell you, I am getting very excited for it. Last year was the first time Sue Maynard and I had been to the event, and were intent on covering as much of it as we could, and…

Pandora’s Box (1929) – Georg Wilhelm Pabst

  The next dramatic title to be highlighted in the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film is this silent German film, starring Louise Brooks. Unfortunately, this is the first title I’ve come across in this book that didn’t really captivate me, I watched it, but I didn’t love it. I’m not sure what it…

Odd Thomas (2013) – Stephen Sommers

  Anchor Bay was kind enough to send along a copy of the Blu-Ray release of Odd Thomas to me. Sue Maynard and I were lucky enough to catch a screening of it at the Toronto After Dark Film Festival last year. Check out her original review here. While predominantly a supernatural thriller, Odd Thomas…

Muppets: Most Wanted (2014) – James Bobin

Every now and then, when I find things aren’t going as well as they could, a dose of nostalgia tends to help me get back on track. One of the things I most love from my childhood, is The Muppets. It doesn’t seem to matter how old I get, those bunch of lovable pieces of…

Blazing Saddles (1974) – Mel Brooks

  The Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book ‘s next recommendation for Monsieur Hulot, is Mel Brook’s comedic take on the western genre, that works on sight gags, physical comedy, and lots of great lines. However, there is also a slew of stereotypes and some less than acceptable language, although it’s very evident…

2014 Canadian Film Fest: H&G (Danishka Esterhazy) & Kate (Illya Klymkiw)

The first evening screening for tonight’s Canadian Film Fest at the Royal Theatre begins at 6:30, and takes us down some interesting dramatic roads. The screening’s short, Kate, directed by Illya Kimkiw, written and starring Holly Merritt is a beautiful, almost dreamlike film that examines the baggage and the ties we carry and form from…