Gator marked Burt Reynolds’ first-ever sequel. And it was also his first time settling into the director’s chair. Hal Needham joins him behind the camera, serving as a unit director, and Burt and his mustache star opposite Jerry Reed, who signs the title theme. Sounds alright? I’ll openly admit to being charmed by stunt man…
Tag: actor
TIFF 25: Rental Family dir. Hikari
The Brenaissance continues as Brendan Fraser turns in another fantastic performance, one that leans into his abilities to be both comedic, and deliver great gravitas, often in the same scene. Fraser stars as Phillip, a struggling American actor living in Japan. When he gets a gig as ‘Sad American’ at a funeral, it opens a…
TIFF 25: Eagles of the Republic dir. Tarek Salih
Fares Fares plays the Pharaoh of the Screen, George Fahmy. He is Egypt’s most popular actor, but he finds himself maneuvered into making a propaganda film for the country’s government. Soon, he finds himself enmeshed in political intrigue, all conducted under the watchful eye of the secretive and menacing, Dr. Mansour (Amr Waked). Despite disliking…
Code of Silence (1985) – Andrew Davis
Chuck Norris stars in this 1985 actioner which is arguably some of his best work. Honestly, having just gotten through it, and without sounding too harsh, that’s not saying much. He may be a great athlete and martial artist, but his acting skills still aren’t great. Originally tooled as one of the many Dirty Harry…
Gorky Park (1983) – Michael Apted
I remember seeing the book cover for Gorky Park by Martin Cruz Smith everywhere in the early 80s. I suppose had I wanted to I could have read it then. My parents were pretty liberal with letting me read whatever I wanted, and I had just started delving into mysteries, I read a couple of…
Fan Expo 2024 Day 2
Friday at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre was laid out before the exploring geek as an adventure of discovery and treasure-hunting. And it also served as a bracer for what was to come on Saturday, large crowds weaving along the pathways between booths, and the walkways that connected the North and South Building. I work…
You Never Know (2024) – Tom Selleck with Ellis Henican
I’ve always enjoyed Tom Selleck as an actor, Magnum is one of my all-time favourite shows, and I’ve enjoyed his turns as Jesse Stone, loved him Three Men and a Baby, delighted in his appearance on Friends, and have a soft spot for High Road to China, and Runaway. I’ve yet to start Blue Bloods,…
The Delta Force (1986) – Menahem Golan
Chuck Norris has never really done it for me when it comes to action movies. No matter what his martial arts skills, he’s not the best actor, and consequently, he found himself stuck in lower-budget action films, much like The Delta Force. But with all of it’s trappings and tropes, the film has a really…
High Plains Drifter (1973) – Clint Eastwood
High Plains Drifter marked the first time Eastwood directed a western. Keeping in line with the work he put in on his spaghetti westerns, the movie is a darker, grittier style western, as opposed to the type of film made prior to them. To illustrate that the Stranger he’s playing is a bad dude, Eastwood…
Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan – The Complete Series Blu-Ray Collection
John Krasinski returns for one final season as Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan, and despite being introduced to the character decades ago, and then having a number of actors bring the character to life, Krasinski has become one of my favourite iterations. In fact, I love how Krasinski has settled into the role, something so different…
The Mind Reels 