Munich (2005) – Steven Spielberg

Spielberg took on the real-world events in 1972 of the Palestinian Black September group’s horrific killing of Israeli Olympic athletes and the resulting action taken by Israeli forces in retribution. Spielberg takes no sides in retelling the event, instead engaging in the human drama at work in the thriller, the effect of the ongoing conflict,…

Disney’s Aladdin: The Signature Collection

God I love this movie. This was the first Disney movie that I saw more than once in the theater. When it came out in 1992 I took everyone I could to see it (the only other Disney film I did that with was The Lion King in 1994). I loved everything about it, Howard…

L.A. Confidential (1997) – Curtis Hanson

Before we dive in to this one, I want to admit that yes, this one is sullied now because of Kevin Spacey, it doesn’t however change the fact that this is a fantastic film. Chinatown is the next big recommendation from DK Canada’s The Movie Book, but as I’ve covered it previously I jumped right…

Yankee Doodle Dandy (1942) – Michael Curtiz

As I continue my time with the Musical chapter in the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book, I dove into the biographical film, Yankee Doodle Dandy starring James Cagney. That gave me a pause. Despite everything I had ever heard about the film, I’d never seen him do anything like this. It was…

Beauty And The Beast (1991) – Gary Trousdale and Kirk Wise

The new classics of the Disney renaissance continue as the recommendations from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book following my screening of The Lion King brings me to Beauty and the Beast. Taking on the classic tale that had been visited in both film and television formats the story gets the Disney…

JFK (1991) – Oliver Stone

The final film in the What Else to Watch list of DK Canada’s The Movie Book, following my viewing of Battleship Potemkin is Oliver Stone’s three hour historical, and dramatic exploration of the Kennedy assassination in 1963. The film follows Jim Garrison’s (Kevin Costner) real-life investigation into the case, perhaps compiling the most comprehensive look…

The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) – David Lean

Another recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book for my screening of The Great Escape is this David Lean classic starring William Holden, Alec Guinness,  and Jack Hawkins. The film walked away with seven Academy Awards, taking home Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor (Guinness), Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography,…

Anchors Aweigh (1945) – George Sidney

  Frank Sinatra joins Gene Kelly in this recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book following my screening of Singin’ in the Rain. The two crooners star as naval officers Clarence Doolittle (Sinatra) and Joseph Brady (Kelly). They arrive in Los Angeles, having been decorated for their service on a four…

The English Patient (1996) – Anthony Minghella

  Minghella brings forth a top notch cast in his adaptation of Michael Ondaatje’s beautiful novel (one I remember reading, and being stunned by how closely the images in the film matched those in my mind from when I read it), which is the final recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film…