I was stunned when I first saw Saving Private Ryan on opening day, 24 July, 1998. I had never seen war depicted so realistically, so heart-breaking, graphic, and impactful. I held onto the names of Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks like a mantra through the film, to guide me through it, to make everything be…
Tag: brutal
The Dark Tower I: The Gunslinger (1982) – Stephen King
Stephen King’s fantastic epic adventure gets underway with this stellar, yet surprising short entry into what will be a massive tome, The Gunslinger. Starting with the iconic line. “the man in black fled across the desert and the gunslinger followed” one can’t help but be swept up in the epic western style fantasy. The Man…
Se7en (1995) – David Fincher
The final big title in the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book in the Thriller section is The Silence of the Lambs. It should not be a surprise that I have covered that one before, as well as most of the recommendations, except for this one, David Fincher’s noir-esque thriller, Se7en. Starring Brad…
La Strada (1954) – Federico Fellini
Anthony Quinn and Giulletta Masina star in this Fellini classic that is a recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book following my screening of Thelma & Louise. A road movie, the film follows Masina as a young, innocent and naive woman, Gelsomina, who can’t think for herself, while Quinn is the…
Schindler’s List (1993) – Steven Spielberg
The next title on the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film as I return to the historical section of the book is Spielberg’s heart-wrenching, anguish filled look at the Holocaust through an adaptation of a true story. Over the course of three hours, this black and white film, with only significant and poignant uses…
City of God (2002) – Fernando Meirelles & Katia Lund
City of God, based on a true story is the next recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book following my screening of Taxi Driver. Brutally violent, jarring in its depictions, and beautifully made the film is a one of a kind experience that takes us into the slums just outside of…
Star Trek: The Next Generation (1992/1993) – Chain of Command Part II and, Ship in a Bottle
Captain’s log: stardate 46360.8 Frank Abatemarco pens the conclusion (though Jeri Taylor did a full re-write, and Ronald D, Moore did a final pass on it) to this brilliant two-parter that first debuted on 19 December, 1992. Picard (Patrick Stewart) has been captured by the Cardassians and Gul Madred (David Warner – in a fantastic…
Platoon (1986) – Oliver Stone
Walking away with Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, Best Editing, and Best Sound, Platoon is the next recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film following my screening of Apocalypse Now. The film serves as a commentary on the horrors of war, even as two sergeants seem to be fighting for the…
Star Trek: The Next Generation (1990) – Reunion, and Future Imperfect
Captain’s log: stardate 44246.3 K’Ehleyr (Suzie Plakson) returns in this episode written by Thomas Perry, Jo Perry, Ronald D. Moore and Brannon Braga from a story by both Perrys and Drew Deighan. This is also the second episode of eight that was directed by Jonathan Frakes , who plays Commander Riker. First airing on 5…
Dead Man’s Shoes (2004) – Shane Meadows
Director Shane Meadows and star Paddy Considine wrote this script together that is the last recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book following my screening of Point Blank. Considine is Richard, a soldier returning to his home town. But this homecoming isn’t one of joy, it is with a singular purpose….
The Mind Reels 