The first musical recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book following my screening of The Jazz Singer, is this highly enjoyable romp starring Bob Hope, Bing Crosby and Dorothy Lamour. Hope and Crosby play Ace and Josh respectively, a couple of sailors, and chums who love to crack-wise, drink, chase…
Tag: dialogue
Guidance (2014) – Pat Mills
Having its premiere at TIFF today, is this delightful Canadian film that definitely enjoys itself. Pat Mills is a triple threat in the film, writing, directing and starring as David Gold, a former child star, with a drinking problem, a rent problem, an employment problem, and a little denial about his sexuality. With no…
My Man Godfrey (1936) – Gregory La Cava
William Powell is in top form as a hobo turned butler, Godfrey, in this classic film that serves as the first recommendation for The Rules of the Game from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book. This one is a much more delightful romp than Rules of the Game, though it also…
Annie Hall (1977) – Woody Allen
The final recommendation following Manhattan in the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book is the Academy Award winning Annie Hall. And while even now, I don’t understand how this film beat out Star Wars for best picture, I can admit it was pretty good. Except for the fact that I don’t think Woody…
Alan Partridge (2013) – Declan Lowney
Hitting DVD, Blu-ray and VOD today is this British import starring Steve Coogan,. He brings his Alan Partridge character in a hostage story that has some great dialogue wrapped up in a paint-by-numbers story. Reprising his television character, Coogan stars as Alan Partridge, radio DJ and deluded by his perception of his own fame, including driving around in a…
Manhattan (1979) – Woody Allen
The Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book’s next title and recommendations are a series of Woody Allen films, which should be interesting, because I’ve never been a huge fan. The main title of the section is Manhattan, and I’m a little divided on it. Backed with some beautiful Gershwin tunes, and shot in…
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…
Kill Bill (2003/2004) – Quentin Tarantino
The 101 Action Movies brought me the fantastic 4th film of writer/director Quentin Tarantino to view again. Broken up over 2 films, released 6 months apart, this film is the ultimate homage to 70s films, be it, the revenge flick, the kung-fu flick, the exploitation flick, it pays respect to all of them, as…
A Night At The Opera (1935) – Sam Wood
Great Movies – 100 Years of Film has brought me the next title and its recommendations in the comedy section, and I know I’m going to enjoy this bunch… It’s time to revel in the antics of the Marx Brothers! I’ve yet to come across a modern-day film that fills me with such joy…
Toronto After Dark – Shorts After Dark
In the midst of a brilliantly busy Saturday in Toronto, including the annual Zombie Walk and the Grand Opening of the iconic comic book store The Silver Snail in its new Yonge Street location, I settled into the balcony of the Bloor Cinema to watch the shorts program of this outstanding festival. Featuring 9 shorts of…
The Mind Reels 