Michael Crichton writes and directs The Great Train Robbery and invites Sean Connery, Donald Sutherland and Lesley-Anne Down along for the ride. Not quite a romp, the film is definitely an entertaining heist film, resting easily on Connery’s charm, and Sutherland turning in a wonderfully goofy performance. It’s England, in the 1850s. Connery plays Pierce,…
Tag: director
Gator (1976) – Burt Reynolds
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…
The First Power (1990) – Robert Resnikoff
I did Lou Diamond Phillips, and somewhere in Robert Resnikoff’s The First Power is a solid supernatural police thriller. But everything in it is painfully familiar, though some of it, like the visions characters have are strongly created. Phillips is Russell Logan a Los Angeles homicide cop who has been tracking a serial murderer christened…
Pursuit to Algiers (1945) – Roy William Neill
Holmes (Basil Rathbone) and Watson (Nigel Bruce) are at see in Pursuit to Algiers. Roy William Neill continues to direct and produce the entries, which they seem to be cranking out like clockwork. The duo find themselves on babysitting duty this time out, as they are asked to accompany Prince Nikolas (Leslie Vincent) home to…
Stargate SG-1 (2006) – Crusade, and Camelot
Vala (Claudia Black) is back. Kind of. As we dive into the penultimate episode of season nine. Crusade was written by Robert C. Cooper (he also directed it) and it first aired on 3 March, 2006. Remember the stones that allowed Daniel (Michael Shanks) and Vala to inhabit bodies in the galaxy that the Ori…
Deepstar Six (1989) – Sean S. Cunningham
1989 had not one, not two, but three underwater adventure films. Now, this one would never be confused with James Cameron’s The Abyss, but you may mistake it for Leviathan (honestly I enjoy all three, and can’t believe I hadn’t penned this one up for the blog before). Directed by Sean S. Cunningham who directed…
TIFF 25: Retreat dir. Ted Evans
Ted Evans wrote and directed this engaging thriller that takes us inside the lives of Eva (Anne Zander) and Matt (James Joseph Boyle) when Eva joins Matt and a collection of deaf people living at a residence they know as Chilmark. Under the watchful eye, and guidance of Mia (Sophie Stone), the residents are establishing…
TIFF 25: Nuremberg dir. James Vanderbilt
Vanderbilt wrote and directed the powerhouse film that is Nuremberg. Using The Nazi and the Psychiatrist by Jack El-Hai as it’s basis, Vanderbilt grounds the film in facts and strong performances. Front and center in those performance is Russell Crowe who turns in what is arguably his best performance in years. Crowe plays Hermann Goring,…
TIFF 25: California Schemin’ dir. James McAvoy
I had never heard of Silibil ‘n’ Brains, but knowing this was James McAvoy’s directorial debut I had to check it out. It’s based on a true story, and it’s very entertaining. Gavin (Seamus McLean Ross) and Billy (Samuel Bottomley) are just a couple of blokes from Dundee, Scotland. They dream big, and those dreams…
Farscape: The Peacekeeper Wars (2004) – Episode 2
This is it. The final ninety minutes of Farscape. Is it all going to pay off? Am I going to be happy with how it all ends? Airing on 18 October, 2004, the night after the first part, making it a two night event. Part two of The Peacekeeper Wars was written by series creator…
The Mind Reels 