Heat (1995) – Michael Mann

I continue my time with Ten Bad Dates With De Niro, as I explore a list of Ten Scenes Where Shouty Al Shows Up, and yes, Pacino does yell a lot in this movie, but it is also a masterful epic that, for the first time, saw Al Pacino and Robert De Niro sharing scenes…

Star Trek: Enterprise (2003) – The Breach, and Cogenitor

Captain’s log: date unknown Chris Black and John Shiban pen the teleplay for this episode from a story by Daniel McCarthy. It’s a Phlox (John Billingsley) episode that first aired on 23 April, 2003, and was directed by Voyager’s Robert Duncan McNeill. Phlox finds himself in an ethical dilemma when the Enterprise is summoned to…

Chuck (2007) – Pilot, and Verus the Helicopter

This week I begin a revisit with the awesomeness that is the television series, Chuck. I remember being completely enraptured with it from the first episode, which debuted on 24 September, 2007 – right when I needed some fun and joy. The pilot for the series was written by series creators Josh Schwartz and Chris…

Whale Rider (2002) – Niki Caro

The beautifully crafted film, Whale Rider, adapted for the screen and directed by Niki Caro from the book by Witi Ihimaera is the next title up in Ten Bad Dates With De Niro, as I work through a list of titles that will make you cry. Set amongst the Maori people in Whangara, New Zealand,…

Star Trek: Enterprise (2003) – Dawn, and Stigma

Captain’s log: date unknown Roxann Dawson directs this Trip (Connor Trinneer) episode written by John Shiban. Originally airing on 8 January, 2003 this episode riffs on the science fiction classic, Enemy Mine. Of course, it’s also been done previously in Trek, most notably in The Next Generation episodes, Darmok and The Enemy. And they were…

Love Actually (2003) – Richard Curtis

The most painful title to admit to liking on a list I’m working on in Ten Bad Dates With De Niro is the saccharine sweet Love Actually from writer/director Richard Curtis. Telling a plethora of love stories, the film features a stellar cast of top-notch British actors, and that alone makes the film worth a…

Hannibal (2001) – Ridley Scott

Anthony Hopkins returns to his iconic role of the cannibalistic doctor, Hannibal Lector in the sequel to the brilliant The Silence of the Lambs. This film shows up in Ten Bad Dates with De Niro on a list of films that it is painful to like. Jodie Foster and director Jonathan Demme elected not to…

Star Trek: Enterprise (2002) – Detained, and Vox Sola

Captain’s log: date unknown Mike Sussman and Phyllis Strong pen the teleplay for this episode from a story by Rick Berman and Brannon Braga. It first aired on 24 April, 2002 and featured Dean Stockwell, Scott Bakula’s co-star in Quantum Leap in his only Trek appearance. Archer (Bakula) and Mayweather (Anthony Montgomery) are captured by…

Moonlighting (1989) – Perfetc, and When Girls Collide

This week brings us the penultimate instalment of my Moonlighting exploration. It all wraps up, somehow, next week. But first let’s get through these two episodes. Up first is Perfetc. Written by James Kramer, Chris Ruppenthal and Jerry Stahl from a story by Jeff Reno and Ron Osborn it debuted on 9 April, 1989. David…