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: donald sutherland
Lawmen Bass Reeves: Season 1 – Blu-Ray
David Oyelowo brings Bass Reeves to life, in Lawmen: Bass Reeves, which he helped produce alongside series creator Chad Feehan and Yellowstone creator Taylor Sheridan. Based on the true story of one of the first Black U.S. Marshals, we follow Bass from slave to one of the most respected lawmen to serve. Throughout eight episodes,…
Ad Astra (2019) – James Gray
James Gray delivers one of the most authentic looks at space travel since Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey, throw in a little of Conrad’s Heart of Darkness and you have the basic groundwork for this science fiction drama that sees astronaut Roy McBride (Brad Pitt) travelling to the outer reaches of our solar system, all…
Fallen (1998) – Gregory Hoblit
Denzel Washington doesn’t often take on roles in films that have paranormal or supernatural overtones, so when he does make one it’s got to be worth the watch. And Fallen is that. I hadn’t watched this one since it came out on VHS, oh so many years ago, and figured it was time for a…
Mr. Harrigan’s Phone (2022) – John Lee Hancock
John Lee Hancock adapts the Stephen King short story to the screen and gives us a thoughtful rumination on technology, life, forgiveness, and letting go. Jaeden Martell returns to the King-verse this time as young Craig, a student, a young man who is dealing with the death of his mother, navigating the world of high…
The Puppet Masters (1994) – Stuart Orme
Somewhere in The Puppet Masters, despite its continuity errors, its plot holes and poor performance by its lead actor (who is surrounded by some fantastic character actors and recognizable faces) is probably a decent film, I mean it’s based on Heinlein’s novel, so it had a great starting point. When something comes down in the…
National Lampoon’s Animal House (1978) – John Landis
Ten Bad Dates With De Niro brings me this John Landis comedy classic from the late 70s for my viewing enjoyment. It tops the list of Unlikeliest Films Ever Judged ‘The Best of All Time.’ And while the film is brilliantly funny, boasts an all-star cast and has made the song Louie, Louie iconic, there…
Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors (1965) – Freddie Francis
The last vampire title for me to cover before I move onto the next spooky section of DK Canada’s Monsters in the Movies book is an anthology film that is filled with familiar names and faces. Dr. Terror’s House of Horrors boasts names like Peter Cushing, Bernard Lee, Christopher Lee, Micheal Gough, and Donald Sutherland….
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992) – Fran Rubel Kuzui
Before she stormed the small screen for seven years, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, was a theatrical film that didn’t quite get what Joss Whedon was trying to do with the genre. Instead, playing more for comedy, this vampire film is the next stop in DK Canada’s Monsters in the Movies. The cast is led by…
MASH (1970) – Robert Altman
“And then there was Korea…” Robert Altman’s classic war comedy, MASH, is the first recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book following my screening of Apocalypse Now. The movie remains very funny, and it’s anti-war commentary is just as important today. That being said, this is not the MASH I grew…
The Mind Reels 