Was Steven Spielberg the right person to shoot the film adaptation of Alice Walker’s powerful novel? He was an interesting choice for the project, and it definitely wasn’t the dramatic material that he was associated with in the 80s, having delivered a number of blockbusters at that point. And while there were a number of…
Tag: dramatic
Tootsie (1982) – Sydney Pollack
The What Else to Watch list of DK Canada’s The Movie Book following their recommendation of Some Like It Hot, concludes with the delightful 1982 comedy, Tootsie, starring Dustin Hoffman, Jessica Lange, Geena Davis, Teri Garr, Charles Durning, Dabney Coleman and Bill Murray. Hoffman is struggling actor Micheal Dorsey, he coaches, he auditions, but he…
Sunset Boulevard (1950) – Billy Wilder
As I return to the films of yesteryear, thanks to DK Canada’s The Movie Book, I settled in for a film that I’ve never been sure I wanted to watch, Sunset Boulevard. I just never imagined it would be my thing, but it does have a great pedigree including a cast that includes Gloria Swanson…
The Hidden Fortress (1958) – Akira Kurosawa
Influencing films like Star Wars, Akira Kurosawa’s The Hidden Fortress is the next film from the What Else to Watch from DK Books The Movie Book following my screening of Rashomon. A fun, action-filled adventure with dramatic moments, and fantastic performances, the story follows a pair of greedy peasants, Tahei (Minoru Chiaki) and Mastashichi (Kamatari…
Bicycle Thieves (1948) – Vittorio De Sica
It had to happen sooner or later. Working my way through two film books at the same time, one of the titles would have to synch up… And as I continue exploring the fantastic The Movie Book from DK Canada, and delve into the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book, this is the…
Only Angels Have Wings (1939) – Howard Hawks
The big title in DK Canada’s The Movie Book is Casablanca, and what kind of film reviewer if I hadn’t covered it before? So it was onto the What Else to Watch list which brings me a Howard Hawks film I hadn’t heard of, and stars Cary Grant. This is all win as far as…
The Artist (2011) – Michel Hazanavicius
The multi-Oscar winning film, The Artist is the next film in the What Else to Watch list as I continue my journey through DK Canada’s The Movie Book. Coming in as a recommendation for Chaplin’s City Lights, this film definitely entertains. Taking home Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Actor (Jean Dujardin), Best Director, Best…
Cabaret (1972) – Bob Fosse
The next title on the What Else to Watch list in DK Canada’s The Movie Book, following their recommendation of Blue Angel (previously reviewed) is Bob Fosse’s 1972 Oscar winning classic. Starring Liza Minnelli as Sally Bowles, the film is set in Berlin. Sally, an entertainer in a local club, is the film’s centre but…
Star Trek: The Next Generation (1988) – 11001001, and Too Short a Season
Captain’s log: stardate 41365.9 11001001 was written by Maurice Hurley and Robert Lewin and is one of the high points of the first season. Airing on 1 February, 1988, the story sees the Enterprise arriving at a space station for a computer update (Here’s where I have one of my only real problems with the…
JFK (1991) – Oliver Stone
The final film in the What Else to Watch list of DK Canada’s The Movie Book, following my viewing of Battleship Potemkin is Oliver Stone’s three hour historical, and dramatic exploration of the Kennedy assassination in 1963. The film follows Jim Garrison’s (Kevin Costner) real-life investigation into the case, perhaps compiling the most comprehensive look…
The Mind Reels 