Movies can stay with you. I remember seeing Sideways when it hit theatres, laughing with my friends as Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church tried to figure out their lives, loves, and wine. The characters and moments stayed with me, not to mention the talented female leads of the film, Virginia Madsen and Sandra Oh….
Tag: ex-wife
The Equalizer (1985/1986) – Back Home, and Out of the Past
It’s Christmas in New York, but that doesn’t mean Robert McCall (Edward Woodward) is expecting a silent night. Back Home was written by Joel Surnow and Maurice Hurley from a story by Neil Cohen, and it first aired on 18 December, 1985. His son, Scott (William Zabka) is still in Paris, and trying to organize…
Taken 2 (2012) – Olivier Megaton
Liam Neeson returns as Bryan Mills, a man with a specific set of skills, in Taken 2. Picking up shortly after the events of the first film which saw him rescue his daughter, Kim (Maggie Grace) from traffickers, Mills, his ex-wife, Lenore (Famke Janssen), and Kim find themselves targeted by the deceased’s father, Murad (Rade…
Hill Street Blues (1981) – Life, Death, Eternity, and I Never Promised You a Rose, Marvin
Gregory Hoblit and Lee David Zlotoff penned Life, Death, Eternity which first aired on 14 March, 1981. Hey look! There’s Dwight Schultz! There’s no heat in the precinct (and the repairman has dropped dead) while Furillo (Daniel J. Travanti) continues the investigation of the murdered prostitute, which may interfere with his chances of being promoted…
Hill Street Blues (1981) – Politics as Usual, and Can World War III Be an Attitude?
Series creators Steven Bochco and Micheal Kozoll pen Politics as Usual which first aired on 22 January, 191. The presidential visit is on the horizon, and Howard (James Sikking) is less than thrilled with how Captain Furillo (Daniel J. Travanti) is handling the situation and negotiating peace treaties with the local gangs for the walking…
Hill Street Blues (1981) – Hill Street Station, and Presidential Fever
When I was a teen every time I came across Hill Street Blues I would find myself stopping to watch it, and would even set the VCR to record it (when I remembered to). I always found it interesting in the way that it worked to show the police officers of the Hill Street precinct…
M*A*S*H (1980/1981) – Death Takes a Holiday, A War for All Seasons, and Your Retention Please
Mike Farrell directs this episode that he wrote alongside John Rappaport, and Dennis Koenig from a story by Thad Mumford, Dan Wilcox, and Burt Metcalfe. It aired on 15 December 1980 and was used as that year’s Christmas episode. Farrell knows how to pack his story with emotional impact without being super sappy about it….
The X-Files (2002) – William, and Release
David Duchovny returns this week, behind the camera to direct an episode that he thought up alongside Frank Spotnitz and series creator Chris Carter, who also penned the teleplay. It first aired on 28 April, 2002, and puts Scully’s (Gillian Anderson) baby, William front and center, and gives us the heartbreaking ending first… she gives…
Over the Top (1987) – Menahem Golan
Sylvester Stallone stars in this corny, overly sentimental flick that is totally 80s. I know this because it features a song on the soundtrack by Kenny Loggins, and all the best movies of the 80s did. This time around Sly is a truck driver, Lincoln Hawk who is planning in entering the world arm wrestling…
Strange Invaders (1983) – Michael Laughlin
The next alien monster film featured in DK Canada’s Monsters in the Movies is an interesting one in that it had possibilities and potential, but it’s execution borders on the horrible. Meant to be both homage and satire of the sci-fi movies of the late 50s the story seems like it would work perfectly –…
The Mind Reels 