My Best Friend’s Exorcism (2016) – Grady Hendrix

Where do I even start with this book? I enjoyed this one so much. We were in the local Chapters, and I was immediately caught by the cover. It’s designed to look like a 1980s horror movie on VHS. And the story embraces everything you loved about the 80s – the shows, the music, the…

Show Boat (1936) – James Whale

The recommendations from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book for my screening of Oklahoma! gets underway with the 1936 adaptation of the Hammerstein stage musical, Show Boat. Directed by James Whale, who, one year previous, directed the iconic Bride of Frankenstein, the tale follows a young woman, Magnolia aka Nola (Irene Dunne)…

A Monster Calls (2011) – Patrick Ness

It’s been a long time since a book has reduced me to tears, but Ness’ powerful, and beautiful young adult books, A Monster Calls has done just that. Inspired by an idea from Siobhan Dowd who passed before she could tell it herself, the story is a singular experience that is heartbreaking in its truth…

Casablanca (1942) – Michael Curtiz

  As we move back to the Romance and Melodrama genre in the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book, we get to revisit one of my favourite films (many people share that opinion, and who can blame them?!) – Casablanca. It came along at just the right time, had just the right cast,…

Do the Right Thing (1989) – Spike Lee

  Writer/director Spike Lee’s powerful drama is the next recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book following my screening of American Beauty. A powerhouse cast brings a multi-cultural street in Brooklyn to life on the hottest day of the year, as the heat builds so does the tension as hate, racism…

Gone With The Wind (1939) -Victor Fleming, George Cukor and Sam Wood

  A gorgeous score by Max Steiner welcomes me to this towering four hour epic based on Margaret Mitchell’s classic (albeit incredibly racist) tale of the south. This was one I had never seen, but as I dove back into the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book, specifically the romance and melodrama section,…

State of Women (November 11, 2015)

  Back in July I was fortunate enough to see the showcase presentation of State of Women, a fantastic play by Andy Lyberopoulos, and directed by Tatum Lee. Since then, there have been some changes made, and you can sense the shift.  It has definitely gotten to be a stronger show with this iteration, and while…

Queen Christina (1933) – Rouben Mamoulian

  My time with Greta Garbo continues as I continue to explore the recommended titles from my viewing of Anna Karenina for the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book. This time, it’s 1933’s Queen Christina. High melodrama to be sure! Garbo plays the titular Christina, a 17th century Swedish Monarch, who is put…