The Zach Braff film (writer/director/star) Garden State hasn’t aged very well. And even in 2004, some of it seemed questionable. The soundtrack that we all thought was amazing at the time wasn’t, and I have to tell you, I never liked the Shinns no matter how much Braff insisted the song would change your life….
Tag: ian holm
The Sweet Hereafter (1997) – Atom Egoyan
Atom Egoyan’s heartbreaking, and powerful film (something I was fortunate enough to be able to tell the director in person) is the next stop in DK Canada’s The Movie Book. Based on the novel by Russell Banks, which Egoyan adapted as well as directed the film features great performances by Ian Holm, Sarah Polley, Bruce…
Ratatouille (2007) – Brad Bird, and Jan Pinkava
The Oscar winning Ratatouille (Best Animated Feature) is the next title on the What Else to Watch list following the recommendation in DK Canada’s The Movie Book for Toy Story. Featuring an incredibly talented voice cast including Patton Oswalt, Peter O’Toole, Ian Holm, Janeane Garofalo, Will Arnett, Brian Dennehy and Lou Romano the story follows…
Time Bandits (1981) – Terry Gilliam
Back in 1981 or 1982, on a free Super Channel or First Choice weekend I received my first introduction to the cinematic stylings of Terry Gilliam with Time Bandits. An odd, decidedly British science fiction adventure film, it is also one of the recommendations (following T2) as I return to the Action genre of the…
The Day After Tomorrow (2004) – Roland Emmerich
Happily with this film, my time with Roland Emmerich comes to a close, as I take a look at The Day After Tomorrow for the Sci-Fi Chronicles book. A glossy, A-list star (how does that keep happening in his films?), slick looking piece of filmmaking that renders global warming and catastrophic destruction of our environment into a…
Chariots of Fire (1981) – Hugh Hudson
Today, I dive into the recommendations from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book for my screening of Raging Bull. This four time Oscar winner (Best Picture, Best Original Screenplay, Best Score, and Best Costume Design) had never before graced my screen, so I was looking forward to settling in and watching…
Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes (1984) – Hugh Hudson
The Oscar-nominated Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes is the next film suggestion from the Sci-Fi Chronicles as I continue my time with Edgar Rice Burroughs most famous creation, in this version portrayed by Christopher Lambert. This film is based in more reality than earlier explorations of the character, and by…
Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein (1994) – Kenneth Branagh
The final version of Frankenstein to be suggested for viewing by the Sci-Fi Chronicles book is this 1994 adaptation by actor/writer/director Kenneth Branagh. He takes on this version of the tale by creating a lush and beautiful looking period film. Despite the films he would later make, this one feels restrained, not quite stuffy but…
Trailer Tracks: Time Bandits (1981) – Terry Gilliam
Time Bandits was my first introduction to Terry Gilliam films, and by extension, Monty Python as well. I caught this one night during a SuperChannel free weekend event, back in the early 80s, and while I liked it, I definitely didn’t ‘get’ all of it. Now, it’s come a bit of a treasure for…
Trailer Tracks: Alien (1979) – Ridley Scott
Another classic trailer! This one runs for only 2 minutes, and the first minute doesn’t even include any footage from the film, but it so sets a creepy tone for what is essentially a sci-fi riff on the old dark house routine… I love this movie, and after having watched THIS trailer, I think…
The Mind Reels 