TIFF ’22: A Man of Reason

Korean film star Jung Woo-sung makes his directorial debut with the crime thriller, A Man of Reason. The story is a familiar one, but Jung’s style and performance make this entry exceptional, if a little off. Su-hyuk (Jung) has spent the past decade in jail for his boss, he kept his head down, kept quiet,…

Spiritwalker (2020) – Yoon Jae-keun

Hitting digital, DVD and Blu-Ray today from Well Go USA Entertainment is this Korean bare-knuckle action flick with some sci-fi undertones that keeps things moving right until the last frame. The film gives a new spin on familiar territory, and features solidly constructed, and executed action and fight sequences. Ian (Yoon Kyesang) isn’t who he…

M*A*S*H (1980) – Back Pay, April Fools, and The Best of Enemies

Hawkeye (Alan Alda) is out for justice in the penultimate episode of season eight. Back Pay was written by Thad Mumford, Dan Wilcox and Dennis Koenig and first debuted on 10 March, 1980. When Hawk receives a letter from home, he’s shocked to learn that there are doctors back State-side that are making a mint…

M*A*S*H (1978/1979) – An Eye for a Tooth, Dear Sis, and B.J. Papa San

Ronny Graham pens the first episode up this week, An Eye for a Tooth, which first aired on 11 December, 1978. While Father Mulcahy (William Christopher) ruminates on why he’s been passed over for promotion, again, Charles (David Ogden Stiers) pushes the prank war between Houlihan (Loretta Swit) and Hawkeye (Alan Alda) and B.J. (Mike…

M*A*S*H (1976) – Hawkeye, Some 38th Parallels, and The Novacaine Mutiny

Series developer Larry Gelbart and Simon Muntner pen this bottle show (one set, or existing set shoots to save money) that features Hawkeye (Alan Alda) and was first broadcast on 13 January, 1976. After surviving an accident, Hawkeye delivers a seemingly unending and wandering monologue in a Korean home while waiting for a pickup from…

M*A*S*H (1975) – The Bus, Dear Mildred, and The Kids

Hawkeye (Alan Alda), B.J. (Mike Farrell), Radar (Gary Bughoff), Frank (Larry Linville) and Potter (Harry Morgan) find themselves lost in The Bus. Written by John D. Hess, this episode first aired on 17 October, 1975. The group is coming back from a medical gathering, but have somehow got lost on the way back to the…

M*A*S*H (1974) – The Chosen People, As You Were, and Crisis

Radar (Gary Burghoff) has some problems in The Chosen People. Written by Laurence Marks, Sheldon Keller and series developer Larry Gelbart from a story by Gerry Renert and Jeff Wilhem, this episode premiered on 26 January, 1974. When a Korean family moves on to the 4077th, it throws the unit into upheaval, and unfortunately doesn’t…

M*A*S*H (1972) – I Hate a Mystery, Germ Warfare, Dear Dad

Hawkeye (Alan Alda) plays detective after he’s apparently framed for a rash of thefts across the camp in I Hate a Mystery. Written by Hal Dresner, and first airing on 26 November, 1972, the story is rather light-hearted, though there is a real issue at heart behind the crimes. Knick knacks from all over the…

In Conversation with John Landis

Today is my birthday, so it seems like the perfect moment to share this wonderful gift DK Canada gave me. Director John Landis has overseen the compilation of a new anthology, Haunted Houses, and it is perfect reading for the Halloween season. It’s a fantastic collection, and DK Canada arranged for me to speak with…