My time with the films of James Cameron for the Sci-Fi Chronicles book comes to an end with this film that he penned the script for, and gave to the incredibly talented Kathryn Bigelow to direct. Ralph Fiennes stars as Lenny Nero, a former cop turned street hustler, with a charming side that can sell…
Tag: los angeles
Anchors Aweigh (1945) – George Sidney
Frank Sinatra joins Gene Kelly in this recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book following my screening of Singin’ in the Rain. The two crooners star as naval officers Clarence Doolittle (Sinatra) and Joseph Brady (Kelly). They arrive in Los Angeles, having been decorated for their service on a four…
Crash (2004) – Paul Haggis
Walking away with the Academy Awards for Best Picture (controversially – as Brokeback Mountain was the presumptive winner), Best Original Screenplay and Best Editing, writer/director Paul Haggis’ tale of a cross-section of denizens of Los Angeles, tied together by race, loss and redemption come together in Crash, my next recommendation from the Great Movies…
Magnum, p.i. (1986) – Photo Play and L.A.
The season 6 finale, Photo Play, originally aired 10 April, 1986 and was written by Bruce Cervi from a story by Chas. Floyd Johnson. Shelley Faraday (Cassie Yates) is a photographer working on a book about road signs, she hires Thomas (Tom Selleck) for help because it seems someone is trying to steal something…
The Familiar Volume 1 – One Rainy Day in May (2015) – Mark Z. Danielewski
I read Danielewski’s House of Leaves back when it first came out, and I was creeped out, dumbfounded, and left in a state of wonder over the book that I held in my hand, and had just found my way through. So when I heard he was undertaking a new, literally epic tale, called…
Fear the Walking Dead: Season 1
Releasing today from Anchor Bay is Season 1 of Fear the Walking Dead, the new show from creator Robert Kirkman. Collecting all 6 episodes of the first season, the series, not so much a spin-off as it is a prequel (for now), promises to explore how the world got to the state it is when…
The A-Team (1983) – The Taxicab Wars and Labor Pains
The A-Team continues to be on the run from the devious Decker (Lance LeGault) in this pair of episodes. First up is The Taxicab Wars, which was written by Cannell with an airdate of 1 November, 1983. Once again we find Mr. T in another (D.C.) cab. This time our heroes are on their…
Defiance Set Visit
It’s December and Showcase has conspired to give Sue and I an early Christmas gift. We’ve been invited to the set of one of my favorite shows of the year, Defiance. We’ve been asked to come out, have a look around and chat with some of the cast. (Sadly, we weren’t permitted to take…
Hot Docs 2014: Super Duper Alice Cooper (Reginald Harkema, Scot McFadyen & Sam Dunn)
In case you’ve missed it at it’s two amazing screenings already, this doc-opera screens one last time this morning at 11 at the Bloor Hot Docs Cinema. My first introduction to Alice Copper came early in life, through his appearance on (surprise, surprise) The Muppets. I liked the music I heard, but didn’t get a…
Trailer Tracks: To Live and Die in L.A. (1985) – William Friedkin
This is a movie that I love to revisit, with a wicked soundtrack by Wang Chung, and a gritty yet glossy look at cops (well, agent) and criminals in Los Angeles, specifically William Petersen and Willem Dafoe, this movie rocks in every way. And this trailer still rocks!
The Mind Reels 