John Wick: Chapter 4 (2023) – Chad Stahelski

The Wick-verse expands again with John Wick: Chapter 4 in a story that takes us from New York to Japan to Paris, and Keanu Reeves’ Wick is kicking ass all the way. Determined to reach the High Table will require that he return to the fold and be of service. But his target, the Marquis…

John Wick (2014) – Chad Stahelski

I was shocked (and delighted because it meant I could watch them all again) that I hadn’t written about John Wick before. I had written up the second film but for some reason hadn’t done the other three. So that means I could buckle up and dive into this amazing world where assassins thrive, have…

Northern Exposure (1995) – Mi Casa, Su Casa, and Horns

Marilyn (Elaine Miles) comes to visit Joel (Rob Morrow), well not really, so he’s a little bothered by the fact that she didn’t. She’s there for a community event, not to see how Joel is getting by. As they spend time together, Joel finds himself trying to convince her that he’s changed. Mi Casa, Su…

Northern Exposure (1994) – Lovers and Madmen, and Dinner at Seven Thirty

Season five of Northern Exposure closed out on 23 May, 1994 with Lovers and Madmen, which was written by Jeff Melvoin. Joel (Rob Morrow) takes a tumble while golfing, and discovers a thawing mastodon. There could be fame and fortune in his future. But the museum sends out an ornithologist, Pickering (Wayne Pere), and things…

The Peacemaker (1997) – Mimi Leder

It’s easily been a couple of decades since I last watched this techno-thriller with George Clooney and Nicole Kidman. I have to say, in the current geo-political environment, it’s hard to see the Americans as the good guys, working against Russian and Eastern European interests. And it’s sad that I feel that way. A group…

The Paper (1994) – Ron Howard

Ron Howard and Michael Keaton paired up again for The Paper, a break-neck paced film about newspapers and journalism that still gets the adrenaline going while discussing the ethics of what is published. Set in a tabloid newspaper in New York, Howard and frequent producer Brian Grazer bring a script by David and Stephen Koepp…

The Adjustment Bureau (2011) – George Nolfi

Matt Damon and Emily Blunt headline The Adjustment Bureau, which uses the short story The Adjustment Team by Philip K. Dick as it’s launching point. Nolfi not only directed but he wrote the screenplay as well, delivering an entertaining sci-romance. Damon is David Norris, a politician on track to be the next representative from New…

Trigger Mortis (2015) – Anthony Horowitz

Anthony Horowitz takes over the 007 mantle with his novel Trigger Mortis. Using some material written by Ian Fleming, Horowitz sets his novel two weeks after the events of Goldfinger, the book not the film, in 1957. James Bond has returned to the UK, accompanied by Pussy Galore, though that’s not going to turn out…

One Good Cop (1991) – Heywood Gould

Who doesn’t love Michael Keaton? I remember when this one came out, the videocassettes lined the shelves of my video store but I never took it home, though I did like the look of the cover art. Anyway. I finally got around to it, and I quite enjoyed it. Alongside Keaton is Rene Russo, Benjamin…

Go West (1925) – Buster Keaton

Sometimes you just want to revel in the artistry and talent of cinema of yesteryear, so I decided to dig into a Buster Keaton film I hadn’t seen, Go West. It’s charming and Keaton who stars and directs knows how to make the magic work. His character, simply referred to as Friendless in the credits,…