The second novel in the Pendergast series from Douglas Preston and Lincoln Child serves as a direct sequel to 1995’s The Relic. Pendergast, Margo, Frock, D’Agosta and Smithback are all back with the addition of a few new characters including the tough, and very smart Hayward. And while the revelation in the final act…
Tag: new york
Meet Me In St. Louis (1944) – Vincente Minnelli
The next musical for me to watch from the Great movies – 100 Years of Film book for my viewing of The Jazz Singer is this Judy Garland classic, that has a lot of familiar songs that have now become standards. The year is 1904, the World’s Fair is a year off, but it’s…
The Jazz Singer (1927) – Alan Crosland
The first ‘talkie,’ is also the first title in the musical section of the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book. This was the first time I had seen this one, all I’d known of it before was that at some point, Al Jolson as Jack Robin, previously Jakie Rabinowitz, dons blackface to…
Blonde Venus (1932) – Josef von Sternberg
von Sternberg and Marlene Dietrich team-up for another film from the list of titles to watch in the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book following my screening of The Blue Angel. This time around Dietrich plays Helen Faraday, a young woman, who wooed by a man, Ned (Herbert Marshall) on a walking trip…
The Normal Heart (2014) – Ryan Murphy
There’s a complete naturalness to everything Mark Ruffalo does on-screen, and he brings that to the brilliant Emmy-nominated The Normal Heart, available today on Blu-Ray and DVD from HBO. I’ve been a fan of Ruffalo’s for a while, and I simply love how he throws himself completely into each role, and the way he…
Beware the Night (2001) – Ralph Sarchie
Preachy. That’s the only word I can really use to describe this book. I’ve always been fascinated by the darker edges of existence, and have had my own ghostly experiences over the years. After screening the film, Deliver Us From Evil, I decided it might be fun to read the basis for the film…
The Strain Set Visit
Tonight, Gullermo del Toro presents a new vision in terror as the series premiere of The Strain launches a new kind of vampire. Back in March, I was invited to the set to have a look at what goes on behind the scenes and along with some fellow media types (a number of whom…
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…
Annie Hall (1977) – Woody Allen
The final recommendation following Manhattan in the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book is the Academy Award winning Annie Hall. And while even now, I don’t understand how this film beat out Star Wars for best picture, I can admit it was pretty good. Except for the fact that I don’t think Woody…
Trailer Tracks: Black Rain (1989) – Ridley Scott
Ridley Scott, alongside Spielberg, has long been one of my favoite directors, and I loved his work with Michael Douglas, Andy Garcia, Kate Capshaw and Ken Takakura in this crime thriller that moves from New York to Japan. Showcasing the culture clash, the differences in police procedures and justice this one is just a great…
The Mind Reels 