The Package (1989) – Andrew Davis

Gene Hackman, Joanna Cassidy and Tommy Lee Jones headline another Andrew Davis chase movie that counts among its cast, Pam Grier, Kevin Heard, and Dennis Franz. It’s a fairly well-crafted military thriller that seems to have the recurring themes of chases, Chicago and conspiracies running through it. This time out, Gene Hackman plays Master Sergeant…

Pacific Heights (1990) – John Schlesinger

I remember when this one came out. I was very eager to see it, as until this film, and Batman before it, I had only seen Micheal Keaton in comedies. So throwing him in a thriller, as the baddie? How could I not tune in. Melanie Griffith and Matthew Modine portray Patty and Drake a…

Chain Reaction (1996) – Andrew Davis

Following his success with The Fugitive, Andrew Davis tried to tap once again into the conspiracy and chase that rocketed that film to success (not to mention its incredible star power. This time out, with Chain Reaction, he stacks the cast with Keanu Reeves, Morgan Freeman and Rachel Weisz. In fact, Davis pulls out all…

Blown Away (1994) – Stephen Hopkins

Jeff Bridges and Tommy Lee Jones star in a cop thriller about revenge and the past. Set in Boston, Jimmy Dove (Bridges) is verging on retirement from the Bomb Squad following his marriage to Kate (Suzy Amis). Unfortunately, Dove’s past comes calling for him in the form of Ryan Gaerity (Jones) an IRA extremist with…

Hamburger Hill (1987) – John Irvin

It’s been a while since I watched Hamburger Hill. In my teens, a lot of film and television were finally beginning to explore and talk about Vietnam and its effects on the servicemen who were in-country. I was reading books. I remember, vividly reading Robert Mason’s Chickenhawk, as well as the first time I saw…

Dreamcatcher (2003) – Lawrence Kasdan

I don’t know why this one didn’t work so well twenty years ago. Lawrence Kasdan (!) directs from a script he wrote with William Goldman (!), based on a novel by Stephen King (!) , a score by James Newton Howard (!) and a top-notch cast; Damian Lewis, Thomas Jane, Jason Lee, Timothy Olyphant, Morgan…

Northern Exposure (1993) – Duets, and Grosse Pointe, 48230

Ed (Darren E. Burrows) is delighted when his spirit guide, One-Who-Waits (Floyd ‘Red Crow’ Westerman) returns, and reveals that he has finally found Ed’s father! Duets was written by Geoffrey Neigher this episode was first broadcast on 18 January, 1993. One-Who-Waits leads Ed to Pete (Gordon Tootoosis) who works construction and Ed signs up as…

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…

Star Wars: Champions of the Force (1994) – Kevin J. Anderson

This week, I finish off Anderson’s Jedi Academy Trilogy, which I haven’t read since it came out, thirty years ago!! WOW! And yet I remember picking it up on the day of release, I remember throwing on some John Williams, and diving into the story to see how the author wrapped up his tale. Luke…

Batman: Resurrection (2024) – John Jackson Miller

It seems like for many of us, 1989’s Batman directed by Tim Burton, and it’s follow-up, Batman Returns from 1992 really resonated with John Jackson Miller. With Batman: Resurrection, Miller takes us to the intervening years, and explores some of the ideas that nag a lot of viewers about the events of Batman. And to…