Blue Steel (1990) – Kathryn Bigelow

The fantastic Kathryn Bigelow directs Jamie Lee Curtis in this crisp, occasionally brutal thriller. Megan Turner (Curits) is a rookie cop, who on her first day on the job shoots and kills an armed thief (Tom Sizemore) in a supermarket showdown. When the thief’s weapon isn’t found at the scene, Turner finds herself suspended, and…

Watcher (2022) – Chloe Okuno

Mike Flanagan recommended Watcher in a post on Twitter, and seeing as how much I enjoy his work, I knew I had to take a look at it. Watcher is an unnerving horror film, and a terrifying look at reality, the lead character, Julia (Maika Monroe) is constantly right about everything that happens, but because…

Hill Street Blues (1986) – Larry of Arabia, and Iced Coffey

Furillo (Daniel J. Travanti) is convalescing at home but is eager to get back to the precinct in Larry of Arabia. Written by Jeffrey Lewis, David Milch, Jacob Epstein, and John William See from a story by Lewis, Milch and Jerry Patrick Brown. It first aired on 27 February, 1986. Bobby Hill (Michael Warren) has…

TIFF ’23: Riddle of Fire

I started my TIFF experience this year with a title that will be featured at this year’s Midnight Madness, the popular venue that explores unique genre titles. Riddle of Fire definitely falls into that category, in conversations with other critics I ended up describing this film in the following manner: it was as if someone…

Hill Street Blues (1981) – Choice Cut, and Up in Arms

Seven episodes in writer Lee David Zlotoff brings us full circle with Choice Cut. First airing on 14 February, 1981, the episode sees Frank Furillo (Daniel J. Travanti) dealing with a hostage situation in a supermarket, not entirely dissimilar from what happened in the first episode. In fact, it’s the same hostage takers! They went…

La Femme Nikita (1990) – Luc Besson

Luc Besson has made some excellent films in his time, and this entry on the 101 Action Movies list could be argued as his best. Anne Parillaud stars as Nikita, we first meet her as a drugged out, worn down, punk, who gets busted after killing a cop in a pharmacy robbery that goes wrong. Believing she is being…