Lincoln (2012) – Steven Spielberg

Daniel Day-Lewis takes the titular role in Spielberg’s masterful film about the iconic president and his struggle to pass the 13th Amendment in support of his Emancipation Proclamation, even as the Civil War continues to tear the country apart. Filled with themes and ideas that are still sad, and frighteningly relevant, this looks at a…

Jason Bourne (2016) – Paul Greengrass

Director Paul Greengrass got the band back together for the fourth Bourne sequel, bringing Matt Damon’s turn at Robert Ludlum’s iconic character another shot at the big screen. And while there’s some cool ideas at work in the story, when the plot makes it ‘personal’ for Bourne to get him involved in the narrative, the…

Natural Born Killers (1994) – Oliver Stone

When you combine a story by Quentin Tarantino and the directorial style of Oliver Stone, you know you are going to get something unique to filmmaking, and Natural Born Killers is very much that. It is also the title on the What Else to Watch list from DK Books’ The Movie Book following their recommendation…

JFK (1991) – Oliver Stone

The final film in the What Else to Watch list of DK Canada’s The Movie Book, following my viewing of Battleship Potemkin is Oliver Stone’s three hour historical, and dramatic exploration of the Kennedy assassination in 1963. The film follows Jim Garrison’s (Kevin Costner) real-life investigation into the case, perhaps compiling the most comprehensive look…

Men in Black II (2002) -Barry Sonnenfeld

Jay (Will Smith) is back as I check in with the Men in Black for this sequel as I continue my time with the Sci-Fi Chronicles. When Earth is menaced by Serleena (Lara Flynn Boyle) Jay has to pull Kay (Tommy Lee Jones) out of retirement, even though he has no memory of his work…

Black Moon Rising (1986) – Harley Cokeliss

My time with John Carpenter continues as I delve further into the Sci-Fi Chronicles book. This time around it’s an action thriller that Carpenter penned and sees Tommy Lee Jones, Linda Hamilton and Robert Vaughn caught up in the action. Jones is Quint, a professional thief, who is hired by the FBI to gather evidence…

No Country For Old Men (2007) – Joel & Ethan Coen

  The last recommendation for my viewing of Night of the Hunter for the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book is this crime thriller from the Coen Brothers. The story follows a trio of characters, and two million dollars. When Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin) comes across the fallout of a drug deal gone…

Batman Forever (1995) – Joel Schumacher

  As I continue my time with the Dark Knight via the Sci-Fi Chronicles book, I think it was after Batman Returns that someone at Warner Brothers wanted to get away from the darker, more adult ideas Tim Burton’s films were starting to introduce and perhaps push the series in a more ‘family-friendly’ way. Enter…

Men In Black 3 (2012) – Barry Sonnenfeld

For a film based on a rather dark comic property, these films tend to be light and fun and mindless popcorn entertainment, when they work. The third outing, feels way overdue, but I settled in, finally to take a look at the third installment of the franchise. K (Tommy Lee Jones) is in trouble (and…

Men In Black (1997) – Barry Sonnenfeld

  The cult favorite comic book, created by Lowell Cunningham, hits the mainstream as a popcorn delight in this entry on the 101 Sci-Fi Movies list. Using the conspiracy of the MiB as a launching point, and incorporating all manner of UFO stories, rumors and possible sightings, Barry Sonnenfeld as director guides Will Smith and…