William Devane and Tommy Lee Jones star in this slow burn revenge thriller that sees the pair as former P.O.W.s of the Vietnam War finally returning home. Unfortunately, the world isn’t the way Major Charles Rane (Devane) left it. His city welcomes him back, gifting him a giant Cadillac convertible, and a hefty collection of…
Tag: treatment
The Girl with All the Gifts (2016) – Colm McCarthy
I don’t know if there’s a horror sub-genre more flexible and adaptable than the zombie story. It can do straight horror, gore, comedy, romance, tragedy, and can give us social commentary, or just give us a white-knuckle thrill ride. This time out, it’s a pontificiation on humanity, our treatment of others, growth, and nurturing. Mike…
TIFF 2021: The Mad Women’s Ball dir. Melanie Laurent
Poignant and emotionally satisfying, Laurent’s film, The Mad Women’s Ball is a lush period piece that resonates with impactful themes and understated performances. Based on the novel of the same name by Victoria Mas, the film’s narrative follows Eugenie (Lou de Laage), a woman who suffers from visions that may be spiritual visitations. Very much…
TIFF 2021: Attica dir. Stanley Nelson
Taking a look at the five day rebellion, and hostage taking in September of 1971 at Attica prison, Nelson’s documentary is a stark, unflinching look at the prison system, the industry of it, the culture and race clash that is inherent in it, and the larger world as a whole. Filled with interviews from those…
Star Trek: Enterprise (2003) – The Shipment, and Twilight
Captain’s log: date unknown Chris Black and Brent V. Friedman pen this episode of the Xindi arc that first debuted on 29 October, 2003. Archer (Scott Bakula) discovers a mining operation that seems to be compiling resources and components for the Xindi weapon that is being prepared for Earth. He, Reed (Dominc Keating) and Hayes…
Star Trek: The Next Generation (1994) – Genesis, and Journey’s End
Captain’s log: stardate 47653.2 Brannon Braga pens this episode that was directed by Gates McFadden. It first aired on 21 March, 1994. Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart) and Data (Brent Spiner) take a shuttle into an asteroid field to retrieve a torpedo that uses a new (malfunctioning) guidance system. Back on the Enterprise, a medical treatment…
Patton (1970) – Franklin J. Schaffner
George C. Scott’s Oscar winning turn as controversial military commander, General George S. Patton is my next stop as I explore the recommendations from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Movie book following my screening of Saving Private Ryan. Based on a history of Patton as well as Omar Bradley’s (portrayed by Karl Malden…
La Strada (1954) – Federico Fellini
Anthony Quinn and Giulletta Masina star in this Fellini classic that is a recommendation from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book following my screening of Thelma & Louise. A road movie, the film follows Masina as a young, innocent and naive woman, Gelsomina, who can’t think for herself, while Quinn is the…
Star Trek: The Original Series (1966) – Dagger of the Mind and The Corbomite Maneuver
Captain’s Log: Stardate 2712.4 I didn’t understand what the penal colony on Tantalus was exactly when I was child. I understood that it was a prison, but the why and wherefores of the inhabitants escaped me. I do know that Dr. Simon van Gelder (Morgan Woodward) freaked me out – there was a scariness about…
Conquest of the Planet of the Apes (1972) – J. Lee Thompson
The Sci-Fi Chronicles takes me back to the Planet of the Apes series again, as we take on the third sequel, Conquest of the Planet of the Apes. Set in the near future, the far distant year of 1991, the plague spoken of in the last film has struck, wiping out household pets, and…
The Mind Reels 