Dick Powell doesn’t quite have the narration patter down of a hard-boiled private investigator, especially not for the one he’s playing, Philip Marlowe, still, this is a great little film-noir bringing another incarnation of Raymond Chandler’s iconic character to the silver screen. And he handles the actual dialogue with his co-stars well, it’s just the…
Tag: truth
Rebel Without a Cause (1955) – Nicholas Ray
The next film that I dove into for DK Canada’s The Movie Book is the James Dean classic, Rebel Without a Cause, from 1955. Dean is brilliantly vulnerable as the teen Jim Stark, who is growing up in a troubled home, clashing with his parents, Frank (Jim Backus) and Carol (Ann Doran), and also dealing…
Doctor Who (Peter Capaldi) – The Lie of the Land, and Empress of Mars
The conclusion to the Monk Trilogy is our first episode this week. Written by Toby Whithouse, the episode first aired on 3 June, 2017. The Monks have changed history, having assumed control of Earth when power of consent was given by Bill (Pearl Mackie) at the conclusion of last week’s episode, when she had them…
Doctor Who (Peter Capaldi) – Knock Knock, and Oxygen
Mike Bartlett pens this episode, Knock Knock, that first debuted on 6 May, 2017. The Doctor (Capaldi) gets pulled into investigating Bill’s (Pearl Mackie) new, rather expansive, and cheap new house, she shares with six others. The house is overseen by a creepy old Landlord (David Suchet), and the house, while beautiful isn’t without its…
Star Trek: The Next Generation (1993) – Descent Part II, and Liaisons
Captain’s log: stardate 47025.4 Rene Echevarria pens the final season’s opener that first aired on 20 September, 1993. Brent Spiner pulls double duty as both Data and Lore, as Captain Picard (Patrick Stewart), Geordi (LeVar Burton) and Troi (Marina Sirtis) try to escape from the Brothers Soong who have assumed control of a cadre of…
Rashomon (1950) – Akira Kurosawa
The next big title in DK Canada’s The Movie Book is the Kurosawa classic Rashomon. Serving as a commentary on the nature of man, the film tells a story of murder, rape, and truths. Set against the backdrop of a gutted out and tumble down temple, a trio of characters come together to ruminate a…
Sophie’s Choice (1982) – Alan J. Pakula
The recommendations from the Great Movies – 100 Years of Film for my screening of Schindler’s List are all powerful and exceptional films, and the first one featured some truly stunning performances. Adapted from the novel by William Styron, Pakula adapted and directed this moving and stunning film that sees Meryl Streep, in an Oscar…
Star Trek: The Next Generation (1993) – Rightful Heir, and Second Chances
Captain’s log: stardate 46852.2 Ronald D. Moore pens this Worf (Michael Dorn) episode from a story by James E. Brooks that first aired on 17 May, 1993. Worf, after a dereliction of duty, takes some leave to put his affairs in order. He is still dealing with the repercussions of the events in the Birthright…
Star Trek: The Next Generation (1992) – Schisms, and True Q
Captain’s log: stardate 46154.2 Airing on 19 October, 1992, this one has always been a favourite, and is a bit creepy. Written by Brannon Braga from a story by Jean Louise Matthias and Ronald Wilkerson. Riker (Jonathan Frakes) is suffering from insomnia, but he soon learns he is not the only one, and the crew…
Fake Blood (2017) – Rob Grant
Whether Canadian film-makers Rob Grant and Mike Kovac movie is fact or fiction isn’t the point of their latest cinematic effort. What is important is the film’s subject matter, and the commentary it makes on film, violence in cinema and the responsibility of the film-makers. Opening Friday at the Carlton here in Toronto, Fake Blood,…
The Mind Reels 