The Rockford Files (1978) – Black Mirror

  This two-parter aired 24 November, 1978 and was written by David Chase. As it was later split into two episodes, there are two separate phone gags. The first is a friend calling from London trying to figure out what his arrival time is, with time changes and flight times. The second one is the…

The Lost Weekend (1945) – Billy Wilder

  Ray Milland and Jane Wyman star in this first recommendation from Great Movies – 100 Years of Film following my viewing of On The Waterfront. And wow… $10 went a long way back in 1945! This one took Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, and Milland too Best Actor at the Oscars that year,…

Magnum, P.I. (1981) – The Woman on the Beach & From Moscow to Maui

  Rick’s (Larry Manetti) broken heart ends up setting Thomas (Tom Selleck) on a ghost hunt in the first episode in this week’s double episode. The Woman on the Beach originally screened 22 October, 1981, it was written by Andrew Schneider and directed by Bellisario. When a girl doesn’t show up for a date with…

Happiness (1998) – Todd Solondz

  Another odd recommendation from Great Movies – 100 Years of Film, for my screening of Pulp Fiction. A trio of sisters lives interweave with a number of other characters, all of whom are seeking happiness, but are all looking for it in really dark and troubling places. Joy (Jane Adams) is a struggling songwriter,…

Manhattan (1979) – Woody Allen

The Great Movies – 100 Years of Film book’s next title and recommendations are a series of Woody Allen films, which should be interesting, because I’ve never been a huge fan. The main title of the section is Manhattan, and I’m a little divided on it. Backed with some beautiful Gershwin tunes, and shot in…

Hot Docs 2014: Kung Fu Elliot (Matthew Bauckman & Jaret Belliveau)

Screening for the final time toady at the Scotiabank Theatre at 9:30 is this highly entertaining, often funny, film about no-budget movies, bad acting, ‘good’ kung fu, and lies. In Moncton, New Brunswick, we are introduced to Elliot Scott and his girlfriend Linda. Elliot’s only desire is to be Canada’s kung fu star, like his heroes…

Sinister (2012) – Scott Derrickson

  Alright, it took me a while to get around to seeing this one. I didn’t love it, but I certainly didn’t hate it. In a bit of a dick move, true crime writer Ellison Oswalt (Ethan Hawke), moves his family into a house that was the crime scene of the current book he’s working…