Solitary Man
September 2, 2010
Even though it wasn’t a commercial success, Wonder Boys (2000) was Michael Douglas’ best performance since Wall Street (1987). He has tried to recapture the spark of that film by seeking out other quirky yet flawed characters, like with the King of...
3 Silent Classics by Josef von Sternberg: Criterion Collection
August 20, 2010
Vienna-born, New York-raised Josef von Sternberg began his filmmaking career in the silent era and the folks at the Criterion Collection have unearthed three long-unavailable classics: Underworld (1927), The Last Command (1928), and The Docks of New York...
21 Jump Street: The Complete Series
August 11, 2010
If you grew up during the 1980s there’s probably a good chance you watched 21 Jump Street at some point. The popular television show ran for five seasons, from 1987 to 1991, and featured a group of streetwise twentysomething police officers that would...
The Karate Kid Part II (Blu-Ray)
July 22, 2010
The Karate Kid part II follows straight on from where the Karate Kid left off, at least it does after a rather lengthy montage of scenes from the first film designed to get you up to speed on past events. Daniel LaRusso (Ralph Macchio) has just won the...
Black Narcissus: Criterion Collection
July 21, 2010
Black Narcissus (1947) was based on Rumer Godden’s 1934 novel of the same name about her experiences in India. It was made into an uncharacteristically sensual film by Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger and featured an impressive Technicolor look...
The Karate Kid (Blu-Ray)
July 21, 2010
In a decision fuelled in some small part no doubt by the 2010 remake with Jackie Chan and Will Smith’s son Jaden, the original Karate Kid (starring a much older than he looks Ralph Macchio, and an about the right age Pat Morita, gets its first release...
The Red Shoes: Criterion Collection
July 15, 2010
The Red Shoes (1948) is steeped in the rich tradition of backstage musicals but instead of making a comedy – the norm for many musicals – filmmakers Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger opted for a drama. The project actually began in 1934 when producer...
The Only Son/There Was a Father: Two Films by Yasujiro Ozu: Criterion Collection
July 13, 2010
By 1936, Yasujiro Ozu had directed 30 silent films. The Only Son (1936) was his first talkie – a business move on the part of the studio that had wanted the director to stop making silent films for years. Ozu created friction with the studio when he...
Greenberg
July 9, 2010
When I see Ben Stiller starring in brainless comedies like the Meet the Parents and the Night at the Museum films, it just makes me sad because I know he’s capable of so much more. I understand why he does these films. They are paycheck movies that...
Brooklyn’s Finest
July 7, 2010
Brooklyn’s Finest (2009) was seen as a comeback of sorts for Wesley Snipes who had been wandering the wilderness of direct-to-video fare and had not enjoyed a serious theatrical release since Blade: Trinity (2004). Unfortunately, this film wasn’t...
