Movie Recommendations, Rants and Ruminations
The character-driven suspenser The Gift is more than a satisfying thriller – it’s a well-made and surprisingly thoughtful film that I keep mulling over. It’s a filmmaking triumph for writer-director-producer-actor Joel Edgerton, the hunky Australian action star (the Navy Seal leader in Zero Dark Thirty). Simon (Jason Batemen), a take-no-prisoners corporate riser, has moved back … Read more
The character-driven suspenser The Gift is more than a satisfying thriller – it’s a well-made and surprisingly thoughtful film that I keep mulling over. It’s a filmmaking triumph for writer-director-producer-actor Joel Edgerton, the hunky Australian action star (the Navy Seal leader in Zero Dark Thirty). Simon (Jason Batemen), a take-no-prisoners corporate riser, has moved back … Read more
The character-driven The Gift is more than a satisfying suspense thriller – it’s a well-made and surprisingly thoughtful film that I keep mulling over. It’s a filmmaking triumph for writer-director-producer-actor Joel Edgerton, the hunky Australian action star (the Navy Seal leader in Zero Dark Thirty). Simon (Jason Batemen), a take-no-prisoners corporate riser, has moved back … Read more
The character-driven The Gift is more than a satisfying suspense thriller – it’s a well-made and surprisingly thoughtful film that I keep mulling over. It’s a filmmaking triumph for writer-director-producer-actor Joel Edgerton, the hunky Australian action star (the Navy Seal leader in Zero Dark Thirty). Simon (Jason Batemen), a take-no-prisoners corporate riser, has moved back … Read more
Sometimes we just need an unapologetic gene movie, and the Korean action comedy The Roundup: No Way Out is just that. Our burly hero, detective Ma Seok-do (Don Lee), is a loveable lug with a gift for the one-punch knockout. Ma is also the smartest cop on the force and must suffer the fools around … Read more
If we’re going to talk about male cinema stars with overpowering magnetism and studly charisma, we’re going to start with Sean Connery, who has died at age 90. No screen actor has more personally defined a role than did Connery with James Bond. The character of James Bond in Ian Fleming’s source novels is nothing … Read more
In The Artist’s Wife, sixty-something Claire (Lena Olin) is married to a famous, much older, painter Richard (Bruce Dern). You get the idea that Richard has always been a handful, but he is undergoing some disturbing changes. He is increasingly confused and mean, even abusive. Claire is the last to recognize and accept that Richard … Read more
Here’s a great holiday gift suggestion for Silicon Valley movie lovers: membership in the the Camera Cinema Club. I’ve been enjoying the Cinema Camera Club for fourteen years now – and it all started with a gift from The Wife! It’s your chance to see ten as yet unreleased films for $160 per year (and … Read more
I love the character actor Warren Oates for his idiosyncratic performances in the period 1969-74 – and this is Warren Oates Week at The Movie Gourmet. Friday, I’ll write about the upcoming Oatesathon on Monday night, when Turner Classic Movies will be presenting SEVEN Warren Oates movies. And next week’s DVD.Stream of the Week will … Read more
This week on The Movie Gourmet – I’m busy working on unveiling most of my Cinequest coverage on Tuesday; here’s my festival preview: Get ready for the return of Cinequest. CURRENT MOVIES WATCH AT HOME The most eclectic watch-at-home recommendations you’ll find ANYWHERE: ON TV Turner Classic Movies is broadcasting Anatomy of a Murder (1959) on March 2. I … Read more