Thoughts on Living the Life Creative
The Manchurian Candidate (1962) - A U.S. soldier captured during the Korean War returns home with a secret mission inside his brainwashed mind. Directed by: John Frankenheimer Starring: Frank Sinatra, Janet Leigh, Laurence Harvey, Angela Lansbury Released at the height of the Cuban Missile Crisis this movie was very controversial in some circles. Before the... Continue Reading →
Time for my annual list of favorite Christmas media. Hasn't changed much over the years. It's Christmas. Make of it what you will. Maybe it’s a high holy day for you. Maybe it’s really about Santa and the swag under the tree. Maybe it’s just something to be survived. Go for it. I intend to... Continue Reading →
My focus for reviews is on movies that are at least ten years old. At the same time I watch a fair number of more recent movies and I just want to share thumbnail reviews. John Wick (2014) - Bad guys stole John Wick's car and killed his puppy. So he kills them all. Seriously,... Continue Reading →
Wings (1927) - Two young men, in love with the same woman, become fighter pilots during World War I. Directed by William Wellman Starring - Clara Bow, Charles "Buddy" Rogers, Richard Arlen and Gary Cooper This is a landmark silent movie. "Wings" won the Best Picture Oscar at the very first Academy Awards. "The Jazz... Continue Reading →
Fascinating article over at io9, "50 Brilliant Science Fiction Movies that Everyone Should See At Least Once". My quick count says I've seen 33 of them. The itself isn't particularly surprising. It ranges from Fritz Lang's 1927 "Metropolis" to 2015's "The Martian". "Frankenstein", "Star Wars", "2001", "Dr. Stranglove", "Back to the Future", there are plenty... Continue Reading →
Seven Samurai (1954) - A small farming village is threatened by repeated bandit attacks. They decide to hire samurai warriors to defeat the bandits once and for all. Directed by Akira Kurosawa Starring - Toshiro Mifune, Takashi Shimura Generally acknowledged as one of, if not the, greatest Japanese film of all time. Most American audiences... Continue Reading →
Alfie (1966) - A Cockney playboy plays the field without remorse until he is finally confronted with some of the consequences of his lifestyle. Directed by:Lewis Gilbert Starring: Michael Caine, Shelly Winters, Vivian Merchant, Jane Asher, Denholm Elliot This movie presents an interesting dilemma. Alfie Elkins is a fairly nasty piece of work. He treats... Continue Reading →
Inglorious Basterds (2009) - A secret American unit is parachuted into occupied France during World War II to kill Nazis and spread terror. Their plan to kill German leadership coincides with a movie theater's owner's plan to get revenge for her family. Written and directed by Quentin Tarantino. Starring Brad Pitt, Micheal Fassbender, Christoph Waltz,... Continue Reading →
The Last Picture Show (1971) - a coming of age story set in a small, north Texas town in the early 1950's. Two best friends, Bobby and Sonny (Timothy Bottoms and Jeff Bridges), will try to find a future in the bleak, dying community they call home. Meanwhile Jacy, the prettiest girl in town (Cybill... Continue Reading →
The Apartment (1960) - An insurance accountant hoping to make his way up the ladder of success allows senior managers to use his apartment for their "romantic" meetings. When he falls for his boss's latest girl things go sideways very quickly. Directed by Billy Wilder Starring - Jack Lemon, Shirley MacLaine, Fred MacMurray, Ray Walston... Continue Reading →
