A personal journal of film and documentary reviews, and reviews of anything else that intrigues me.
Reviews of films made in Canada and United States including all films made by Hollywood.
Francis Ford Coppola, “Apocalypse Now (Redux)” (2001) The actual plot is very basic: sometime during the Vietnam War – a newspaper clipping on Charles Manson’s trial…
Multi-media Presentations, North American Films
Ray Younis, “On Meaning and Purpose: ‘Blade Runner’ Frame by Frame” (The University of Sydney / Centre for Continuing Education, Saturday 8 February 2014) Not often…
British Films, North American Films
Steve McQueen, “12 Years a Slave” (2013) British director Steve McQueen’s third film “12 Years a Slave” is a harrowing study of the institution of slavery…
Martin Scorsese, “The Wolf of Wall Street” (2013) Adapted from the 2007 memoir by the former convicted stockbroker swindler and current motivational speaker Jordan R Belfort,…
Ethan and Joel Coen, “Inside Llewyn Davis” (2013) Inspired by and based loosely on the life of Dave van Ronk, “Inside Llewyn Davis” follows a week…
North American Films, Northern European Films
Lars von Trier, “Dancer in the Dark” (2000) Lars von Trier’s one attempt at making a tractor musical is the third and final installment in a…
Stanley Kubrick “2001: A Space Odyssey” (1968) One of the great crowning glories of 20th century cinema, Stanley Kubrick’s “2001: A Space Odyssey” deserves its reputation…
Gabriela Cowperthwaite, “Blackfish” (2013) It’s as much advocacy journalism as documentary and makes no apologies for aiming at the heart as much as the brain: “Blackfish”…
Eastern European Films, North American Films
Joshua Marston, “The Forgiveness of Blood / Falja e Gjakut” (2010) Hard to believe that even in Europe there are societies where the very new and…
Brazilian Films, North American Films
Hector Babenco, “Kiss of the Spider Woman” (1985) I had read the Manuel Puig novel of the same name many years ago and found it an…