Five Great Flicks With Togas
In further proof that Hollywood is out of fresh ideas for anything that doesn’t star someone wearing a cape, they’ve decided to do a completely unnecessary remake of the Charlton Heston classic Ben-Hur, coming out on August, 19. But to be fair to the movie executives, there is something especially appealing about films set in […]
Five Flicks For the Olympics
USA! USA! Starting August 5th, the 2016 Summer Olympic Games commence in Rio. Sadly, this year’s athletic spectacles are likely to be overshadowed by the Zika virus that is ravaging Brazilian society at the moment and indeed many competitors might not participate this year for fear of infection. In fact 150 doctors signed a letter […]
Five Films Featuring Fantastic Felines
Recently I wrote an article about movies with canine protagonists. This got me into trouble at home, where I am ruled by two tyrannical rescue kitties who were very displeased about my specie-est attitude. In order to smooth things over, then I’ve decided to give cinematic cats their proper due. That Darn Cat! (1965) Based […]
Green Room – The Music Industry is Killer
“We’re not keeping you here. You’re just staying.” I missed Green Room when it was out in theatres but now that its available online, I have nothing but praise for this brutal, bloody, nail-biter of a film written and directed by Jeremy Saulnier (Blue Ruin, Murder Party). My brother used to say there were two […]
Marked For Life – Some Scars Can Never Be Healed
With a sharp piece of glass he carved her new name on her neck. It said KER. Marked For Life by Swedish author Emelie Schepp is the first novel of a planned suspense trilogy that follows in the footsteps of other authors such as Jo Nesbø (Harry Hole series) and Stieg Larsson (The Girl With […]
Five Films Told From the Point of View of Man’s Best Friend
The Secret Life of Pets, currently playing in theaters, takes as its conceit the answer to the eternal question, what does your cat/dog/iguana do all day when you’re at work? Wiener-Dog coming out shortly chronicles a dachshund’s adventures among the mysterious homo-sapiens it cohabits with. These are just the latest in a series of cinematic […]
Even More Reason to Observe Bastille Day – Pray for Nice
On Thursday, July 14th a terrorist drove a monster truck into crowds celebrating Bastille Day in Nice, France. More than 80 people died. The holiday celebrates the storming of the Bastille which is commonly considered to have kicked off the French Revolution. (Even if only seven prisoners were actually released.) In honor of this historic event, and […]
Five Films About Chocolate
Thursday July 7th is Chocolate Day! In honor of such a tantalizing holiday consider watching one of the following tributes to one of life’s most decadent pleasures; the flower of the cocoa bean. Warning-watching these may bring on sudden cravings. Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971) This musical fantasy directed by Mel Stuart (Four […]