Untold History of the United States

The Untold History of the United States Review

“The West won the world not by the superiority of its ideas or values or religion (to which few members of other civilizations were converted) but rather by its superiority in applying organized violence. Westerners often forget this fact; non-Westerners never do.” – Samuel P. Huntington With this ten part documentary series (now with two additional episodes on the new DVD release) The Untold History of … Continue reading The Untold History of the United States Review

Before Midnight

Before Midnight Review

Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy reprise their roles as the love-struck couple of Jesse and Celine here in this third installment of Richard Linklater’s “Before” series. Before we get into anything else, as expected, Hawke and Delpy continue to have astonishing chemistry together and are both very fine actors who deliver knockout performances here. In the previous two movies, they were still getting to know … Continue reading Before Midnight Review

Before Sunset

Before Sunset Review

Before Sunrise begged the question, would you be willing to alter your entire life around one fateful night’s chance meeting? In that movie two twenty something’s met-cute on a train, wandered the streets of Vienna, and fell in love all the while walking and (endlessly) talking about everything under the sun. This movie asks basically the same question now that these two reconnect ten years … Continue reading Before Sunset Review

Tombstone

Tombstone Review

I don’t know why I’m writing this, everybody should already know this is a fantastic movie…what? There are people that haven’t seen this? You’re kidding…my God, those poor bastards. Ok, for the six people in the universe that haven’t seen this movie, allow me to give a brief summary. Tombstone is the story of legendary lawman Wyatt Earp (Russell) and his brothers (Elliott and Paxton), … Continue reading Tombstone Review

The Third Man

The Third Man Review

As a big fan of classic film noir it is to my utter embarrassment to have to admit to not having until now, finally seen ‘The Third Man’ in its entirety. The final motivating factor that pushed me over the edge was a statement written by my movie reviewing hero, the recently deceased Roger Ebert, when he said that whenever he met someone who had … Continue reading The Third Man Review

King Kong (1933) Review

At its release in 1933, King Kong was quite a spectacle and a true blockbuster. And while it’s been almost 80 years since this film released, it is still quite a spectacle. Prior to watching this for the first time, I had previously seen the 1976 remake starring Jeff Bridges and Jessica Lange and thought it okay. I had also seen, and greatly enjoyed, the … Continue reading King Kong (1933) Review

Citizen Kane

Citizen Kane Review

Citizen Kane is widely considered by many to be the greatest film ever made, and it’s certainly noteworthy for a number of reasons. It was the motion picture debut of Orson Welles, already a noted theater performer. Welles starred in, directed, produced, and co-wrote the movie, and as director he brought a number of innovative techniques to the film. The camera angles he used, the … Continue reading Citizen Kane Review

The Big Lebowski

The Big Lebowski Review

The Big Lebowski is a difficult film for me to review. I have probably spent more time watching this movie than any other movie in existence, but yet, I cannot say that it truly ranks with the all time classics of cinema and maintain my editorial credibility here. From a plot point of view, it’s simply a tangled mess that collapses in on itself many … Continue reading The Big Lebowski Review

Death to Smoochy

Death to Smoochy Review

If you enjoy dark and often obscene comedies, then Death to Smoochy is a must-own movie for you. Robin Williams is at his comedic best as former kid show host, Rainbow Randolph. Rainbow was ousted by Kid Net, after accepting bribes for the show. His replacement is the “squeaky clean”, Sheldon ‘Smoochy’ Mopes (Edward Norton), a fuchsia Rhino who’s catchphrase is “You can’t change the … Continue reading Death to Smoochy Review

Cool Hand Luke

Cool Hand Luke Review

(Review originally written April 2006, contains spoilers) All throughout the fifties, sixties, and seventies cinema’s began filling up with a new kind of movie character. This character was affectionately dubbed ‘the anti hero’. While hero’s of the past were all kind considerate and upstanding citizens who all did their best to uphold the laws of the land and the opinions of movie goers, this new breed of … Continue reading Cool Hand Luke Review

The Hustler

The Hustler Review

(Review originally written in April 2006, contains some spoilers) Eddy Felson is a man filled to capacity with talent, however what he sorely lacks when first we meet his character in the 1961 classic is ‘character’. He first walks into ‘Ames’ pool hall with a cocky grin hoping only to defeat the great pool hustler Minisota Fats (Played wonderfully here by Jackie Gleason). And he … Continue reading The Hustler Review

The Departed

The Departed Review

In the closing scene of Martin Scorsese’s The Departed a rat crawls across a window ledge. This is a rather overt but appropriate piece of symbolism. Since, for the most part, The Departed is a movie about rats. No, not the furry little rodents your grandma used to set traps out for, the other kind of rat, that being the Henry Hill and Donnie Brasco … Continue reading The Departed Review

Goldfinger Review

“Bond: Do you expect me to talk? Goldfinger: No Mr. Bond, I expect you to die!” Hello everyone and welcome to the third entry in my series of reviews covering the James Bond film franchise. Tonight we enter into what many fans and critics alike consider to be the ‘high ground’ of the series overall. If you read my previous entry in this series, you of course know … Continue reading Goldfinger Review