By Alan Hurst It was exactly 70 years ago that television networks in the United States started broadcasting full prime time programming during the week. Television had been around for a while, but it was in the 1948-49 season that things really started to take off with shows like Toast of the Town with Ed…
BY John H. Foote His very image or photograph is instantly recognizable around the globe and immediately associated with cinema even though it has been nearly one hundred years since the time of his greatest popularity. The baggy pants, bowler hat, the cane, the silly little moustache, the oversized shoes that saucy demeanor is instantly…
By Nick Maylor 2003 was a pretty abysmal year for Ben Affleck’s career. He appeared in three films that year, Daredevil, Paycheck, and Gigli (now considered one of the worst movies ever made). The bad press from Gigli was compounded by the overexposure of Ben Affleck’s relationship and subsequent breakup with his co-star, Jennifer Lopez. None of this was…
By Nick Maylor (***1/2) I believe that this film directed by Danny DeVito to be one of the greatest black comedies of all time. Many would disagree. This widely-hated movie holds a special place for me. It was filmed in and around my hometown in Hamilton, Ontario, and Toronto (doubling a New York City). It…
By Alan Hurst For many around my age, Walt Disney’s production of Mary Poppins (1964) represented their first movie-going experience. It was magical in 1964, and again on future viewings during subsequent re-releases in 1973 and 1980. And with the advent of home video, it’s been a staple in many libraries as well (and for…
By John H. Foote Much has been made of the fact Robert Redford stated publicly this is the last film he will act in. Recently he quietly recanted, saying it was a foolish statement to make (agreed). Still a resourceful, interesting actor, I hope he keeps working because I have always felt Redford was a…
By John H. Foote After TIFF ended last year, there was no question Gary Oldman was on the path to the Oscar for Best Actor for his acclaimed performance as Winston Churchill in Darkest Hour (2017). Frankly, I was not impressed with the performance, I could not decide if it was Oldman doing the work…
By Nick Maylor I’m trying to focus here on films that have not started production and are still in the early stages. I also am avoiding films that are merely rumoured, as the following entries all appear to be confirmed to be going ahead. There’s cool stuff coming, folks. Here they are (in no particular…
By Nick Maylor There are many examples of comedic actors giving great dramatic performances. People like Steve Carrell, Bill Murray, Jonah Hill and even Jim Carrey have successfully taken their fame as comedic stars and turned only to give strong performances in dramatic fare. Here, I am focusing on the opposite; actors primarily known for…
By John H. Foote (***) This romantic fantasy is being celebrated as the first major film to deal with Asians to be released into the mainstream. OK, fair enough, but lets be clear about something, there is nothing remotely realistic about the film, it is a fairy tale committed to its audience having a good…