 |
 | Cape Fear |
 | "Good triumphs over evil" | 2007-11-11 |
Cape Fear is a gripping thriller that builds to a terrifying climax. The feeling of palpable fear is introduced from the outset and builds to a gripping ending. A man and his family live in fear of a loser bent on revenge. It seems nothing will stop this personification of evil. He is cold and calculating and determined. There seems to be no way out of tragedy at every turn. Innocence is like blood in the water. There is little hope until the end when the stalker slips up and allows his prey to defend himself and his family. A top-notch thriller.
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 | Cape Fear |
| "Good triumphs over evil" | 2007-11-11 |
Cape Fear is a gripping thriller that builds to a terrifying climax. The feeling of palpable fear is introduced from the outset and builds to a gripping ending. A man and his family live in fear of a loser bent on revenge. It seems nothing will stop this personification of evil. He is cold and calculating and determined. There seems to be no way out of tragedy at every turn. Innocence is like blood in the water. There is little hope until the end when the stalker slips up and allows his prey to defend himself and his family. A top-notch thriller.
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 | They Shoot Horses, Don't They? |
| "Feet don't fail me now" | 2007-11-11 |
The dance marathon reaches the absurd. In a compelling production the absurd is explored from every angle. The characters in a faceless marathon are fleshed out. Its dog eat dog as the hours pass by and the contestants reach mental and physical exhaustion. Its finally revealed that the whole thing stinks and the only thing left is to kill oneself with the help of a willing acquaintance. The human mind is examined with a jaundiced eye and the lengths you can go to take advantage of an ordinary human being.
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 | They Shoot Horses, Don't They? |
| "Feet don't fail me now" | 2007-11-11 |
The dance marathon reaches the absurd. In a compelling production the absurd is explored from every angle. The characters in a faceless marathon are fleshed out. Its dog eat dog as the hours pass by and the contestants reach mental and physical exhaustion. Its finally revealed that the whole thing stinks and the only thing left is to kill oneself with the help of a willing acquaintance. The human mind is examined with a jaundiced eye and the lengths you can go to take advantage of an ordinary human being.
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 | They Shoot Horses, Don't They? |
| "Feet don't fail me now" | 2007-11-11 |
The dance marathon reaches the absurd. In a compelling production the absurd is explored from every angle. The characters in a faceless marathon are fleshed out. Its dog eat dog as the hours pass by and the contestants reach mental and physical exhaustion. Its finally revealed that the whole thing stinks and the only thing left is to kill oneself with the help of a willing acquaintance. The human mind is examined with a jaundiced eye and the lengths you can go to take advantage of an ordinary human being.
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 | They Shoot Horses, Don't They |
| "Feet don't fail me now" | 2007-11-11 |
The dance marathon reaches the absurd. In a compelling production the absurd is explored from every angle. The characters in a faceless marathon are fleshed out. Its dog eat dog as the hours pass by and the contestants reach mental and physical exhaustion. Its finally revealed that the whole thing stinks and the only thing left is to kill oneself with the help of a willing acquaintance. The human mind is examined with a jaundiced eye and the lengths you can go to take advantage of an ordinary human being.
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 | They Shoot Horses, Don't They |
| "Feet don't fail me now" | 2007-11-11 |
The dance marathon reaches the absurd. In a compelling production the absurd is explored from every angle. The characters in a faceless marathon are fleshed out. Its dog eat dog as the hours pass by and the contestants reach mental and physical exhaustion. Its finally revealed that the whole thing stinks and the only thing left is to kill oneself with the help of a willing acquaintance. The human mind is examined with a jaundiced eye and the lengths you can go to take advantage of an ordinary human being.
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 | Brando 3-Pack (On the Waterfront / The Wild One / The Freshman) |
 | "Varied spectrum of Marlon Brando" | 2007-11-10 |
From classic Brando to studied Brando this collection runs the gamut. In On The Waterfront it is him against the mob. In an unlikely turn of events he comes out of it bloodied but standing and the docks turn their backs on their benefactors. The culture of corruption and silent desperation is broken and every one gets down to work. In the Wild One he plays a roughneck gang leader who sneers his way through a small town and the whole picture. He respects nothing,but still isn't satisfied. After a showdown he moves on but leaves behind something to remember him by. In The Freshman he spoofs his role as a mafia head and toys with the head of a young college student. A gila monster plays a major role in the high jinks as it terrorizes wherever it goes. It all seems real until the end when the truth is revealed and it was all one big joke. Brando plays his role deftly and with an understated sense of humor. For the price the collection is well worth it.
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 | Von Ryan's Express |
| "Heroes die hard" | 2007-09-16 |
Von Ryan's Express is a compelling drama featuring the heroism and bravery of a motley crew of prisoners. Not short on bravery Frank Sinatra and his men do their best to wreek havoc on the German war effort and get their freedom as well. The action never stops and hopes remain high until the end when the main hero loses his life. It is a reminder that many gave their lives in a noble effort to win the peace and preserve a way of life. War is not a noble profession, but sometimes men can rise above with a little resolve and dignity. The greatest generation of all time is represented well here. One can only hope that lessons were learned in this war. Some choose to forget them, but I never will. I cherish my freedom and never forget those who died so I could live in peace.
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 | Von Ryan's Express |
| "Heroes die hard" | 2007-09-16 |
Von Ryan's Express is a compelling drama featuring the heroism and bravery of a motley crew of prisoners. Not short on bravery Frank Sinatra and his men do their best to wreek havoc on the German war effort and get their freedom as well. The action never stops and hopes remain high until the end when the main hero loses his life. It is a reminder that many gave their lives in a noble effort to win the peace and preserve a way of life. War is not a noble profession, but sometimes men can rise above with a little resolve and dignity. The greatest generation of all time is represented well here. One can only hope that lessons were learned in this war. Some choose to forget them, but I never will. I cherish my freedom and never forget those who died so I could live in peace.
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 | Von Ryan's Express |
| "Heroes die hard" | 2007-09-16 |
Von Ryan's Express is a compelling drama featuring the heroism and bravery of a motley crew of prisoners. Not short on bravery Frank Sinatra and his men do their best to wreek havoc on the German war effort and get their freedom as well. The action never stops and hopes remain high until the end when the main hero loses his life. It is a reminder that many gave their lives in a noble effort to win the peace and preserve a way of life. War is not a noble profession, but sometimes men can rise above with a little resolve and dignity. The greatest generation of all time is represented well here. One can only hope that lessons were learned in this war. Some choose to forget them, but I never will. I cherish my freedom and never forget those who died so I could live in peace.
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 | The Counterfeit Traitor |
| "Spy games" | 2007-08-23 |
The counterfeit traitor is a smart tale of espionage and intrigue. A man, William Holden is blackmailed into becoming a spy instead of a neutral businessman. Negotiating a minefield of danger he succeeds in deceiving the Germans and greatly aiding the allied war effort. It takes a smooth actor to carry out a difficult assignment in making the hard to believe very real and believable. For a war movie it has very little violence and also makes war seem like a civil disagreement. It is thoughtful and engrossing and comes to a satisfying conclusion. It is a morality play about the scuples of warfare military and civilian.
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 | The Cardinal |
| "Morality wins the day" | 2007-05-30 |
The Cardinal is a gripping portrait of a young man's rise from priest to cardinal overcoming obstacles of faith and politics. Always a rising star the young religious scholar has to face tough choices that test his faith. It is his decision to remain faithful to his vows even at the expense of his pregnant sister and his own personal demons. Despite politics of the Vatican he acheives the ultimate reward for his convictions. He avoids the hypocrisy of the church in matters of belief. He brings honor and honesty to a position that sometimes lowers itself to the least common denominator of expediency. It is a redeeming experience even for those with questionable belief in the church.
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 | Network |
| "You don't have to take it anymore" | 2007-05-30 |
Network is a cynical but totally beleivable portrait of network television in the modern age. Suits and not journalists run network news like it is entertainment. Ratings points are fool's gold. Thoughtless climbers stop at nothing for promotion and reward. Dirty laundry lurks underneath that eventually forces the entertainment gurus to kill the messenger. This film makes the events that unfold beleivable and eerie. Turn on your television and you can't be sure anymore what is truth and what is manufactured reality. It's hard not to be cynical after viewing Network,which sends a shiver down your spine every time you think about what you see and hear today. Sometimes it seems like celebrity foibles are headline news and in depth reporting of issues is shunted off to public television. It is no surprise that the powers that be have little use for network news beyond sound bites. The soft underbelly of the news is revealing in stark reality in this film. It is a sad commentary on the state of news gathering and packaging. But you can always watch public television and still get the news and if you need a tabloid fix the network news will still be there. Only when people say they have had enough will network executives consider a change in programming. I for one have had enough.
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 | The Cardinal |
| "Morality wins the day" | 2007-05-30 |
The Cardinal is a gripping portrait of a young man's rise from priest to cardinal overcoming obstacles of faith and politics. Always a rising star the young religious scholar has to face tough choices that test his faith. It is his decision to remain faithful to his vows even at the expense of his pregnant sister and his own personal demons. Despite politics of the Vatican he acheives the ultimate reward for his convictions. He avoids the hypocrisy of the church in matters of belief. He brings honor and honesty to a position that sometimes lowers itself to the least common denominator of expediency. It is a redeeming experience even for those with questionable belief in the church.
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 | Network |
| "You don't have to take it anymore" | 2007-05-30 |
Network is a cynical but totally beleivable portrait of network television in the modern age. Suits and not journalists run network news like it is entertainment. Ratings points are fool's gold. Thoughtless climbers stop at nothing for promotion and reward. Dirty laundry lurks underneath that eventually forces the entertainment gurus to kill the messenger. This film makes the events that unfold beleivable and eerie. Turn on your television and you can't be sure anymore what is truth and what is manufactured reality. It's hard not to be cynical after viewing Network,which sends a shiver down your spine every time you think about what you see and hear today. Sometimes it seems like celebrity foibles are headline news and in depth reporting of issues is shunted off to public television. It is no surprise that the powers that be have little use for network news beyond sound bites. The soft underbelly of the news is revealing in stark reality in this film. It is a sad commentary on the state of news gathering and packaging. But you can always watch public television and still get the news and if you need a tabloid fix the network news will still be there. Only when people say they have had enough will network executives consider a change in programming. I for one have had enough.
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 | Network |
| "You don't have to take it anymore" | 2007-05-30 |
Network is a cynical but totally beleivable portrait of network television in the modern age. Suits and not journalists run network news like it is entertainment. Ratings points are fool's gold. Thoughtless climbers stop at nothing for promotion and reward. Dirty laundry lurks underneath that eventually forces the entertainment gurus to kill the messenger. This film makes the events that unfold beleivable and eerie. Turn on your television and you can't be sure anymore what is truth and what is manufactured reality. It's hard not to be cynical after viewing Network,which sends a shiver down your spine every time you think about what you see and hear today. Sometimes it seems like celebrity foibles are headline news and in depth reporting of issues is shunted off to public television. It is no surprise that the powers that be have little use for network news beyond sound bites. The soft underbelly of the news is revealing in stark reality in this film. It is a sad commentary on the state of news gathering and packaging. But you can always watch public television and still get the news and if you need a tabloid fix the network news will still be there. Only when people say they have had enough will network executives consider a change in programming. I for one have had enough.
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 | Lorenzo's Oil |
| "Black gold" | 2007-02-25 |
Lorenzo's oil is a treasure of emotion and fearless acting. It took a lot of commitment and emotion to pull off this tour de force. The story is heartwrenching and relentless and the cast never flinches. It can make a heart of stone bleed and care deeply. This is a public service as well as first rate entertainment. Lorenzo's oil is a tribute to the human spirit. There has never been a challenge as daunting as finding a cure to Lorenzo's illness. The final chapter hasn't been written in the saga but the family went a long way to move mountains and almost accomplish the impossible. It is hard to fathom the heartache suffered for the family afflicted with a cruel disease. The courage to face it head on is a tribute to the human spirit. In the end it gives us hope for Lorenzo and others like him as well as others afflicted with other cruel diseases. Life can be cruel but in the end love can conquer all. This film proves that beyond a doubt.
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 | Live Three Ways |
| "Proves a point" | 2007-02-25 |
John Scofield deliberately chooses to play in every possible situation to earn his title as virtuoso. He can carry any band and at the same time share the spotlight. He earned his wings with Miles Davis and shows that genuis was not lost on him. Now he is a player in his own right and this presentation solidifies his place in guitar history. He is comfortable in any style and is a student of his instrument. I'm sure he never stops learning and continues to hone his craft. This is a must for any guitar fan and will diversify any collection.
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 | The Great Escape |
| "Heroes abound" | 2007-01-14 |
The Great Escape portrays the heroism of prisoners never giving into their captors and the pompous honor of Nazi Germany. The group becomes a monkey wrench at all turns determined to send their adversary to the Russian front. My only complaint is that it is shown in letterbox format which saps some of the power of the story. Wasn't this picture worth a full screen format? But this is probably par for the epics of that era. The stars had to carry the load and be bigger in life even though you are peeking through a window. Steve McQueen was a man of epic tales and this one does not fail to deliver. Even doomed to failure he never gives up. Resist with every last breath was the motto of the prisoners. Guile and guts served them well and in the end Germany was defeated even if only in small part by the escapades of the escapees. Grit abounds through the fiber of every man sworn to serve the Allied forces. We owe these men a debt we can never repay, but always respect. It takes courage to put your own well being second behind the cause. Unfortunately we have seldom triumphed in glory since that time. This war made sense while successors seemed steeped in politics. Something a normal person has a hard time understanding. Let's just hope that global war was put to rest with this one. We can look back on the Great Escape with admiration and gratitude. But we can never repay what was sacrificed by these men.
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 | The Stunt Man (Limited Edition) |
| "Cult Classic" | 2007-01-14 |
The Stunt Man features Peter O'toole as a megalomaniac director exploiting an unsavory character portrayed by Steve Railsback. You get a glimpse of the art of stunts and the director's callous attitude towards stuntmen. The director is the star of a war epic that has little to do with reality. His skewered vision of war and his approach towards directing his epic go leaps and bounds beyond reality. This film has a fine cast of characters that give some gravitas towards the story. It is a thoroughly enjoyable romp as criminal turns into a vehicle for cinema. The director and stuntman can't agree on who is the star of this picture. The tension is palpable as the stuntman faces increasing danger. In the end they live to see another day.
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 | Annie Hall |
| "Comedic Tour de Force" | 2007-01-14 |
Annie Hall finds Woody Allen in top form in probably his finest turn as writer and director. It is a parallel of the real relationship between Diane Keaton and himself. Laughs abound as the topsy turvy relationship finally crash lands to a fitting conclusion. It is real humor out of everyday situations we all find ourselves in. It is New York art with the alkaline squeezed out of the sponge. The wide aclaim for this film is richly deserved. If you want to laugh out loud and not look around subconsciously to see if you are a party of one this is the film for you. This is worth several viewings to unearth different revelations each time. Certainly for me it was worth the price.
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 | The Great Escape |
| "Heroes abound" | 2007-01-14 |
The Great Escape portrays the heroism of prisoners never giving into their captors and the pompous honor of Nazi Germany. The group becomes a monkey wrench at all turns determined to send their adversary to the Russian front. My only complaint is that it is shown in letterbox format which saps some of the power of the story. Wasn't this picture worth a full screen format? But this is probably par for the epics of that era. The stars had to carry the load and be bigger in life even though you are peeking through a window. Steve McQueen was a man of epic tales and this one does not fail to deliver. Even doomed to failure he never gives up. Resist with every last breath was the motto of the prisoners. Guile and guts served them well and in the end Germany was defeated even if only in small part by the escapades of the escapees. Grit abounds through the fiber of every man sworn to serve the Allied forces. We owe these men a debt we can never repay, but always respect. It takes courage to put your own well being second behind the cause. Unfortunately we have seldom triumphed in glory since that time. This war made sense while successors seemed steeped in politics. Something a normal person has a hard time understanding. Let's just hope that global war was put to rest with this one. We can look back on the Great Escape with admiration and gratitude. But we can never repay what was sacrificed by these men.
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 | The Stunt Man |
| "Cult Classic" | 2007-01-14 |
The Stunt Man features Peter O'toole as a megalomaniac director exploiting an unsavory character portrayed by Steve Railsback. You get a glimpse of the art of stunts and the director's callous attitude towards stuntmen. The director is the star of a war epic that has little to do with reality. His skewered vision of war and his approach towards directing his epic go leaps and bounds beyond reality. This film has a fine cast of characters that give some gravitas towards the story. It is a thoroughly enjoyable romp as criminal turns into a vehicle for cinema. The director and stuntman can't agree on who is the star of this picture. The tension is palpable as the stuntman faces increasing danger. In the end they live to see another day.
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 | The Great Escape |
| "Heroes abound" | 2007-01-14 |
The Great Escape portrays the heroism of prisoners never giving into their captors and the pompous honor of Nazi Germany. The group becomes a monkey wrench at all turns determined to send their adversary to the Russian front. My only complaint is that it is shown in letterbox format which saps some of the power of the story. Wasn't this picture worth a full screen format? But this is probably par for the epics of that era. The stars had to carry the load and be bigger in life even though you are peeking through a window. Steve McQueen was a man of epic tales and this one does not fail to deliver. Even doomed to failure he never gives up. Resist with every last breath was the motto of the prisoners. Guile and guts served them well and in the end Germany was defeated even if only in small part by the escapades of the escapees. Grit abounds through the fiber of every man sworn to serve the Allied forces. We owe these men a debt we can never repay, but always respect. It takes courage to put your own well being second behind the cause. Unfortunately we have seldom triumphed in glory since that time. This war made sense while successors seemed steeped in politics. Something a normal person has a hard time understanding. Let's just hope that global war was put to rest with this one. We can look back on the Great Escape with admiration and gratitude. But we can never repay what was sacrificed by these men.
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 | The Stunt Man |
| "Cult Classic" | 2007-01-14 |
The Stunt Man features Peter O'toole as a megalomaniac director exploiting an unsavory character portrayed by Steve Railsback. You get a glimpse of the art of stunts and the director's callous attitude towards stuntmen. The director is the star of a war epic that has little to do with reality. His skewered vision of war and his approach towards directing his epic go leaps and bounds beyond reality. This film has a fine cast of characters that give some gravitas towards the story. It is a thoroughly enjoyable romp as criminal turns into a vehicle for cinema. The director and stuntman can't agree on who is the star of this picture. The tension is palpable as the stuntman faces increasing danger. In the end they live to see another day.
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 | The Stunt Man |
| "Cult Classic" | 2007-01-14 |
The Stunt Man features Peter O'toole as a megalomaniac director exploiting an unsavory character portrayed by Steve Railsback. You get a glimpse of the art of stunts and the director's callous attitude towards stuntmen. The director is the star of a war epic that has little to do with reality. His skewered vision of war and his approach towards directing his epic go leaps and bounds beyond reality. This film has a fine cast of characters that give some gravitas towards the story. It is a thoroughly enjoyable romp as criminal turns into a vehicle for cinema. The director and stuntman can't agree on who is the star of this picture. The tension is palpable as the stuntman faces increasing danger. In the end they live to see another day.
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 | Wait Until Dark |
| "Blind but not meek" | 2006-11-14 |
Wait until Dark is a unique thriller that takes place mainly in a darkened room. Audrey Hepburn is moving as a newly blind woman dealing with her handicap. She is sympathetic in a challenging role that makes real a blind woman's struggle against an unseen danger. Her performance is believable and the story is riveting. It takes some skill to make a room come alive in all its darkness and danger. The climax is satisfying and redeeming as a blind woman uses her other keen senses to outwit her dangerous adversary. Audrey Hepburn was a skilled actress that never failed to move. The cinema misses the likes of her and the traditional actress that she never failed to be. You root for her character and don't question for an instant her handicap or her integrity. Wait until Dark was an original drama that stands the test of time.
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 | How to Steal a Million |
| "Good as gold" | 2006-11-14 |
How to steal a million was a light-hearted farce starring too skilled performers in their own right. Audrey Hepburn is delightful as the sweetheart bedazzled by Peter O'Toole an expert in forged art works. The two have you rooting for them in their improbable caper. Once you remind yourself that this is all just healthy fun than you can enjoy their performances. Greed becomes almost a worthy attribute as they endeavor to outwit the perfect security system guarding unknowingly a fake artwork. It is all good fun as the security system is foiled without harming a hair on anyone's head. Dishonesty doesn't enter your mind as the caper comes to a pleasant climax. Everyone ends up with their reputation intact and some spare change jingling in their pockets. The two stars are engaging and carefree and are so effortless in their actions that they are a joy to watch. Mind candy doesn't necessarily have to rot your brain. It can give you some mindless enjoyment on a quiet night.
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 | Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble - Live at Montreux 1982 & 1985 |
| "A lost treasure" | 2006-11-14 |
Stevie Ray Vaughan at Montreux is almost twenty five years old now, but it could have been filmed yesterday. His playing and delivery are awe inspiring and original. Stevie was one of a kind and is sorely missed. For a fan of his this is a welcome addition to his body of work. Even an unfriendly crowd in the first performance fail to keep him from delivering the goods the way he did every night. He was the blues through and through and remained faithful to them for his entire life. He lived the blues and was the real deal. Although the first concert is short it is still absorbing as Stevie wailed through the boos and catcalls. Somehow you feel he was misunderstood, but he remained unswayed. He plowed through his set with his band close behind. Tight to term this band is a gross understatement. The second show was with the final lineup of the band with Reese Wynans performing as a skillful sideman. But the main thing was still the blues even as Stevie shared the stage with Johnny Copeland. He was a generous soul and was careful not to overshadow his friend but compliment him. The second show was a complete triumph with the audience and with those who are priviliged years later to witness it for themselves. Stevie was a rare star who never failed to be humble yet inspired at the same time. He is badly missed by his fans and lovers everywhere of the electric guitar. Fate is cruel sometimes but Stevie left behind a legacy that will never be forgotten. The blues carry on but with a heavy heart. I feel for Stevie but know that he is somewhere else with a guitar still firmly in hand. This dvd captures the master at home in his element, live. The only shame is that I never got to see Stevie in person and fully appreciate his style and genius. The world will never forget Stevie Ray Vaughan.
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