By Alan Hurst On a long commute home I often go to my “happy place” which usually involves movies and conjuring all sorts of lists – ten best of this, ten worst of that – you get the idea. Because we’re in a new decade, I’ve decided to pick one movie from each of the…
By John H. Foote During the first press screening of Hook (1991) I remember spending a great deal of the time shaking my head in disgust. When the film was over I felt nothing but relief, but oddly could not move from my seat. I hated it. On so many levels I hated the film.…
By John H. Foote (****) Simply said, Under Fire (1983) is among the greatest films ever made about American involvement in a war-torn country, a startling political work which includes a real-life event, the killing of ABC News reporter Bill Stewart by Nicaraguan forces while gathering news information. The first time I saw Under Fire…
By John H. Foote (****) Paul Mazursky was a fascinating director-screenwriter who emerged in the great American cinema explosion of the seventies. His finest films were humanist dramas sprinkled with light comedic moments, slice of life films. Best of all his films was the exquisite An Unmarried Woman (1978), a raw and stunning work about…
By John H. Foote (****) In 1977 my younger brother Steve and I made the trip into Toronto to see Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) opening day at the old York Cinemas. Over two hours later we emerged from the theatre into the warm winter sun, stunned by what we had just experienced.…
By John H. Foote (****) Atom Egoyan’s profoundly austere, astounding and ethereal film stunned audiences at the Cannes and Toronto International Film Festivals in 1997, earning prizes going into the fall movie season, drawing attention to its artistry. I first saw the film at TIFF, and was shocked into silence and tears, it hit me…
By Alan Hurst For a brief period in the eighties and early nineties Cher was a big movie star. She had earned some credibility and a Golden Globe nomination with the little seen Come Back to the 5 & Dime, Jimmy Dean, Jimmy Dean (1982), Robert Altman’s screen adaptation of his short-lived Broadway production featuring…
By John H. Foote (****) I have written often about The Godfather Part II (1974) which I consider the finest film I have ever experienced, an American masterpiece. Oddly, I have not yet revisited The Godfather which I will remedy today. “I believe in America”, are the first words we hear in The Godfather, spoken…
By John H. Foote (****) There is a luminosity to Sarah Polley only a handful of actresses possess. Meryl Streep, obviously, Jessica Lange, Emma Stone, Natalie Portman, Cate Blanchett, and perhaps Margot Robbie posses this light which draws the audience directly to them. Recently I attended a stand-up comedy show in Toronto, my old friend…
By Nick Maylor In this delightful animated film with a star-studded cast, the title of “Santa” works like it would within inherited monarchy. It is passed down, generation to generation and has done so for centuries. The current Santa is Malcolm (Jim Broadbent). His father Grandsanta (Bill Nighy) is now retired. Malcolm has two sons.…