By Alan Hurst June 22, 2019 marks the fiftieth anniversary of the passing of Judy Garland. She was only 47, but seemed to have packed multiple lifetimes into that short span of years. She had achieved significant success in films, records, on stage, and on television, but the well-known struggles were equally part of her…
By Craig Leask Much like the Cleopatra (1963) filming fiasco and its nearly devastating effect on the financial stability of 20th Century Fox Studios, Hello, Dolly! (1969) nearly accomplished the same thing by practically bankrupting the same studio, not through a lack of planning and over paying its actors as with Cleopatra, but by vastly…
By Nick Maylor So far this December, Alan, Craig, Melissa, and John have all listed their favourite/must-see Christmas/Holiday films. Alan and I also threw a spotlight on television specials we hold dear. When I was asked to do a list of my top 5 Christmas movies, I found myself at the inescapable truth that at…
By Alan Hurst Diehard fans (and that includes myself) of the original 1964 classic can relax. The potential only teased at in the various theatrical trailers we’ve seen since September is legit – Mary Poppins Returns is good. It’s not better than the original (I don’t think anyone thought it would be) but it’s an…
By John H. Foote The autobiography of Bruce Springsteen was akin to sharing an open wound with the writer, his anguish and pain written on the page in blood, his life laid bare for the reader. Who knew the Boss was wracked with depression, sometimes unable to function? Who knew of debilitating self doubt that…
By Melissa Houghton Whenever I’m asked what’s my favourite movie, song, or food, I always struggle to pare my response down to one go-to. With so many choices, I decide my top pick depending on my mood at the time. I know, it sounds bendy. However, when deciding what Christmas movies to watch I go…
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 John H. Foote In a week that has seen Christian Bale and Clint Eastwood shake up the race for Best Actor, Rami Malek joins the race for his performance as rocker Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody, the story of the rock band Queen. One week ago the major contenders for Best Actor were Viggo…
By John H. Foote There have been three versions of A Star is Born dating back to 1937, the first with Janet Gaynor and Fredric March. The concept is essentially the same, the man is a star on his way down, he discovers a young lady with extraordinary talent and helps her, in the process…
It was Easter, 2001. I had been in the hospital since Valentine’s Day, three and a half weeks of that in a coma, and had been transferred from Sunnybrook Trauma to the St. John’s Rehab Hospital. Hit head on, I had been choppered to Sunnybrook with life-threatening injuries, long story, not for here. Easter Sunday,…