Category: Film

Iconic Films: ‘12 Angry Men’: A Masterpiece of Taut Drama and Intense Acting

Approved | 1h 36min | Crime, drama | 10 April 1957 As someone who was never impressed by courtroom dramas in films or on TV during his younger years, it’s taken me awhile to warm up to them. Perhaps this has to do with the fact that a close relative used to binge-watch Perry Mason…


Film Review: ‘Munich – The Edge of War’: Brainly and Suspenseful

If we let the CCP blatantly violate the Sino-British Joint Declaration, openly turn Hong Kong into a police state, and engage in hostile militarism throughout the South China Sea, maybe they will be satisfied and start acting nice. After all, appeasement was a smashing success when Hitler was given the Sudetenland, right? Actually, it was…


Film Review: ‘The Hidden Life of Trees’: The Science of the Ents

PG | 1h 41m | Documentary | November 2, 2021- United States| Based on German conservationist and author Peter Wohlleben’s 2015 bestselling book of the same title, the slow-paced but info-packed “The Hidden Life of Trees” very quickly makes one thing abundantly clear: J.R.R. Tolkien got it right. Trees are basically Ents. Wohlleben himself is the…


Popcorn and Inspiration: ‘Pete’s Dragon’: Disney Made a Good Dragon Movie

PG  |  1 hours, 42 minutes |  Adventure, Family, Fantasy  |  12 August 2016 (USA) What’s a real dragon look like? Maybe a mash-up of children’s favorite animals? Like part dog, with a big sniffle-snuffle, rubbery nose? If it’s a forest dragon, it might be a tad greenish. Maybe there’s some panther in its jaw line…


‘I’ll Be Seeing You’ From 1944: A New Start for the New Year

New Year’s Eve is associated with noisy parties and excessive drinking, but the beginning of a new year is a great time for quiet reflection. As we replace our calendars, many take the opportunity to make resolutions about changing our lives in the coming year. Especially in difficult times, the new year offers the hope…


Rewind, Review, and Re-Rate: ‘The Heiress’: Romantic Drama Avoids the Sentimental

Not Rated | 1h 55min | Drama, Romance | 28 December 1948 Director William Wyler is widely acknowledged to be second only to John Ford in terms of significance. However, I’d almost give him a slight edge since he not only made two of my favorite films of all time—“The Best Years of Our Lives”…


JV Hart, the Artistic Icon Behind Some of the Nation’s Most Beloved Family Films

James Von Allmen Hart, lovingly referred to as “JV” by his family and protégés, is the creative force behind several of our nation’s most prominent family films, including “Hook,” “Tuck Everlasting,” “Dracula,” and “August Rush.” Well before he began his career as a Hollywood screenwriter, he grew up on drive-in movies and Saturday matinees in…


Rewind, Review, and Re-Rate: ’Draft Day’: A Dude-Flick for the Hardcore Sports Fan

PG-13 | 1h 50m | Sports, Drama | April 7, 2014 The NFL Draft—it hypes American football like the Oscars hype movies. Public picking of players for pro ball makes money. “Draft Day” is an infomercial for the NFL, of course. It’s big hype. We know this because Roger Goodell has a speaking role. Enough…


The Slow Resurgence of Black and White Cinematography

Although it has never fully gone away, there was a point when black and white cinematography fell out of favor, not only with audiences, but also the studios producing and marketing feature films. Contrary to popular belief, the advent of color didn’t show up in 1939 with “Gone with the Wind” and “The Wizard of…


Epoch Watchlist: What to Watch

New Release: Woke-Free Entertainment That Delivers ‘Spider-Man: No Way Home’ When young Peter Parker’s (Tom Holland) secret identity is revealed to the public, those closest to him have their lives thrown into chaos. Peter seeks the help of the enigmatic Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) and his mystical powers. However, Strange’s well-intentioned help leads to unexpected consequences….