Tedious masterpiece: The Shining

Posted on August 21, 2011 by Bill Wren

I love Stanley Kubrick but I hate his movies. Yes, hate is a bit strong. Let’s say dislike. I just find his films boring. At the same time, I find them visually brilliant and fascinating. I can’t think of any … Read more →

Posted in Drama | 2 Comments

Mumford and the art of listening

Posted on August 20, 2011 by Bill Wren

Below I refer to John Sayles but maybe the movie Mumford is more like Lasse Hallstrom amused and charmed by a Norman Rockwell America. Whatever it is, and despite a few anachronisms, I still find this movie appealing. It has … Read more →

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Reacquainted with Myrna Loy and William Powell

Posted on June 27, 2011 by Bill Wren

Last week I went on a run of watching and writing about some Myrna Loy and William Powell movies I have in my collection. I went through four five of them, three four of which I’ve had here, unwatched, for … Read more →

Posted in Actors, Myrna Loy, William Powell | 4 Comments

The Talk of the Town (1942)

Posted on June 17, 2011 by Bill Wren

Directed by George Stevens This is a movie that mixes romantic-comedy and thriller, though the emphasis would be more on the former. But because The Talk of the Town mixes the two, it falters a bit. But not a lot. … Read more →

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Is Hondo the definitive John Wayne movie?

Posted on June 14, 2011 by Bill Wren

I don’t thing many people would argue that Hondo is the best of John Wayne’s movies. Similarly, I don’t many will argue against it being among his best both as a western and as a performance from Wayne. But if … Read more →

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Mister Roberts more drama than comedy

Posted on June 12, 2011 by Bill Wren

Mister Roberts is a much-loved movie so I always feel bad when I say that for me it’s just so-so. I kinda like it; I kinda don’t like. It may be due to not being much of a fan of … Read more →

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Mister Roberts (1955)

Posted on June 12, 2011 by Bill Wren

Directed by John Ford and Mervyn LeRoy A very popular fictional story from the 1950s, Mister Roberts began as a novel by Thomas Heggen. It later became a stage play written by Heggen and Joshua Logan and starring Henry Fonda … Read more →

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