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Predator and prey and packs in Collateral

Posted on August 12, 2011 by Bill Wren

This movie is filled with fascinating imagery as Michael Mann presents a nocturnal vision of the city that is dark and threatening. It also has a key image, the coyote, that I think many people misremember. If you look at … Read more →

Posted in Crime, Drama | Leave a comment

The tall tale of The Mexican

Posted on August 10, 2011 by Bill Wren

Call it a tall tale, a shaggy dog story or any of the other variations, this is a movie that uses exaggeration and fable to tell a story that centres around another romantic tall tale. And it works much better … Read more →

Posted in adventure, Comedy | Leave a comment

The Mexican (2001)

Posted on August 10, 2011 by Bill Wren

Directed by Gore Verbinski Does anyone play a blonde airhead better than Brad Pitt? Male or female, I think he’s got that one down better than anyone because he makes it seem so genuine. He certainly does that as Jerry … Read more →

Collateral (2004)

Posted on August 9, 2011 by Bill Wren

Directed by Michael Mann The only person in Collateral that seems at home in the urban environment is the predator Vincent (Tom Cruise) and, ironically, he’s the only one who says he doesn’t like it (“too sprawled out; too disconnected”). … Read more →

Pralines and cream: Legally Blonde

Posted on August 7, 2011 by Bill Wren

Maybe the reason I like this movie so much is because when I first encountered it I was sure I would absolutely hate it. It is such a piece of candy. It is such a piece of Hollywood fluff. It … Read more →

Posted in Comedy | Leave a comment

How and why Nick and Nora work

Posted on July 20, 2011 by Bill Wren

The series of Thin Man movies answers the question, “What does happily ever after look like?”

Posted in Comedy, Crime, Myrna Loy, William Powell | 2 Comments

The Thin Man Series

Posted on July 17, 2011 by Bill Wren

The series of Thin Man movies answers the question, “What does happily ever after look like?” Romances are usually about the obstacles a couple goes through in order to be together and they end with the pair finally uniting with … Read more →

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