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Tag Archives: action movies
Podcast #1: Talkin’ the Cooler King
I was a guest on the Speeding Bullitt podcast, devoted to the life and films of Steve McQueen. Host Kelsy Norman had me on to discuss The Great Escape (I came to his attention because of the essay I wrote … Continue reading
Posted in Actors, Movies
Tagged action movies, John Sturges, podcast, Steve McQueen, war movies
4 Comments
The Great Escape: Criterion release today 5/12
The long-awaited Criterion release of John Sturges’ 1963 classic The Great Escape is now available for order. The release includes a number of special features: a couple of different audio commentaries, one done in 1991 by Sturges and Elmer Bernstein … Continue reading
Criterion May releases announced
I wrote booklet essays for two of Criterion’s May 2020 releases – Dorothy Arzner’s 1940 film Dance, Girl, Dance, and the 1963 beloved classic The Great Escape. There are multiple reasons these were very exciting assignments. Dance, Girl, Dance is … Continue reading
Posted in Movies
Tagged action movies, dance movies, Dorothy Arzner, John Sturges, Lucille Ball, Maureen O'Hara, Steve McQueen, war movies, women directors
1 Comment
Review: John Wick (2014)
The great Stephanie Zacharek wrote two pieces about John Wick in The Village Voice. Highly recommended reading (maybe after you’ve seen the film, which you definitely should): Keanu Reeves is Just Plain Awesome in John Wick How John Wick Restored … Continue reading
Review: Taken 3 (2015)
No. And I actually liked the first two. The poster’s tagline makes me want to say, “Do you PROMISE?” My review of Taken 3 is now up at Rogerebert.com.
Review: Falcon Rising (2014)
Falcon Rising, starring the to-die-for Michael Jai White in the title role, is clearly meant to be the start of a new franchise. It’s a throwback to 1980s action flicks, with a strong hero at the center, and an unambiguously … Continue reading
Review: Man of Tai Chi (2013); Directed by Keanu Reeves
Keanu Reeves’ directorial debut, Man of Tai Chi, opens today. In 1987, the year Reeves first started hitting his stride, the year following “River’s Edge”, he was profiled in “Interview” magazine, as one of many rising stars (along with Johnny … Continue reading
Red Cliff (2008); Directed by John Woo
John Woo’s epic Red Cliff was butchered for its American release, cut down from its over-four-hour length to two hours. I have read of what was cut, and it actually makes me wince. Things like character motivation, small moments (the … Continue reading