Out of the Furnace (2013) Russell Blaze (Christian Bale) goes to prison after he kills a little boy in a drunken accident. When he’s released, his dad has died, and his girlfriend, Lena Taylor (Zoe Saldana) is now in a relationship with the city police chief Wesley Barnes (Forest Whittaker). Russell’s brother, Rodney Blaze (Casey… Continue reading Out of the south pacific, into the fifth estate
Month: June 2014
Let’s purge ourselves of these birds in love
These Birds Walk (2013) This documentary follows a runaway boy and the efforts of humanitarian Abdul Sattar Edhi to bring peace and stability to Pakistan. It’s more in-depth than the fleeting images from news programs more obsessed with political squabbles than elucidating the real problems facing the world, but as a movie it doesn’t do… Continue reading Let’s purge ourselves of these birds in love
The hot and stormy place
The Place Beyond the Pines (2013) Romina (Eva Mendes) visits her ex-lover, motorcycle stuntman Luke Glanton (Ryan Gosling) to casually tell him he’s the father of her child. She’s shocked and disappointed to find Luke wants to be a part of the child’s life. If movies have taught us nothing else, we know motorcycle drivers… Continue reading The hot and stormy place
There’s no escaping gangsters at the Detroit museum
Grosse Pointe Blank (1997) As professional assassin Martin Blank (John Cusack) experiences a personal midlife crisis and a professional crisis with his chief rival, Grocer (Dan Aykroyd), his therapist (Alan Arkin) suggests he attend his tenth high school reunion where he rekindles a romance with Debi Newberry (Minnie Driver). Unfortunately, Martin’s next target is Debi’s… Continue reading There’s no escaping gangsters at the Detroit museum
Porky used to be fat, now he’s just a pig
Bosko and Bruno (1932) Another short film featuring Warner Bros. erstwhile star, Bosko, who chases his runaway dog down a railroad track, and, along the way, also chases a chicken. Bosko the Lumberjack (1932) This Bosko short illustrates how lazy these early Warner Bros. efforts were. Bosko’s girlfriend is a cheap imitation of Minnie Mouse,… Continue reading Porky used to be fat, now he’s just a pig