On Devil’s Island

  Papillon (1973) Safe cracker Henri Charrière (Steve McQueen) is falsely imprisoned for murder and sentenced to hard labor on Devil’s Island where he forms an unlikely partnership with scrawny embezzler Louis Dega (Dustin Hoffman) as they attempt to escape. To baby boomers, Steve McQueen is the epitome of cool, the idolized hero of their youth, but his… Continue reading On Devil’s Island

Prophecy is just an illusion

  The Illusionist (2006) When Eisenheim (Ed Norton) was young, he fell in love with a duchess well above his social class. After years traveling the world perfecting his craft as a magician, he returns to Vienna to pursue the same duchess (Jessica Biel), who’s now engaged to the Crown Prince Leopold. The film becomes a battle of wills… Continue reading Prophecy is just an illusion

Private Jack was a bad boy

  Bad Boys (2014) A part of ESPN’s 30 for 30 series, this documents the notorious Detroit Pistons teams in the 1980s. I was surprised how normal Dennis Rodman seemed.  No one could have predicted his name would become a byword for odd and unusual behavior. Professional sport needs more people like Bill Laimbeer who revel in playing the bad guy. Despite his accolades, Isiah… Continue reading Private Jack was a bad boy