Category: EDITOR’S BLOG
Critical Thoughts: Gerald Peary on American Film Criticism
Review of Gerald Peary’s 2009 documentary For the Love of Movies: The Story of American Film Criticism (2009), which screened this past Sunday March 25th at Toronto’s Bloor Cinema. Also included: bonus audio clips from Peary’s pre-screening intro + post-screening audience Q&A (in lo-fi mono!)
Jean Renoir in America, Part 1
In Part 1 of this diptych series covering Jean Renoir’s work in America (1941-1947), we have reviews of Swamp Water (1941) from Twilight, plus a film review of Fox’s 1952 colour remake, Lure of the Wilderness, and reviews of This Land is Mine (1943) and The Southerner (1945) from VCI. Also, a few slivers of home video news.
‘Swell Welles’ Part II – Orson Welles’ Citizen Kane, The Battle Over Citizen Kane, and RKO 281
In Part 2 of ‘Swell Welles,’ reviews of Warner Home Video’s Citizen Kane set on Blu-ray, featuring Kane, the 1996 documentary The Battle Over Citizen Kane, and the 1999 HBO TV movie RKO 281, plus authentic editorial blather.
Soundtrack Reviews + News
Just uploaded is a quartet of reviews for ongoing (and likely eternal) franchises: Doctor Who continues to steam through new seasons, and Silva Screen’s latest release features 2+ hours of Murray Gold’s music from Season 6 [M]. Also from Silva is music from Sherlock: Season 1 [M], composed by David Arnold and Michael Price, who […]
The Oscars, and the quiet emergence of the Standard International Edition
Pure Editorial Blather on this weekend’s Oscar telecast, Norm Wilner’s piece on the Dardennes’ The Kid with a Bike premiering as a DVD-only release, and what may be the quiet emergence of the Standard International Home Video Edition of movies on Blu.
Picnic (1955), The Roots of Heaven (1958), and Twilight Time’s Julie Kirgo
In Part 2 of my profile of home video label Twilight Time, I interview TT’s resident film historian Julie Kirgo, and discuss the virtues of special features content on DVDs and Blu-rays (and their sudden paucity of late). Also reviewed: TT’s sparkling Blu-rays of Picnic (1955) and John Huston’s awesome, awesome The Roots of Heaven (1958), AND a tally of upcoming Twilight Time releases thru June.
Festivals-a-Go-Go + Battle Royale
Early tally of current film festivals at the TIFF Bell Lightbox (Robert Bresson, Nicholas Ray, wacky Soviet era sci-fi), the imminent Human Rights Watch Film Festival, AND Kinji Fukasaku’s Battle Royale at The Projection Booth to help launch Anchor Bay’s Battle Royale megaset, plus the world premiere of Richard Powell and Zach Green’s short film Familiar.
Suburban Tales IV: Durham County, Season 3
In Part 4 of our Surburban Tales series, we look at Durham County: Season 3 (Anchor Bay Entertainment Canada / Muse International) , and see how bad it gets for poor Mike Sweeney. Oh, and strange man digs basement for 7 years using toy excavation machines. WHY?
Festivals-a-Go-Go
Classic films & Cageian extremes continue at the TIFF Bell Lightbox, ballet tiptoes to the NFB Mediatheque, authentic Japanese kabuki is broadcast in HD at Cineplex’s Front Row Centre Events, the Bloor Cinema is set to reopen in March, and Abel Gance’s Napoleon returns to the big screen in a 4-day engagement because Francis Coppola saw the widsom.
Interview with composer Andrew Lockington + Soundtrack News & Reviews
Just uploaded, an interview with Journey 2: The Mysterious Island composer Andrew Lockington, plus reviews of Journey 2 (Water Tower), John Williams’ Adventures of Tintin (Sony Classical), Alberto Iglesias’ Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (Silva Screen), and Jerry Goldsmith’s Tora! Tora! Tora! and Shirley Walker’s Space: Above and Beyond (both from La-La Land) plus Soundtrack Release news!
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