The Book Thief – A 20th Century Fox Release http://www.thebookthief.com Blu-ray Release Date: March 11th, 2014 Rated PG for violence and mature themes Running time: 131 minutes Brian Percival (dir.) Michael Petroni (screenplay) Based on the novel by Markus Zusak John Williams (music) Sophie Nélisse as Liesel Meminger Geoffrey Rush as Hans Hubermann Emily Watson as… Read More Blu-ray Review: The Book Thief
Today, Disney is releasing Winnie the Pooh: Springtime With Roo for the first time on Blu-ray. When Rabbit (Ken Sansom) gets overwhelmed and cancels Easter for Spring Cleaning Day, much to the disappointment of little Roo (Jimmy Bennet), it’s up to Winnie the Pooh (Jim Cummings) and his friends to set things right in the… Read More Blu-ray Release: Winnie the Pooh: Springtime With Roo
Mr. Peabody & Sherman – A 20th Century Fox Release http://www.mrpeabodyandsherman.com Release Date: March 7th, 2014 Rated G for cartoon action Running time: 92 minutes Rob Minkoff (dir.) Craig Wright (screenplay) Based on the series by Jay Ward Danny Elfman (music) Ty Burrell as Mr. Peabody (voice) Max Charles as Sherman (voice) Ariel Winter as Penny… Read More Five Views: Mr. Peabody & Sherman
12 Years a Slave – A Fox Searchlight Release http://www.12yearsaslave.com Blu-ray Release Date: March 4th, 2014 Rated 14A for brutal violence, sexual violence, disturbing content Running time: 134 minutes Steve McQueen (dir.) John Ridley (screenplay) Based on the book Twelve Years a Slave by Solomon Northup Hans Zimmer (music) Chiwetel Ejiofor as Solomon Northup Michael Fassbender… Read More Blu-ray Review: 12 Years a Slave
By John Corrado So there you have it. Two of the best movies of 2013 were honoured last night, with Gravity winning a total of seven Oscars including Best Director for Alfonso Cuarón and 12 Years a Slave taking Best Picture, a pair of powerful films that have stuck with me since first seeing them… Read More “12 Years a Slave” Takes Top Honours and “Gravity” Wins Big at the 86th Oscars
By John Corrado The winners of the 86th Academy Awards were announced this evening, hosted by Ellen DeGeneres. The big winner of the night was Gravity, a stunning achievement honoured with a grand total of seven Oscars, including Best Director for Alfonso Cuarón. Best Picture went to Steve McQueen’s incredibly powerful 12 Years a Slave,… Read More Winners of the 86th Academy Awards
By John Corrado No matter how things play out at the 86th Oscars, I have made no secret of my love for all nine films in the running for Best Picture this year. That’s not to say there weren’t other ones I would have loved to see included, but 2013 was such a strong year… Read More Reviewing the Best Picture Nominees
Nebraska – A Paramount Pictures Release http://www.nebraskamovie.com/index_splash.php Blu-ray Release Date: February 25th, 2014 Rated PG for mature themes and language Running time: 114 minutes Alexander Payne (dir.) Bob Nelson (writer) Mark Orton (music) Bruce Dern as Woody Grant Will Forte as David Grant June Squibb as Kate Grant Bob Odenkirk as Ross… Read More Blu-ray Review: Nebraska
Today, Disney Home Entertainment is releasing Thor: The Dark World on Blu-ray & DVD. This is an entertaining entry into the Marvel Cinematic Universe, that is carried by an excellent cast and provides another fun opportunity to spend time with this colourful cast of characters. We reviewed Thor: The Dark World when the film opened… Read More Blu-ray Release: Thor: The Dark World
Last week, Wes Anderson’s animated classic Fantastic Mr. Fox was released on Blu-ray as part of the Criterion Collection. Based on the book by Roald Dahl, the 2009 film tells the story of the clever and suavely dressed Mr. Fox (George Clooney), who is facing a bit of an existential crisis while trying to outwit… Read More Criterion Release: Fantastic Mr. Fox
By John Corrado I think the entire entertainment industry will breathe a sigh of relief come next Sunday night after the Oscars are finally announced, the last footnote for the banner year of movies that was 2013. But I’m not complaining, because this has been one of the most exciting awards seasons in recent memory,… Read More Some Final Thoughts Before the 86th Oscars
By John Corrado *** (out of 4) A few days before The Wind Rises premiered at TIFF, legendary filmmaker Hayao Miyazaki announced that the film would be his last achievement as a director before retiring, which is unfortunate for a variety of reasons. This is a good film from a great filmmaker, an animated biopic with… Read More Review: The Wind Rises
At noon EST today, the International Film Music Critics Association (of which I am a member) announced the winners for musical scoring in 2013. Congrats to all the winners and here’s to another great year in film scoring! Taking home Score of the Year this year is Abel Korzeniowski for his classic score for Carlo… Read More Winners of the 10th Annual IFMCA Awards Announced Today!
The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete – A Level Film Release https://www.facebook.com/MisterandPete Blu-ray Release Date: February 18th, 2014 Rated 14A for language, drug use and sexual content Running time: 109 minutes George Tillman Jr. (dir.) Michael Starrbury (writer) Mark Isham (music) Alicia Keys (music) Skylan Brooks as Mister Ethan Dizon as… Read More DVD Review: The Inevitable Defeat of Mister & Pete
Last week, Sony Pictures Classics released The Armstrong Lie on Blu-ray & DVD. The documentary charts the rise of champion cyclist Lance Armstrong and his victorious reign of the Tour de France from 1999 to 2005, before his admissions of doping led to him being stripped of his medals in 2012. Director Alex Gibney followed… Read More Blu-ray Release: The Armstrong Lie
Last week, Level Film released the good documentary Spinning Plates on DVD. The film introduces us to the unique people behind three very different restaurants, including the trendy Alinea in Chicago, the historic Breitbach’s Country Dining in Iowa and the struggling Mexican eatery La Cocina de Gabby in Arizona. Nicely filmed by director Joseph Levy with… Read More DVD Release: Spinning Plates
Two weeks ago, Phase 4 Films released The Crash Reel on DVD. The documentary opens a few months before the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, as champion snowboarder Kevin Pearce is training to make the team. When tragedy strikes and he suffers a dangerous fall, we are taken back to see his rise to fame,… Read More DVD Release: The Crash Reel
By John Corrado For my Monday column this week, I’ve decided to share two videos that speak for themselves. Although the subjects couldn’t be more different, the first an older sportscaster from Texas and the second a young Canadian actress, they offer powerful messages of equality that quickly went viral and are both absolutely worth… Read More Celebrating Dale Hansen and Ellen Page
By John Corrado The TIFF Next Wave film festival is happening this weekend, a celebration of old and new high school movies, all programmed by a group of teenagers. This year the lineup includes ten new films and five classics, as well as screenings of all the shorts that were submitted as part of last… Read More TIFF Next Wave Celebrates Teenage Classics
The Monuments Men – A Sony Pictures Release http://www.monumentsmenmovie.com/site/ Release Date: February 7th, 2014 Rated PG for language and some war violence Running time: 118 minutes George Clooney (dir.) George Clooney (screenplay) Grant Heslov (screenplay) Based on the book by Robert M. Edsel and Bret Witter Alexandre Desplat (music) George Clooney as Frank Stokes Matt… Read More Five Views: The Monuments Men
The Joy of Movies 