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
Today, Disney Home Entertainment is releasing their 1967 classic The Jungle Book for the first time on Blu-ray, as part of the Diamond Edition series. Adapted from Rudyard Kipling’s classic story, the film follows Mowgli (Bruce Reitherman), a boy raised by animals who is taken under the wing of the loveable bear Baloo (Phil Harris).… Read More Blu-ray Release: The Jungle Book
Today, MGM is releasing the Rocky Heavyweight Collection on Blu-ray, featuring all six entries in the classic franchise. Directed by John G. Avilsdon, the series began in 1976 with the Oscar-winning Rocky, the story of a sensitive amateur boxer (Sylvester Stallone) from a tough Philadelphia neighbourhood training to fight heavyweight champion Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), while… Read More Blu-ray Release: Sylvester Stallone’s Rocky Heavyweight Collection
Last week, Remstar Films released Dallas Buyers Club on DVD & Blu-ray. A passionate look at the AIDS crisis, the film tells the true story of Ron Woodroof (Matthew McConaughey) who played the system to help save lives, smuggling natural meds from Mexico and providing them to other patients, including the spirited Rayon (Jared Leto).… Read More DVD Release: Dallas Buyers Club
Wadjda – A Sony Pictures Classics Release http://www.sonyclassics.com/wadjda/ Blu-ray Release Date: February 11th, 2014 Rated PG for mature themes Running time: 97 minutes Haifaa Al-Mansour (dir.) Haifaa Al-Mansour (writer) Max Richter (music) Waad Mohammed as Wadjda Abdullrahman Algohani as Abdullah Reem Abdullah as Mother Sultan Al Assaf as Father Our reviews below: _________________________________________ Wadjda Blu-ray Review… Read More Blu-ray Review: Wadjda
By John Corrado ★★★½ (out of 4) Among my highlights of last year’s TIFF was attending a screening of Labor Day on the final Saturday of the festival. Director Jason Reitman made a surprise appearance for the final showing of his latest at the Ryerson Theatre, dedicating the screening to late film critic Roger Ebert… Read More Review: Labor Day
The Lego Movie – A Warner Bros. Release http://www.thelegomovie.com Release Date: February 7th, 2014 Rated G for mild action and rude humour Running time: 100 minutes Phil Lord (director) Chris Miller (director) Phil Lord (screenplay) Chris Miller (screenplay) Mark Mothersbaugh (music) Chris Pratt as Emmet Brickowoski (voice) Elizabeth Banks as Wyldstyle (voice) Will Arnett as… Read More Five Views: The Lego Movie
Today at noon EST today, the International Film Music Critics Association (of which I am a member) announced its list of nominees for excellence in musical scoring in 2013. This year leading the pack with six nominations is composer Abel Korzeniowski (Romeo and Juliet, Escape From Tomorrow). Other composers nominated in multiple categories include Steven… Read More 10th Annual IFMCA Award Nominees Announced Today
Baggage Claim – A Fox Searchlight Release http://www.foxsearchlight.com/baggageclaim/ Blu-ray Release Date: February 4th, 2014 Rated PG for sexual content and language Running time: 96 minutes David E. Talbert (dir.) David E. Talbert (screenplay) Aaron Zigman (music) Paula Patton as Montana Moore Derek Luke as William Wright Taye Diggs as Langston Jill Scott as Gail Adam Brody… Read More Blu-ray Review: Baggage Claim
Today, Mongrel Media is releasing the excellent documentary Cutie and the Boxer on all home entertainment platforms, including iTunes. The film reveals the relationship between two aging New York artists with warring styles, the eccentric cardboard sculptor and boxing painter Ushio Shinohara and his wife Noriko, as well as their adult son Alex who is… Read More Digital Release: Cutie and the Boxer
By John Corrado Philip Seymour Hoffman was an actor who embodied countless unforgettable characters in a variety of different films over the years. Everything about him was iconic, from his name to his naturalistic screen presence, which included a genuine gift for portraying ordinary guys who were often plagued by anxiety, a role that he… Read More Remembering the Great Performances of Philip Seymour Hoffman
The Joy of Movies 