Blu-ray review: “Frances” (1982)

“Frances” (1982) Drama Running Time: 140 minutes Written by: Eric Bergren, Christopher De Vore and Nicholas Kazan Directed by: Graeme Clifford Featuring: Jessica Lange, Sam Shepard and Kim Stanley Harry York: “Frances, you're crazy.” Frances Farmer: [softly] “Don't tell anybody.” Critical Commentary In the realm of cinema, there are certain films that transcend the boundaries of time, leaving an indelible mark on the audience's heart and …

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Blu-ray review: “House of Sand and Fog” (2003)

“House of Sand and Fog” (2003) Drama Running Time: 126 minutes Written by: Shawn Lawrence Otto and Vadim Perelman Directed by: Vadim Perelman Featuring: Jennifer Connelly, Ben Kingsley, Ron Eldard, Frances Fisher and Kim Dickens Behrani: [Praying for his dying son] “Please, God, don't take my joon-am. I make my nazr. My nazr, hear me, please to hear me. I will give everything to one who …

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Blu-ray review: “Waking the Dead” (2000)

“Waking the Dead” (2000) Drama Running Time: 105 minutes Written by: Robert Dillon Directed by: Keith Gordon Featuring: Billy Crudup, Jennifer Connelly, Molly Parker, Janet McTeer, Paul Hipp, Sandra Oh and Hal Holbrook Sarah Williams: “You can't be everything to me.” Fielding Pierce: “I want to be.” Sarah Williams: “Oh, dear. I love that you said that.” Critical Commentary Released in 2000, "Waking the Dead" is a …

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Blu-ray review: “Career Opportunities” (1991)

“Career Opportunities” (1991) Comedy Running Time: 83 minutes Written by: John Hughes Directed by: Bryan Gordon Featuring: Frank Whaley, Jennifer Connelly and Dermot Mulroney Josie: “And you're happy, you know, you're happy.” Jim Dodge: “I'm not happy. I'm working nights, everybody thinks I'm a liar, my whole family's laughing at me... Reverend Harwell gave me the finger last week!” Critical Commentary "Career Opportunities," …

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Blu-ray review: “Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle” (1994)

“Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle” (1994) Drama Running Time: 126 minutes Written by: Alan Rudolph and Randy Sue Coburn Directed by: Alan Rudolph Featuring: Jennifer Jason Leigh, Campbell Scott, Matthew Broderick, Peter Gallagher, Jennifer Beals, Andrew McCarthy and Wallace Shawn Dorothy Parker: “Razors pain you, rivers are damp, acids stain you, drugs cause cramp. Guns aren't lawful, nooses give, gas smells awful; …

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Blu-ray review: “Blue Chips” (1994)

“Blue Chips” (1994) Drama Running Time: 108 minutes Written by: Ron Shelton Directed by: William Friedkin Featuring: Nick Nolte, Mary McDonnell, Ed O'Neill, J. T. Walsh, Alfre Woodard and Shaquille O'Neal Pete Bell: “Dwayne, you can get through college half-assed. Richard, you can get through LIFE half-assed. But I'll guarantee you boys one thing: sure as hell, I'll guarantee you this: you cannot win …

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Blu-ray review: “Broken Trail” (2006)

“Broken Trail” (2006) Western Running Time: 184 minutes Written by: Alan Geoffrion Directed by: Walter Hill Featuring: Robert Duvall, Thomas Haden Church, Greta Scacchi, Gwendoline Yeo, Chris Mulkey, Rusty Schwimmer, Scott Cooper, Donald Fong and James Russo Prentice Ritter: “Without marriage and women we'd all have been drunk, shot ourselves to death, or died of the clap.” Critical Commentary In the vast landscape of television, …

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Blu-ray Review: “Extreme Prejudice” (1987)

“Extreme Prejudice” (1987) Action Running Time: 104 minutes Written by: Deric Washburn and Harry Kleiner Directed by: Walter Hill Featuring: Nick Nolte, Powers Boothe, Rip Torn, Michael Ironside and María Conchita Alonso Sheriff Hank Pearson: “Hell, Jack... the only thing worse than a politician is a child molester.” Critical Commentary In the realm of cinematic storytelling, certain films manage to transcend their …

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Blu-ray review: “The Long Riders” (1980)

“The Long Riders” (1980) Action Running Time: 99 minutes Written by: Bill Bryden, Steven Phillip Smith, Stacy Keach and James Keach Directed by: Walter Hill Featuring: David Carradine, Keith Carradine, Robert Carradine, James Remar, James Keach, Stacy Keach, Dennis Quaid, Randy Quaid, Christopher Guest and Nicholas Guest Cole Younger: “When this is all over, I'm goin' to write a book; make myself more famous than I already am.” Frank James: “I trust you'll …

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Blu-ray review: “Hard Times” (1975)

“Hard Times” (1975) Drama Running Time: 93 minutes Written by: Walter Hill, Bryan Gindoff and Bruce Henstell Directed by: Walter Hill Featuring: Charles Bronson, James Coburn Jill Ireland and Strother Martin Speed: “Every town had somebody who thinks he's tough as a nickel steak; but, they all come to old Speed for the do-re-mi.” Critical Commentary In the annals of cinematic …

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Blu-ray review: “Wolf Creek” (2005)

“Wolf Creek” (2005) Horror Running Time: 109 minutes Written and directed by: Greg McLean Featuring: Nathan Phillips, Cassandra Magrath, Kestie Morassi and John Jarratt Mick Taylor: “I'm going to do something now they used to do in Vietnam. It's called making a head on a stick.” Critical Commentary “Wolf Creek”, directed by Greg McLean and released in 2005, is a renowned …

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Blu-ray review: “Marlowe” (2022)

“Marlowe” (2022) Drama Running Time: 109 minutes Written by: William Monahan and Neil Jordan Directed by: Neil Jordan Featuring: Liam Neeson, Diane Kruger, Jessica Lange, Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje, Ian Hart, Colm Meaney, Daniela Melchior, François Arnaud, Seána Kerslake, Danny Huston and Alan Cumming Philip Marlowe: [after beating up two thugs] “Fuck it!” [grabs a chair and hits one of them in the head] Philip Marlowe: “I'm too old for this shit!” Critical Commentary …

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Blu-ray review: “Dersu Uzala” (1974)

“Dersu Uzala” (1974) Drama Running Time: 144 minutes Written by: Akira Kurosawa and Yuri Nagibin Directed by: Akira Kurosawa Featuring: Maxim Munzuk and Yury Solomin Arsenev: “Dersu, maybe we should wait till the rain stops?” Dersu Uzala: “Time to get ready. Birds begin singing, you hear? Rain soon finish now. Sun shine soon.” Critical Commentary Cinema has often served as …

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Blu-ray review: “She Devil” (1957)

“She Devil” (1957) Horror Running Time: 77 minutes Written by: Kurt Neumann and Carroll Young Directed by: Kurt Neumann Featuring: Mari Blanchard, Jack Kelly and Albert Dekker Tagline: “GORGEOUS DEMON! They created an inhuman being who destroyed everything she touched! The woman they couldn't kill!” Critical Commentary In the annals of cinematic history, certain films stand out not only for their …

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Blu-ray review: “Valley of the Zombies” (1946)

“Valley of the Zombies” (1946) Horror Running Time: 56 minutes Written by: Dorrell McGowan and Stuart E. McGowan Directed by: Philip Ford Featuring: Robert Livingston, Adrian Booth, Ian Keith, Thomas E. Jackson, Charles Trowbridge and Earle Hodgins Tagline: “BLOOD MADNESS... Out Of The Fog... Into Your Heart!” Critical Commentary In the realm of classic horror cinema, "Valley of the Zombies" stands as a remarkable …

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Blu-ray review: “Return of the Ape Man” (1944)

“Return of the Ape Man” (1944) Horror Running Time: 61 minutes Written by: Robert Charles Directed by: Philip Rosen Featuring: Bela Lugosi Prof. Dexter: “Some people's brains would never be missed!” Critical Commentary The history of cinema is dotted with a myriad of genres and subgenres that have captivated audiences for decades. One such genre that has consistently …

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Blu-ray review: “The Vampire’s Ghost ” (1945)

“The Vampire's Ghost ” (1945) Horror Running Time: 59 minutes Written by: John K. Butler and Leigh Brackett Directed by: Lesley Selander Featuring: John Abbott, Charles Gordon, Peggy Stewart, Grant Withers, Emmett Vogan and Adele Mara Sailor with Barrat: “Hey, Barrett, what happened to you?” Capt. Jim Barrett: “I don't know. It's the first time I ever quit a fight when a guy just looked at …

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Blu-ray review: “The Phantom Speaks” (1945)

“The Phantom Speaks” (1945) Horror Running Time: 69 minutes Written by: John K. Butler Directed by: John English Featuring: Richard Arlen, Stanley Ridges, Lynne Roberts, Tom Powers, Charlotte Wynters and Jonathan Hale Critical Commentary "The Phantom Speaks" is a cinematic masterpiece that continues to captivate audiences with its enigmatic storytelling and timeless allure. Released in [insert release year], the film weaves …

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Blu-ray review: “Halloween II” (2009)

“Halloween II” (2009) Horror Running Time: 105 minutes Written and directed by: Rob Zombie  Featuring: Malcolm McDowell, Tyler Mane, Sheri Moon Zombie, Brad Dourif, Danielle Harris and Scout Taylor-Compton Dr. Samuel Loomis: “Michael Myers is fucking dead!” Critical Commentary “Halloween II” (2009) is a horror film directed by Rob Zombie and serves as a sequel to his 2007 remake of John Carpenter's classic …

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Blu-ray review: “Halloween” (2007)

“Halloween” (2007) Horror Running Time: 110 minutes Written and directed by: Rob Zombie  Featuring: Malcolm McDowell, Sheri Moon Zombie, Tyler Mane, Scout Taylor-Compton, Brad Dourif, Danielle Harris and William Forsythe Dr. Samuel Loomis: “His eyes will deceive you; they will destroy you. They will take from you your innocence, your pride, and eventually your soul. These eyes do not see what you and …

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