Author Archives: Mark DuPré

About Mark DuPré

Retired (associate) pastor at a Christian church. Retired film professor at Rochester Institute of Technology. Husband for nearly 50 years to the lovely and talented Diane. Father to three children and father-in-law to three more amazing people. I continue some ministry duties even though retired from the pastoral staff position. Right now I'm co-writing a book, co-writing a serious musical drama, and am half-way through writing (on my own a month-long devotional.

Lawrence of Arabia (1962) and The Whales of August (1987)

Posted on September 16, 2019 by Mark DuPré

Sometimes, seeing two films in a short period of time can lead to fascinating insights and comparisons that would otherwise not have presented themselves. I just saw Lawrence of Arabia (1962) in a movie theater on a large screen (thank … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Reviews, Newer films | Tagged Alec Guinness, Ann Sothern, Anthony Quinn, Bette Davis, David Lean, Dr. Zhivago, Freddie Young, Goodbye Mr. Chips, Ivanhoe, Lawrence of Arabia, Lillian Gish, Lust for Life, Mary Steenburgen, Mogambo, Nicholas and Alexandra, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Peter O'Toole, Ryan’s Daughter, The 49th Parallel, The Bridge on the River Kwai, The Inn of the Sixth Happiness, The Whales of August, Vincent Price | Leave a comment

Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood

Posted on August 6, 2019 by Mark DuPré

This is the first time I’ve genuinely looked forward to seeing a Quentin Tarantino film. As my film students have come to learn, I’ve had an aversion to him and his films for a number of reasons, none of which … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Reviews, Newer films | Tagged Ann Reinking, Brad Pitt, Brooke Shields, Bruce Dern, Burt Reynolds, Dakota Fanning, Elizabeth Taylor, Fosse/Verdon, George Spahn, Hollywood, IMDB, Inglourious Basterds, Julie Butters, Kent State, Lena Dunham, Leonardo DiCaprio, Luke Perry, Manson murders, Margaret Qualley, Margot Robbie, Maya Hawke, Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood, Quentin, Rick Dalton, Roman Polanski, Sharon Tate, Spahn Ranch, Squeaky Fromme, Timothy Olyphant | Leave a comment

Spider-Man: Far from Home

Posted on July 27, 2019 by Mark DuPré

Spider-Man: Far from Home is a minor but delightful entry in the MC canon. It impresses because it doesn’t try to be more or weightier than it needs to be, and it slyly and subtly addresses a number of larger … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Reviews, Newer films | Tagged Andrew Garfield, Angourie Rice, Aunt May, I Will Always Love You, Iron Man, Jacob Batalon, Jake Gyllenhaal, Marisa Tomei, MC universe, Mission: Impossibe, MJ, Mysterio, Peter Parker, Spider-Man: Far from Home, Thanos, the blip, the Decimation, Tobey Maguire, Tom Holland, Tony Stark, Whitney Houston, Zendaya | Leave a comment

Late Night

Posted on June 17, 2019 by Mark DuPré

Late Night is, well, occasionally diverting. Much of the promotion for the film has focused on the fact that current star Mindy Kaling wrote this specifically for legendary actress Emma Thompson, as if that fact had value in and of … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Reviews, Newer films | Tagged Benneton, Denis O'Hare, Emma Thompson, Hellen Mirren, Hugh Dancy, John Lithgow, Judi Dench, Late Night, Maggie Smith, Mindy Kaling, Nisha Ganatra, The Devil Wears Prada, The Office | Leave a comment

The King of Kings (1927)

Posted on June 11, 2019 by Mark DuPré

First of all, apologies for how long it’s been. I’ve seen lots of movies, some old and a few new, but have been too busy with other activities. I hope this gets me back in the groove! So I stepped … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Reviews, Older Films | Tagged Bible, Cecil B. DeMille, Dorothy Cummings, H.B. Warner, I Was a Teenage Werewolf, It's a Wonderful Life, J. Peverell Marley, Jeffrey Hunter, Jesus, John Wayne, Judas, King James English, Mary Magdalene, Mel Gibson, Peter, Sunset Boulevard, The Greatest Story Ever Told, The King of Kings, The Passion of the Christ, The Ten Commandments, two-strip Technicolor, William Holden | Leave a comment

Avengers: Endgame

Posted on May 7, 2019 by Mark DuPré

I’ve been lax in writing lately, and for those who look for and enjoy what I write, my apologies. I’ve been busy working on other people’s scripts. I’ve also been seeing lots of films, including two 1938 classics (Only Angels … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Reviews, Newer films | Tagged Ant-Man, Avengers: Endgame, Captain Marvel, Chris Pratt, Gamora, Iron Man, Marvel universe, Only Angels Have Wings, Peter Quill, Robert Downey Jr., Room at the Top, Spider-Man, Thanos, The Agony and the Ecstasy, Thor, You Can't Take it with You | Leave a comment

A Trip to the ‘30s: Peg O’ My Heart, Lady for a Day, Morning Glory, and King of Jazz

Posted on March 17, 2019 by Mark DuPré

Saw a trio of films that turned to be central to the 1933 Best Actress race. Katherine Hepburn won her first Oscar for a somewhat strange performance in Morning Glory, playing an actress who goes from young, innocent, naïve, and … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Reviews, Older Films | Tagged A Star is Born, Adolph Menjou, Bing Crosby, Busby Berkeley, C. Aubrey Smith, Cavalcade, Clark Gable, Claudette Colbert, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Frank Capra, Frank Lloyd, Gershwin's Rhapsody in Blue, Harvey Weinstein, It Happened One Night, John Boles, Katherine Hepburn, King of Jazz, Lady for a Day, Laurette Taylor, Lowell Sherman, Marion Davies, May Robson, Morning Glory, Onslow Stevens, Paul Whiteman, Peg O' My Heart, Robert Riskin, The Great Ziegfeld, The Rhythm Boys, three-strip Technicolor, two-strip Technicolor, Universal, What Price Hollywood?, Will Rogers, William Randolph Heart | Leave a comment

Quick Thoughts on the 2019 Oscars Show

Posted on February 25, 2019 by Mark DuPré

The Oscars have come and gone, and the show was not that bad. Not having a host may or may not be the best idea for future shows, but it worked just fine this year. If anyone can pass the … Continue reading →

Posted in Film-Related Articles | Tagged 2019, A Star is Born, Bette Midler, Black Panther, Bohemian Rhapsody, Bradley Cooper, Costume, Green Book, I'll Fight, James Corden, Jennifer Hudson, New York Times Carpetbagger, Olivia Coleman, Oscars, Production Design, Rami Malek, Roma, Shallow, The Favourite, The Place Where Lost Things Go, Vice | Leave a comment

Isn’t It Romantic

Posted on February 17, 2019 by Mark DuPré

I tried, I really tried. I thought I could be somewhat objective about this film, but have failed utterly. Full disclosure: The film is directed by Todd Strauss-Schulson, my former film student who became and has remained a friend. … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Reviews, Newer films | Tagged Adam Devine, Betty Gilpin, Emily Blunt, Isn't It Romantic, Liam Hemsworth, Miley Cyrus, Nick Jonas, Priyanka Chopra, Quantico, Rebel Wilson, rom-com, The Devil Wears Prada, The Final Girls, The Hunger Games, Thor, Todd Strauss-Schulson | Leave a comment

2019 Oscar Nominations: First Thoughts

Posted on February 2, 2019 by Mark DuPré

Oscar time is funny. The guilds have voted for their individual categories, and there is the hope and thought that they generally vote for what they think is the best for their category. Of course there will be thoughts … Continue reading →

Posted in Film-Related Articles | Tagged A Quiet Place, A Star is Born, Alfonso Cuaron, Amy Adams, At Eternity's Gate, Best Director, Best Visual Effects, Black Panther, BlacKkKlansman, Bradley Cooper, Christian Bale, Emily Blunt, Glenn Close, Green Book, If Beale Street Would Talk, Lady Gaga, Mahershala Ali, Mary Poppins Returns, Olivia Col, Rami Malek, Regina King, Richard E. Grant, Roma, SAG, Sam Elliott, Sam Rockwell, Screen Actors Guild, Shallow, snub, Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse, The Favourite, The Wife, Vice, Willem Dafoe | Leave a comment