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.

The Legend of Tarzan

Posted on July 6, 2016 by Mark DuPré

Nearly 100 years ago, the first (silent) Tarzan film opened—Tarzan of the Apes, starring Elmo Lincoln. Since then, the grand story has been reworked for several generations, the most famous series of films coming in the early-to-mid ‘30s, with the … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Reviews, Newer films | Tagged Alexander Skarsgard, Andie MacDowell, Bill Murray, Blood Diamond, Christophe Waltz, Christopher Lambert, Django Unchained, Djimon Hounsou, Elmo Lincoln, Gladiator, Glenn Close, Groundhog day, In America, Inglourious Basterds, Jane, Jane Austen, John Clayton, Johnny Weissmuller, Margot Robbie, Samuel L. Jackson, Tarzan of the Apes, Tarzan: The Legend of Greystoke Lord of the Apes, The Legend of Tarzan | Leave a comment

Finding Dory

Posted on July 2, 2016 by Mark DuPré

Finding Dory is…fine. It’s cute. It’s just not Finding Nemo, and that’s its greatest hurdle and biggest lack. It’s impossible to see this film on its own terms, as it, in title, in plot, and in character, depends on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Reviews, Newer films | Tagged Albert Brooks, Alexander Gould, Disney, Ellen DeGeneres, Finding Dory, Finding Nemo, Hayden Rolence, Marlin, Nemo, Pixar | Leave a comment

Two Days, One Night (Deux jours, une nuit)

Posted on June 20, 2016 by Mark DuPré

Watching Two Days, One Night was a great antidote to having just seen X-Men: Apocalypse, a dreadful, action-packed, CGI extravaganza (see https://film-prof.com/tag/x-men-apocalypse/). To slip into my teacher mode, Two Days, One Night is a realist film. In a nutshell, that … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Reviews, Newer films | Tagged 4 Months 3 Weeks and 2 Days. Rust and Bone, Best Actress, Bicycle Thief, Bourne, Deux jours une nuit, Edith Piaf, Inception, Jean-Pierre Dardenne, L'Enfant, La Mome, La Vie en Rose, Luc Dardenne, Marion Cotillard, Netflix, Ratatouille, The Kid with the Bike, Two Days One Night, Vitorria DeSice, X-Men: Apocalypse | Leave a comment

X-Men Apocalypse

Posted on June 11, 2016 by Mark DuPré

The newest X-men offering is pretty terrible. Its estimated $178 million dollar budget is a tragic waste, as is the 2.5 hours of time anyone gives to it. I’m sure there are lessons to be learned at some point, but … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Reviews, Newer films | Tagged Avengers, Captain America, Fantastic Four, James McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence, Michael Fassbender, Mummy, Mutants, Nicholas Hoult, Oscar Isaac, X-Men: Apocalypse | Leave a comment

Captain America: Civil War

Posted on June 5, 2016 by Mark DuPré

Captain America: Civil War is overstuffed and not quite believable in its central concept. It’s also the best Avengers movie since the first one. It does right what the first one does, on steroids. It was a small cinematic miracle … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Reviews, Newer films | Tagged Ant-Man, Black Panther, Captain America, Captain America: Civil War, Chadwick Boseman, Chris Evans, Daniel Bruhl, Darth Vader, Elizabeth Olsen, Help me Wanda, Iron Man, Loki, Marisa Tomei, Nolan, Paul Rudd, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlet Witch, Snyder, Spider-Man, The Avengers, The Hulk, Thor, Tom Holland | Leave a comment

The People v. O.J. Simpson

Posted on April 4, 2016 by Mark DuPré

Sometimes current television is not just better, but so much better, than films playing in the theater. A case in point: “The People v. O.J. Simpson: An American Crime Story,” playing on, of all places, FX. Like the original case … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Reviews, Newer films | Tagged Bruce Greenwood, Christopher Darden, Courtney B. Vance, Cuba Gooding Jr., David Schmimmer, Denzel Washington, F. Lee Bailey, FX, Gil Garcetti, John Travolta, Johnnie Cochran, Judge Ito, Kenneth Choi, Marcia Clark, Nathan Lane, O.J. Simpson, Robert Kardashian, Robert Shapiro, Ryan Murphy, Sarah Paulson, Sterling K. Brown, The People v. O.J. Simpson, Titanic, Training Day | Leave a comment

Risen

Posted on March 14, 2016 by Mark DuPré

Risen is a fascinating film in what it gets right, and its major strength is its main weakness. It’s the story of Clavius (Joseph Fiennes), a Roman tribune assigned to find Jesus’ dead body after it’s been assumed that his … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Reviews, Newer films | Tagged Bartholomew, Ben Hur, Clavius, Hatfields & McCoys, Jesus, Joseph Fiennes, Kevin Reynolds, Oscar champ, Passion of the Christ, Risen, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Stephen Hagan, The Robe Barabbas, Waterworld | Leave a comment

2016 Oscar Report

Posted on February 29, 2016 by Mark DuPré

It’s true—the Oscar telecast is getting less and less interesting each year. There are many reasons for that, which we won’t get into here. But last night’s wasn’t the worst. It was saved by a controversy and several surprise—even … Continue reading →

Posted in Film-Related Articles | Tagged #OscarsSoWhite, 'Til It Happens to You, 2016 Oscars, Alejandro Iñárritu, Alicia Vikander, Best Cinematography, Best Visual Effects, Birdman or the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance, Bridge of Spies, Chris Rock, Concussion, Creed, Emmanuel Lubezki, Ennio Morricone, Ex Machina, Girl Scout Cookies, Gravity, Jimmy Nape, Lady Gaga, Leonardo DiCaprio, Mad Max: Fury Road, Mark Rylance, Sam Smith, Spectre, Spotlight, Star Wars, Sylvester Stallone, The Danish Girl, The Hateful Eight, The Hunting Ground, The One Percent, The Revenant, Wild Wild West, Will Smith, Writing's on the Wall | Leave a comment

Hail, Caesar!

Posted on February 28, 2016 by Mark DuPré

I so wanted Hail, Caesar! to be as good as its trailer. It had all the ingredients that would delight this film nerd: references to movie situations and characters that I would get and most everyone else wouldn’t (appeal to … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Reviews, Newer films | Tagged Alden A, Alden Ehrenreich, Barbra Streisand, Beautiful Creatures, Ben Hur, Blue Jasmine, Capital Pictures, Channing Tatum, Coen brothers, Eddie Mannix, Esther Williams, Frances McDormand, Gene Autry, gene kelly, George Clooney, George Reeves, Hail Caesar!, Hedda Hopper, Hobie Doyle, House Un-American Activities Committee, Javier Bardem, Jeff Bridges, Jonah Hill, Josh Brolin, Louella Parsons, O Brother Where art Thou?, Ralph Fiennes, Roger Deakins, Scarlett Johansson, Sean Penn, Superman, The Robe, Tilda Swinton | Leave a comment