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.

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

2016 Oscar Nominations—Best Director

Posted on February 26, 2016 by Mark DuPré

This category may well be the hardest to predict—with the possible exception of Best Picture. It’s no longer a given that the two categories are joined at the hip. Ang Lee won Best Director for Brokeback Mountain a decade ago, … Continue reading →

Posted in Film-Related Articles | Tagged 12 Years a Slave, A Letter to Three Wives, Adam McKay, Alejandro Iñárritu, Alfonso Cuaron, All About Eve, Ang Lee, Argo, Best Director, Brokeback Mountain, Crash, George Miller, Gravity, Joseph Mankiewicz, Lawrence of Arabia, Lenny Abrahamson, Life of Pi, Mad Max: Fury Road, Room, Spotlight, The Big Short, The Revenant, Tom McCarthy | Leave a comment

2016 Oscar Nominations: The “Minor” Sure-Thing Awards

Posted on February 25, 2016 by Mark DuPré

To those in the so-called “minor” awards—those outside the top six—the Oscar is anything but minor. But to most folks outside of the industry, the awards outside of the acting, directing and best picture awards are of somewhat less interest. … Continue reading →

Posted in Film-Related Articles | Tagged Amy, Anomalisa, Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Animated Feature, Best Documentary Feature, Best Foreign Language Film, Best Original Screenplay, Boy and the World, Bridge of Spies, Brooklyn, Carol, Ex Machina, Inside Out, Mad Max: Fury Road, Room, Shaun the Sheep, Son of Saul, Spotlight, Straight Outta Compton, The Big Short, The Good Dinosaur, The Martian, When Marnie Was There | Leave a comment

2016 Oscar Nominations—Best Actress

Posted on February 24, 2016 by Mark DuPré

Here are the nominations: Cate Blanchett-Carol Brie Larson-Room Jennifer Lawrence-Joy Charlotte Rampling—45 Years Saoirse Ronen-Brooklyn This category is a bit of a yawn, though it may have set a record for the shortest names of the films they are … Continue reading →

Posted in Film-Related Articles | Tagged 2016 Oscar Nominations: Best Actress, 45 Years, Best Supporting Actress, Brie Larson, Brooklyn, Carol, Cate Blanchett, Charlotte Rampling, Jennifer Lawrence, Joy, Room, Saoirse Ronen | Leave a comment

2016 Oscar Nominations—Best Actor

Posted on February 23, 2016 by Mark DuPré

This year’s nominees are making for a lot of head-scratching in Hollywood. Best Picture and Best Director nominations are presenting a big challenge for predictors. The one “lock” this year, however, is the Best Actor category. Nominees are: Bryan Cranston, … Continue reading →

Posted in Film-Related Articles | Tagged Alicia Vikander, Best Actor nominations, Breaking Bad, Bryan Cranston, Eddie Redmayne, Leo, Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Michael Fassbender, Spencer Tracy, Steve Jobs, The Danish Girl, The Informant!, The Martian, The Revenant, Tom Hanks, Trumbo | Leave a comment

Author Archives: Mark DuPré

About Mark DuPré

Captain America: Civil War

The People v. O.J. Simpson

Risen

Hail, Caesar!

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