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.

X-Men: Days of Future Past

Posted on June 7, 2014 by Mark DuPré

It’s nearly impossible to pry this film from its many contexts to just judge on its own merits as a film. Is there a context that exists for this film to be viewed “objectively”? I think not. It’s number 7 … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Reviews, Newer films | Tagged and, Anna Paquin, Cesar Award, Ellen Page, Halle Barry, Hugh Jackman, Ian McKellen, James McAvoy, Jennifer Lawrence, Michael Fassbender, Omar Sy, Patrick Stewart, Peter Dinklage, Shailene Woodley, The Avengers, X-Men: Days of Future Past | Leave a comment

The Amazing Spider-Man 2

Posted on May 19, 2014 by Mark DuPré

Full disclosure: I live just outside of Rochester, New York, where several of the sequences for The Amazing Spider-Man 2 were filmed. So the film has achieved a status here far larger than the run-of-the-mill superhero sequel-to-the-reboot. While it was … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Reviews, Newer films | Tagged Andrew Garfield, Dane DeHaan, Electro, Emma Stone, Harry Osborn, In Treatment, Jamie Foxx, Paul Giamatti, Rochester, The Amazing Spider-Man 2, The Help, The Social Network, True Blood | Leave a comment

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Posted on April 28, 2014 by Mark DuPré

No, it’s not better than The Avengers, but it’s certainly a step above and a step to the side from other superhero films. CAWS brings back the dark days of the paranoid political thrillers of the 1970’s complete with Robert … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Reviews, Newer films | Tagged Anthony Mackie, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Chris Evans, Robert Redford, Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, The Avengers, The Hurt Locker, The Parallax View, Three Days of the Condor | Leave a comment

Noah

Posted on April 27, 2014 by Mark DuPré

What a fascinating mess Noah is. It’s beautiful to look at, epic in scope, has solid and committed acting, and is, in far too many ways, completely ridiculous. Anyone expecting any real fidelity to the Biblical story of Noah will … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Reviews, Newer films | Tagged Aronofsky, Bible, Douglas Booth, Emma Watson, Gone with the Wind, Jennifer Connolly, Logan Lerman, Methuselah, Noah, Ray Winstone, Russell Crowe, William Cameron Menzies | Leave a comment

Hallelujah (1929)

Posted on April 20, 2014 by Mark DuPré

Finally filled a gap in my film experience with a viewing of Hallelujah, directed by King Vidor in 1929. It’s another Rorschach test for viewers, who will see any number of things in this second all-black-cast film (and first all-black-cast … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Reviews, Older Films | Leave a comment

Let’s Look Over the Fence: A Necessary Correction

Posted on April 18, 2014 by Mark DuPré

In my old theater classes, we were taught that Oklahoma! (1943) was the first Broadway musical where the songs advanced the plot. Called the first “integrated musical,” it has grabbed its rightful spot as the first of the “modern” stage … Continue reading →

Posted in Film-Related Articles | Tagged "Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man", "Ding-Dong! The Witch is Dead", "If I Only Had a Brain", "Make Believe", "Ol' Man River", "Somewhere Over the Rainbow", "We're Off to See the Wizard", integrated musical, Oklahoma!, Oscar and Hammerstein, Showboat, The Wizard of Oz | Leave a comment

Divergent

Posted on April 6, 2014 by Mark DuPré

The franchise that is Divergent will most likely be remembered for giving Shailene Woodley her first lead role. Many comparisons have been made with The Hunger Games films, as both feature a strong young woman played by an upcoming actress … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Reviews, Newer films | Tagged Divergent, Jennifer Lawrence, Katniss, Shailene Woodley, The Hunger Games, Theo James | Leave a comment

The Grand Budapest Hotel

Posted on March 31, 2014 by Mark DuPré

Wes Anderson is an acquired taste, and not one that I’d acquired until this film. I have nothing against a self-conscious formalism, but Anderson’s formula seemed too studied, too precious, and occasionally twee for my taste. Every director has the … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Reviews, Newer films | Tagged Adrien Broday, Bill Murray, Edward Norton, F. Murray Abraham, Harvey Keitel, Jason Schwartzman, Jeff Goldblum, Jude Law, Mathieu Amalric, Ralph Fiennes, Saoirse Ronan, The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Tony Revolori, Wes Anderson, Willem Defoe | Leave a comment

Frozen

Posted on March 30, 2014 by Mark DuPré

Better Late Than Never… Frozen Finally saw Frozen—apparently after every child in America and half the adults. Not much needs to be added to the adulation. Songs are great if not a little bubble gum at moments. It’s consistently funny … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Reviews, Newer films | Tagged Adele Dazeem, Frozen, Idina Menzel, In Summer, Jonathan Groff, Josh Gad, Kristen Bell, Let it Go, Santino Fontana | Leave a comment

Four Quick Takes–The Lego Movie, Her, 20 Feet from Stardom, Enough Said

Posted on March 8, 2014 by Mark DuPré

Four Quick Takes I recently saw four films, all which I can recommend, though with a reservation here and there. Two won Oscars; one might. The Lego Movie Exhausting and non-stop. But clever and full of adult humor as well. … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Reviews, Newer films | Tagged 20 Feet from Stardom, Enough Said, Her, James Gandolfini, Joaquin Phoenix, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Philip Seymour Hoffmann, Scarlett Johansson, The Lego Movie | 1 Comment