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.

Philomena

Posted on December 28, 2013 by Mark DuPré

In the midst of noise, overused special effects and all that Oscar bait sits Philomena, a small-to-medium sized film of great talent, beautiful moments, some confusing turns and the inimitable Judi Dench. Philomena tells the true story of a woman … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Reviews, Newer films | Tagged Judi Dench, Philomena, Stephen Frears, Steve Coogan, The Queen | Leave a comment

American Hustle

Posted on December 26, 2013 by Mark DuPré

In some ways, American Hustle reminded me of Joe Wright’s 2012 version of Anna Karenina. Wright burst onto the international scene with a thoughtful and wildly entertaining Pride and Prejudice in 2005, followed by 2007’s Atonement, which was occasionally too … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Reviews, Newer films | Tagged American Hustle, Amy Adams, Atonement, Bradley Cooper, Christian Bale, David O. Russell, Jacki Weaver, Jennifer Lawrence, Jeremy Renner, Joe Wright, Pride and Prejudice, Robert DeNiro, The Fighter | Leave a comment

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

Posted on December 24, 2013 by Mark DuPré

The good news is that this middle film of the trilogy is a great improvement over The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. Director Peter Jackson has forsaken, thankfully, his use of 48-frames-per-second, which created a plastic, video look to the sets, … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Reviews, Newer films | Tagged Benedict Cumberbatch, Ian McKellen, Martin Freeman, Peter Jackson, Richard Armitage, Sherlock, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug | 1 Comment

Saving Mr. Banks

Posted on December 23, 2013 by Mark DuPré

Saving Mr. Banks is the story of the creative tug of war between Walt Disney and P.L. Travers, the author and protector of Mary Poppins, which Disney had tried to turn into a film for nearly two decades. It’s soft … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Reviews, Newer films | Tagged Colin Farrell, Emma Thompson, Mary Poppins, P.L. Travers, Paul Giamatti, Saving Mr. Banks, The Blind Side, The Rookie, Tom Hanks | Leave a comment

Blonde Venus (1932) and Applause (1929)

Posted on December 23, 2013 by Mark DuPré

Sometimes the vagaries of a changing personal schedule can provide opportunities for comparisons that wouldn’t be discernible otherwise. Being a bona fide film nerd, I am always catching up films I haven’t seen at all or in a while. Finishing … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Reviews, Film-Related Articles, Older Films | Tagged Applause, Blonde Venus, Cary Grant, Helen Morgan, Joseph von Sternberg, Marlene Dietrich, Paramount, Rouben Mamoulian | Leave a comment

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Posted on December 14, 2013 by Mark DuPré

Yes, it’s true. The second in the series is a better film than the first. It’s leaner, tougher and grittier—the elements the first lacked to its detriment. And yes, it helps if you have seen the first one. (In fact, … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Reviews, Newer films | Tagged Francis Lawrence, Gary Ross, Jenna Malone, Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Kardashians, Stanley Tucci, The Hunger Games, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire | Leave a comment

Gravity

Posted on October 27, 2013 by Mark DuPré

In spite of its financial and critical success, Gravity isn’t the best film of the year. We have a few months to go, but right now Captain Phillips holds that place. Yet there is nothing in all of film that … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Reviews, Newer films | Tagged 2001: A Space Odyssey, Alfonso Cuaron, Emmanuel Lubezki, George Clooney, Gravity, Lumiere Brothers, Sandra Bullock, The Blind Side, Tree of Life | Leave a comment

Five Supporting Performances that Don’t Get the Attention They Deserve

Posted on October 19, 2013 by Mark DuPré

I’m taking a break from reviews and analyses to touch on five supporting performance over the years that haven’t gotten the attention they deserve. They are all over the place in time and style, but they are all worthy of … Continue reading →

Posted in Film-Related Articles | Tagged Alice Faye, Amy Smart, Anna Faris, Bleak House, Carey Mulligan, Cary Grant, Charles Dance, Claude Rains, Delores Gray, gene kelly, Gillian Anderson, Hugh Grant, Ingrid Bergman, it's always fair weather, Julia Roberts, Julie Hagerty, Just Friends, Madame Konstantin, Merman, Notorious, Notting Hill, on the town, Rhys Ifans, Ryan Reynolds, singin' in the rain, stanley donen | Leave a comment

Captain Phillips

Posted on October 15, 2013 by Mark DuPré

Captain Phillips is being presented as a Tom Hanks movie. It’s actually a Paul Greengrass film. Greengrass, perhaps best known as the director of the last two Bourne movies, ought to be best known for United 93, a near-brilliant retelling … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Reviews, Newer films | Tagged Barkhad Abdi, Captain Phillips, Catherine Keener, Paul Greengrass, Road to Perdition, Tom Hanks, United 93 | Leave a comment

Rush

Posted on October 7, 2013 by Mark DuPré

Rush is one of those films that many people will get excited about, and will then pretty much disappear. It’s a rush, to be sure, and its surface is generally pretty and shiny and fast moving. When it was over, … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Reviews, Newer films | Tagged Chris Hemsworth, Daniel Bruhl, House, Inglourious Basterds, M.D., Olivia Wilde, Ron Howard, Rush, The Incredible Burt Wonderstone | Leave a comment