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.

12 Years a Slave

Posted on January 19, 2014 by Mark DuPré

Simply put, 12 Years a Slave is the best film of the year, for a myriad of reasons. I’m even more impressed after the second viewing. It’s beautifully shot, with nearly pitch-perfect acting, and a rhythm all its own. Perhaps … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Reviews, Newer films | Tagged 12 Years a Slave, Amazing Grace, Benedict Cumberbatch, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Hans Zimmer, John Newton, John Ridley, Lupita Nyong'o, Michael Fassbender, Paul Dano, Paul Giamatti, Sean Bobbitt, Solomon Northrup, Steve McQueen | Leave a comment

2014 Oscar Noms: Scattered Thoughts

Posted on January 17, 2014 by Mark DuPré

All the speculation is over. The Oscar nominations are in, and the shocked, shocked reactions and harrumphs are being expressed all over the media and blogosphere. Here are mine: This was a fairly predictable year for nominations, and happily, an … Continue reading →

Posted in Film-Related Articles | Tagged 12 Years a Slave, 2014 Oscar Noms--Scattered Thoughts, All is Lost, American Hustle, Bradley Cooper, Bruce Dern, Captain Phillips, Christian Bale, Dallas Buyers Club, Daniel Bruhl, Emma Thompson, Forest Whitaker, Frozen, Fruitvale Station, Gravity, Idris Elba, Jared Leto, Judi Dench, Lee Daniels' The Butler, Leonardo DiCaprio, Lupita Nyong'o, Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, Meryl, Michael B. Jordan, Nebraska, Oprah, Oscar nominations, Paul Greengrass, Philomena, Prisoners, Robert Redford, Roger Deakins, Rush, Saving Mr. Banks, Scorsese, The Color Purple, The Wolf of Wall Street, Tom Hanks | Leave a comment

Diary of a Country Priest (French, 1951)

Posted on December 30, 2013 by Mark DuPré

I tell my film students to give themselves over to whatever film they’re watching; let the film draw you into its world and take you for whatever ride it wants. Perhaps no film is more challenging for a modern audience … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Reviews, Older Films | Tagged Claude Laydu, Diary of a Country Priest, Passion of Joan of Arc, Robert Bresson | Leave a comment

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