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.

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

The Spectacular Now

Posted on September 22, 2013 by Mark DuPré

The Spectacular Now is one of those movies “they” don’t make much anymore. It’s a small-to-medium-sized film, somewhat like a Woody Allen movie in scope. No aliens, no superheroes, no thrilling chases–in fact, New York and Washington are left completely … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Reviews, Newer films | Tagged Bob Odenkirk, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Kyle Chandler, Miles Teller, Shailene Woodley, The Descendants, The Spectacular Now | Leave a comment

Elysium

Posted on August 22, 2013 by Mark DuPré

Count me a fan of director Neil Blomkamp’s 2009’s District 9, which brought a refreshing reinvention to the dystopian sci-fi film with a keen visual sense, a new accomplished performer at the center (Sharlto Copley), and the social resonance of … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Reviews, Newer films | Tagged District 9, Elysium, Jodie Foster, Matt Damon, Neil Blomkamp, Shalto Copley, William Fitchner | Leave a comment

Blue Jasmine

Posted on August 22, 2013 by Mark DuPré

Every year there is at least one master class in acting for us to enjoy, and for those interested, to study. In previous years, it’s been provided by Streep, Day-Lewis, Penn, or Philip Seymour Hoffman. This year, it’s supplied before … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Reviews, Newer films | Tagged Alec Baldwin, Andrew Dice Clay, Annie Hall, Blue Jasmine, Bobby Cannavale, Cate Blanchett, Midnight in Paris, Peter Sarsgaard, Sally Hawkins, Woody Allen | Leave a comment

Lee Daniels’ The Butler

Posted on August 19, 2013 by Mark DuPré

Lee Daniels’ The Butler is nearly a critic-proof film. Its subject matter—a real-life butler who served a number of presidents in the White House—has been tied inextricably into the greater battle for civil rights for African-Americans. That’s the source of … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Reviews, Newer films | Tagged Alan Rickman, Cuba Gooding Jr., David Oyelolo, Forest Whitaker, James Marsden, Jane Fonda, Lee Daniels, Lee Daniels' The Butler, Lenny Kravitz, Liev Schrieber, Mariah Carey, Oprah, Precious, Robin Williams, The Butler, The Color Purple | Leave a comment