Author Archives: Mark DuPré

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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.

Red Tails

Posted on January 24, 2012 by Mark DuPré

Red Tails is rousing, brave, extremely well intentioned, a throwback, and historically revisionist. It’s the tale of the Tuskegee Airmen, African-American fighter pilots in World War II. According to producer George Lucas, the film was to be a throwback to … Continue reading →

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The Iron Lady

Posted on January 15, 2012 by Mark DuPré

The buzz about The Iron Lady is that Meryl Streep is fantastic and the film, just so-so. That’s correct. Sometimes a good film highlights a performance, and that performance is what you walk away remembering. Sophie’s Choice—still in my thinking … Continue reading →

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War Horse

Posted on January 9, 2012 by Mark DuPré

I’m a terrible person. I know that I should like War Horse. It’s not even that I am afraid of/resistant to sentimentality. I fully expected this to be a full-throated emotional and sentimental film, and that would have been OK. … Continue reading →

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The Tree of Life, Part Two

Posted on January 2, 2012 by Mark DuPré

I’m doing the second part to a review of The Tree of Life because I want to address some issues separately, and I don’t want my thoughts and criticisms to be folded into a review that reflects my utmost admiration … Continue reading →

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The Tree of Life, Part One

Posted on January 2, 2012 by Mark DuPré

Why so late? Well, I don’t live in a big city, I’m very busy outside of my life of seeing films, and films don’t play very long anymore before being pulled. If I want to catch them in the theater, … Continue reading →

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The Descendants

Posted on January 2, 2012 by Mark DuPré

Alexander Payne, director of The Descendants, simply has to make more films. Off all the takeaways from this wonderful film, this is the probably the biggest. The Descendants is not a perfect film, but an intelligent, insightful film on a … Continue reading →

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The Fall (2006, or -07, or -08, depending)

Posted on December 30, 2011 by Mark DuPré

I use this as my film during the week we study Photography in my film class. It’s beautiful, colorful, simplistic, sublime, and unlike anything you’ve ever seen. It’s directed by Tarsem Singh, here listed simply as Tarsem. If you remember … Continue reading →

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Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows

Posted on December 28, 2011 by Mark DuPré

First of all, don’t see this until you’ve seen Guy Ritchie’s Sherlock Holmes, AKA “the first one.” You’ll understand this one better and enjoy it a lot more. As before, the banter and relationship between Holmes (Robert Downey, Jr.) and … Continue reading →

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Young Adult

Posted on December 28, 2011 by Mark DuPré

Alternatively darkly funny and acrid, Young Adult functions most strongly as a vehicle for a performance by a beautiful movie star who’s not afraid to be ugly on every level. Of course, Charlize Theron going ugly physically is what most … Continue reading →

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Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol

Posted on December 25, 2011 by Mark DuPré

As sleek and shiny as the surfaces of the world’s tallest building and the suits worn by Tom Cruise (Ethan Hunt) and Jeremy Renner (Brandt). One great action sequence after another, with just enough quiet moments to catch your breath. … Continue reading →

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