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.

2024 Oscar Show

I would have thought that a week after the Oscars, there would be nothing left to remember of the ceremony. No real streaker (though we had an imitation one from John Cena), no wrong Best Picture announcement, and especially no … Continue reading

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Oscar Predictions 2024

This year’s Oscar show is likely to be a snooze fest. There might be a surprise here and there, but most folks feel that the awards are already set in stoneSo in the interest of time, and with the reality … Continue reading

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Barbie

What!? You’re writing about Barbie now? Why? Well, a couple of reasons. One is that I usually like to wait until the hubbub/brouhaha is over before writing about a film. This more than any film of 2023 was surrounded with … Continue reading

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The Holdovers

Not a particularly successful film financially,  the dramedy The Holdovers nevertheless managed to snag five Oscar nominations. The Best Picture nomination isn’t even close to being deserved, especially in a year like this. But at least two of the other … Continue reading

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2024 Oscar Nominations: First Thoughts

There’s nothing terribly unexpected about this year’s crop of Oscar nominations. There are a few surprises, of course, some of which are called snubs (more on that later), and some simply indicate the more international flavor the Academy has taken … Continue reading

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Maestro

Maestro, the film directed by, starring, and co-written by middle-aged wunderkind Bradley Cooper, is one of the most anticipated films of the year. Coming as Cooper’s sophomore effort after his wildly successful A Star is Born with Lady Gaga, it … Continue reading

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Three Quick Takes: May December, Godzilla Minus One, and The Killer

Note: This entry is dedicated to my “cousin-in-law” Ryan (R.T.). “It’s the most wonderful time of the year…” for film folks, anyway. The films putting their hands up for awards attention reach their greatest number in the last six weeks … Continue reading

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Napoleon (2023)

Ridley Scott’s new film Napoleon can be compared in many ways to his Gladiator (2000). Some of the comparisons are helpful, but most show the newer film to also be the lesser film. Like Gladiator, Napoleon has artfully crafted and … Continue reading

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All the Light We Cannot See

Louis Hofmann in All the Light We Cannot See Yes, I know it’s technically a mini-series and not a film per se. But as we joke in our house, it’s not a series, but it’s a movie in four parts … Continue reading

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Since You Went Away (1944)

I thought for years that I had been missing a “must see” film, one produced by Gone with the Wind producer David O. Selznick, nominated for nine Oscars, and featuring, as the trailer tells us, “The Most Distinguished Cast of … Continue reading

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