Category Archives: Newer films

Dunkirk

Posted on August 21, 2017 by Mark DuPré

Dunkirk is extraordinary. It’s a film, yes (a real film, but more on that later), but also an event and an experience. It should be seen in IMAX if at all possible, as with much of director Christopher Nolan’s previous … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Reviews, Newer films | Tagged A Bridge Too Far, Agent Carter, Alejandro Iñárritu, Alfonso Cuaron, Ang Lee, Bridge of Spies, Broadchurch, Brokeback Mountain, Christopher Nolan, Cillian Murphy, Damien Chazelle, Dunkirk, Fionn Whitehead, Gravity, Harry Styles, Inception, Intolerance, James D'Arcy, Kenneth Branagh, La La Land, Lawrence of Arabia, Life of Pi, Mad Max: Fury Road, Mark Rylance, Mrs. Miniver, Richard Attenborough, The Dark Knight Rises, The Revenant, Tom Hardy, Will Attenborough | Leave a comment

The Big Sick

Posted on August 13, 2017 by Mark DuPré

I’ve been telling my film students for the last 20 years that they have been raised during one of the worst periods for romantic comedies in film history. I’ve encouraged them to pretty much ignore what passes for both comedy … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Reviews, Newer films | Tagged Annie Hall, Billy Crystal, Emily V. Gordon, Holly Hunter, Judd Apatow, Kumail Nanjiani, Meg Ryan, Michael Showalter, Notting Hill, Ray Romano, The Big Sick, Tom Hanks, Zoe Kazan | Leave a comment

The Shack

Posted on July 23, 2017 by Mark DuPré

Things to get out of the way: Yes, it’s taken me this long to see The Shack. And yes, I started to read the book years ago, but was one of the few who never finished it. Plus, I’m posting … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Reviews, Newer films | Tagged Avraham Aviv Alush, Biblical exegesis, Chariots of Fire, Chris DuPre, Christians, Diary of a Country Priest, God the Father, Hallmark Hall of Fame, Holy Spirit, Jesus, Narnia, Octavia Spencer, Papa, Sam Worthington, Sumire, The Blind Side, The Shack, Tim McGraw, Trinity, Wizard of Oz | 1 Comment

Spider-Man: Homecoming

Posted on July 22, 2017 by Mark DuPré

The awkwardly titled newest entry in the Spider-Man series generally succeeds in rebooting the series, and turns into one of the most enjoyable—and funny—mainstream films of the year. There are pitfalls aplenty in rebooting a series so often in such … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Reviews, Newer films | Tagged Andrew Garfield, Billy Elliott the Musical, Captain America: Civil War, CD, Emma Stone, General Zod, In the Heart of the Sea, Iron Man, London, Man of Steel, Marisa Tomei, Marvel, Michael Keaton, Peter Parker, Spider-Man: Homecoming, Superman, The Impossible, The Lost City of Z, Tom Holland, Vulture, West End, Wolf Hall, Wonder Woman | Leave a comment

Wonder Woman

Posted on June 22, 2017 by Mark DuPré

Wonder Woman does a lot of challenging things right. Like Marvel’s The Avengers, this DC Comics film has to accommodate almost too many elements, and yet, surprisingly, holds them fairly well in balance. There are viewer expectations of every stripe … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Reviews, Newer films | Tagged Amazons, Chris Pine, DC Comics, Diana, Gal Gadot, male gaze, Patty Jenkins, Themyscira, Wonder Woman | Leave a comment

Alien: Covenant

Posted on June 17, 2017 by Mark DuPré

A mini-review…. This film has beautiful production design, excellent cinematography, and a star-making performance by Michael Fassbender (who is already a star). On the other hand, there’s nothing new here. After wandering far afield of the Alien myth with 2012’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Reviews, Newer films | Tagged Alien, Alien: Covenant, Katherine Waterston, Michael Fassbender, mini-review, Prometheus, Ridley Scott, Ripley, Sigourney Weaver | Leave a comment

Denial (2016)

Posted on May 29, 2017 by Mark DuPré

One of the great disappointments in the art of film occurs when a great story, or even an important and engaging one, becomes a film that is just “fine.” If the film were a dud, there might be the chance … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Reviews, Newer films | Tagged Andrew Scott, BBC, Denial, Holocaust, Mark Gatiss, Mick Jackson, Moriarty, Rachel Weisz, Sherlock, Temple Grandin, Timothy Spall, Tom Wilkinson, Will Attenborough | Leave a comment

Guardians of the Galaxy, Vol. 2

Posted on May 20, 2017 by Mark DuPré

The second installment of the Guardians series is nearly critic-proof. At this point, the franchise has a life of its own, and is successful enough at entertaining that snipes are harmless to the films and serious analysis is nearly pointless. … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Reviews, Newer films | Tagged Adolescent Groot, Baby Groot, Bradley Cooper, Chris Pratt, Clark Gable, Ego, Frozen, Gamora, Guardians of the Galaxy, Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2, Jennifer Lawrence, Karen Gillan, Kurt Russell, Marvel, Nebula, Olaf, Passengers, Peter Quill, Rocket, Star-Lord, The Hunger Games, Vin Diesel, Zoe Saldana | Leave a comment

The Birth of a Nation (2016)

Posted on May 9, 2017 by Mark DuPré

The Birth of a Nation was the biggest film non-happening of 2016. This was the film that was bought at Sundance for $17.5 million. It was thought it was going to be one of the critical hits of the year, … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Reviews, Newer films | Tagged Nat Turner, Nate Parker, The Birth of a Nation | Leave a comment

Beauty and the Beast

Posted on April 24, 2017 by Mark DuPré

If you loved Beauty and the Beast and just enjoyed it, don’t read the following. Seriously. I usually don’t like to see “event films” or those preceded by great hype, on the opening weekend. I had to wait longer than … Continue reading →

Posted in Film Reviews, Newer films | Tagged Aaron Tveit, Angela Lansbury, Audra McDonald, Be Our Guest, Beauty and the Beast, Belle, Dan Stevens, Emma Thompson, Emma Watson, Ewan McGregor, Gaston, Josh Gad, Kevin Kline, La La Land, Le Fou, Les Miserables, Loving, Luke Evans, Lumiere, Matthew Crawley, Moulin Rouge!, Mrs. Potts, Room, Stanley Tucci, The Imitation Game, The Jungle Book | Leave a comment