Starring: Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron, Oscar Levant Director: Vincente Minelli Gene Kelly had an idea about a balletic dance sequence set to a Gershwin song, and An American In Paris was born. It centres around three friends just after WW2, who are trying to find work and make ends meet in Paris, when two of… Continue reading 105 Must Watch Films: An American In Paris (1951)
Starring: Marlon Brando, Eva Marie Saint, Karl Malden Director: Elia Kazan "I could have been a contender..." Yes, this is that movie. Brando plays Terry Molloy, a ex-prizefighter who never really made it, and who has ended up as a dock worker. But there is corruption on the docks, with the unions being run by… Continue reading 105 Must See Films: On The Waterfront (1954)
Starring: Marilyn Monroe, Richard Widmark Director: Roy Baker After reading a biography of Monroe recently, I read about this film, made before she was a big star. It interested me because Marilyn plays an unhinged babysitter in a psychological thriller, which is so against type. Back in the day, Marilyn's studio knew that she was… Continue reading Don’t Bother To Knock (1952)
Starring: Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, Kim Basinger, Kevin Spacey, Danny DeVito Director: Curtis Hanson A twisting tale of lies, corruption and organised crime in 1950's Hollywood. The film has an ensemble cast, with a cop who wants to help people (Crowe) even if he has to break rules to do it, a cop who wants… Continue reading 105 Must See Films: LA Confidential (1997)
Starring: Tom Hanks, Mark Rylance, Alan Alda Director: Stephen Spielberg James Donovan (Hanks) is an insurance lawyer tasked with defending a captured Communist spy, Rudolf Abel (Rylance), a job that nobody wants to touch. In his honest way, he expects the trial to be carried out in a just manner, and when it is not,… Continue reading Bridge of Spies (2015)
Starring: Kevin Bacon, Daniel Stern, Steve Guttenberg, Mickey Rourke, Timothy Daly, Ellen Barkin, Paul Reiser Director: Barry Levinson Baltimore 1959: a group of friends contemplate their futures and the nature of growing up over several conversations in their favourite diner hangout, as one of their number questions whether to get married. It's painful to watch.… Continue reading 105 Must Watch Film: Diner (1982)
Wildfire Movies 