To see my running list of the hundred greatest movie stars in American film history, click here All stars are listed with a single film which is particularly important, though not exclusively so, to understanding what makes them vital to American movies. 45) Gene Hackman / Key film – Hoosiers Leading men can be many… Read More Better than AFI’s 100 Years…100 Stars: 41-45
Dir. George Seaton. Starring Burt Lancaster, Helen Hayes, Dean Martin Dir. George Seaton. Starring Burt Lancaster, Helen Hayes, Dean Martin There’s one really good moment in this movie, and I think it’s sort of ironic that it’s such a good moment because in a better movie I don’t think it would have worked nearly as… Read More Airport (1970)
Dir. Fred Perry. Starring Burt Lancaster, Janet Landgard, Janice Rule It’s a shame this movie doesn’t work better. If it were made in the present, I like to think that some of the more surreal photography would be amplified, although what would be much more likely is that A24 would get a hold of the… Read More The Swimmer (1968)
Dir. David Miller. Starring Burt Lancaster, Robert Ryan, James MacColl I’m not entirely sure where this paradox begins. When people read a story or watch a movie or whatever about a dramatic historical event, they look for the depiction thereof to have even more drama scooped on top of it. However, it stands to reason… Read More Executive Action (1973)
Dir. Daniel Mann. Starring Shirley Booth, Burt Lancaster, Terry Moore I’m not an alcoholic, and if there have been alcoholics in my life I couldn’t name them. I couldn’t say whether or not it’s likely that an alcoholic’s first bender in a year would end in him brandishing a knife at his wife, although one… Read More Come Back, Little Sheba (1952)
For a brief introduction and a running list of movies covered in this project, click here 60) Alien (1979), directed by Ridley Scott Last year I was in my living room with a cockroach. I thought I saw it duck out from behind my curtains and then run back behind them, and I wasn’t entirely sure that… Read More Better than BFI’s Top 100: 60-56
I’m joining in the spirit of the year-in-review post, even though the way I watch movies isn’t really conducive to the kind of list that one usually sees at the end of the year. (Incidentally, if you happen to be a recent music aficionado, friend of the blog Matt will have his year-end list of… Read More 2018 Year-End Review: Fifty Movies
Dir. Richard Brooks. Starring Burt Lancaster, Jean Simmons, Shirley Jones When I was at the student newspaper at my university, one of the team’s favorite little perks of the job was getting letters from an especially nutty fellow. Doubtless he sent out these rants to every newspaper, professional or otherwise, in the state, but we… Read More Elmer Gantry (1960)
The following is from my series of Oscar Best Picture rankings, as well as my strongly worded suggestions for what should have won from among the nominees. For an introduction to the project, click here. For a way to vote on some Oscar-related ideas, click here. If I’ve written a review on any of the… Read More Better than the Oscars: 30-26
The following is from my series of Oscar Best Picture rankings, as well as my strongly worded suggestions for what should have won from among the nominees. For an introduction to the project, click here. For a way to vote on some Oscar-related ideas, click here. If I’ve written a review on any of the… Read More Better than the Oscars: 70-66
Seeing Things Secondhand 