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Netflix’s series Roman Empire: Reign of Blood follows the recent docu-series movement, mixing historians, narration, and drama over multiple episodes. It also continue the trend moving from sword-and-sandal epics to blood-and-boobs entertainment (to paraphrase a line from Adrian Goldsworthy). The story starts with the end of the emperor Marcus Aurelius’ reign and focuses on his […]
There are some movies currently streaming online that I wanted to pass along to readers. First up is Coriolanus available for free to Amazon Prime members. Directed by and starring Ralph Fiennes while John Logan adapted the play for the screen. I was impressed by the whole production, which was as troubling on the screen […]
While we’re on the topic of Don Quixote, I wanted to mention Terry Gilliam’s umpteenth try at filming a movie based on Cervantes’ book. There are many articles available, but here are two I liked: Terry Gilliam on finally filming Don Quixote: ‘Adam Driver is bankable! Thank God for Star Wars!’ and Video: Watch Terry […]
Last night my wife and I went to see the 2015 movie Bill, which has the tagline of “How Bill became Shakespeare.” As far as I know, this was the only U.S. screening before its DVD release in the states next month. Thanks to Fathom Events for another wonderful media experience. If you’re familiar with […]
Details on the screening Written up at midnight after seeing the Stratford Festival’s screening of King John, while a few thoughts I actually had during the viewing are with me. Forgive the hasty nature of this post. Philip Faulconbridge, the Bastard, is a marvelous character, and not just in the sense he’s a “type” that […]
I have been looking forward to the upcoming Stratford Festival screening of King John for several reasons, but especially since I’ve only seen it once. The play can be described as erratic, but there are some wonderful moments in it. The selection of incidents Shakespeare includes in the play brings home the parallels between the […]
Adding to the continuing series of books in movies… In Captain America: The Winter Soldier (2014), Steve Rogers’ climbs in through the window of his apartment after realizing someone has broken in. There are two shelves you see him pass by on his way to see who’s in his apartment. He passes by the second […]
The Firemen’s Ball. 1967. Czechoslovakia. Directed by Milos FormanPicture source First a few links, since they provide useful information and background: The movie’s page on Milos Forman’s official website provides a nice overview, troubles in releasing it, interesting trivia, some of Forman’s comments, and links to reviews. My favorite part is at the […]
The Collected Works posted a link earlier today to a YouTube video of Leonard Nimoy as Roger in the 1963 movie version of Jean Genet’s The Balcony. I have not watched the movie, but I was happy to watch these short clips. It highlights the absurdity of the play while providing Nimoy a great role. […]
This was the first screening of the Stratford Festival HD: From Stage to Screen Series that is now underway. They intend to offer 38 of Shakespeare’s plays…similar to that of the BBC’s Shakespeare project from 1978-1985 plus Two Noble Kinsmen. If last night’s show is any indication of the quality of the series, I am […]
Well, despite the press release over two months ago this was news to me: Three of Shakespeare’s great dramas about the burdens, madness and romance of ruling, all performed by one of the world’s premier repertory theater companies – The Stratford Festival in Ontario Canada – come to select U.S. cinemas courtesy of Fathom Events […]
I usually enjoy the Coen brothers’ movies, I really do. And as much as I love O Brother, Where Art Thou? I find myself not watching it when I have the chance in order to avoid a certain feeling of fatigue. It had been a while since I had seen Songcatcher…actually last viewed upon it’s […]
Last night I was watching 2013’s movie Now You See Me, a film about four magicians/illusionists who pull scams for the benefit of their audiences. After the first job (what appears to be a bank heist), the FBI comes to the illusionists’ suite to arrest them. The character played by Woody Harrelson is on the […]
In my post on Rambling on: An Apprentice’s Guide to the Gift of the Gab by Bohumil Hrabal I mentioned that Jiří Menzel had directed a movie based on those stories set in the Kresko settlement of Bohemia. I finally watched a copy of the movie with English subtitles and I found it almost as […]
I apologize for the unplanned silence. I haven’t really felt like reading or posting lately, so maybe a break was what was needed. Since I haven’t read much I’ll post on what I’ve recently watched, which was infinitely better. Trevor at The Mookse and the Gripes has a great review of Inside Llewyn Davis, the […]
The boys and I started reading The Three Musketeers last week and we’re enjoying it. Looking to see what film versions were available for instant viewing I found 1973’s movie directed by Richard Lester and written by George MacDonald Fraser (of Flashman fame). I’ve always enjoyed Lester’s and Fraser’s version and the kids love the […]
I stumbled across this film on Netflix’s instant viewing and decided to watch it since I was familiar with Robert Louis Stevenson’s book, although it’s been quite a while since I’ve read it. I not sure why I wasn’t expecting much, especially since I thought it would be a solid cast, but I think I […]
Renata Adler’s “Letter from Selma”, about the civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, is available at The New Yorker. The real magicians of Latin America looks at Machado de Assis and “the publication by Dalkey Archive Presshttps://dalkeyarchive.store/products/selected-stories?_pos=1&_psq=machado&_ss=e&_v=1.0 [scheduled for March] of a book simply titled Stories, which contains 13 of Machado’s stories, 10 […]
OK, trying to get my posting legs again… Shin Dong-hyuk (born Shin In Guen) was born in a North Korean political prison camp and lived there until he escaped at the age of 23. He eventually made his way to South Korea and the United States. After I posted on Escape from Camp 14 by […]
In the comments of my post on If This Is a Man Miguel of St. Orberose blog stole my intended opening for Anthony Sher’s performance in Primo: Primo Levi’s book is a monumental exposition of the concentration camp system, and also of the mentalities that developed inside these horrible places; extraordinary what the prisoners had […]