At the Movies by Ric Pantale
Instead of reviewing HEAVEN’S GATE as a lost gem, I’ve decided to move on in February, a month with Valentine’s Day in it, to cover another lost masterpiece that is considered to be very romantic by many people, THE LAST OF THE MOHICANS. In addition to STAR WARS, this is one film that gained a reputation of multiple viewing by its enormous number of fans. This 1992... Read More
At the Movies by Ric Pantale
For the next few columns, I plan to write about films that were underrated or misunderstood when they first came out, starting with HEAVEN’S GATE (1980) How do you describe a film that is synonymous with box office bomb? Its director, Michael Cimino, had just finished his sensational Academy Award-laden film, The Deer Hunter. Heaven’s Gate cost 44 million dollars in 1980,... Read More
At the Movies by Ric Pantale
Holiday movies are a wonderful way to get into the spirit of things. Every year at this time, the media makes lists of the great old films we’ve all seen and enjoyed. Who hasn’t seen It’s a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Carol and A Christmas Story—all mandatory viewing. But what about really fine films that somehow fall through the cracks? What about the dreaded remakes—that... Read More
At the Movies by Ric Pantale
My columns for November & December could be interchangeable. That is to say, just about any holiday movie choice for Thanksgiving also works for Christmas and the other Winter holidays. So for November, I chose to do something a little different. I hope you find it amusing. Holiday Movie Facts: • Miracle On 34th Street (1947) Edmund Gwenn, who played Santa Claus in the film... Read More
At the Movies by Ric Pantale
At the Movies In case you haven’t noticed, it’s nearly Halloween time—a time for witches and goblins and things that go bump in the night. It’s also the season for scary movies, both intentional and unintentional. I’ve made a list of films I think might enhance your enjoyment of Halloween. Funny how Halloween is a whole a season, not just one day in... Read More
At the Movies by Ric Pantale
What Were They Thinking? Recently I’ve noticed that movie advertisements often include the phrase Brought to you by the director of …” How ridiculous that sentence is! Why? Just because a director might have hit paydirt with an earlier work surely doesn’t guarantee that his present film is any good. We all know making a movie is a crap shoot; no one knows during... Read More
The Hollywood Western
Recently I saw the re-make of True Grit and I enjoyed it but it set off a bunch of thoughts about Hollywood and the Western. We think of the OldWest only from what we get from Hollywood. In so many cases, it is a place that never existed. As the saying goes, When the fact becomes legend, print the legend. The real West wasn’t about good guys wearing white hats and cowboys... Read More
At the Movies: Movies You May Have Missed, By Ric Pantale
• THE WAY BACK (2010) Thriller This fine film might have slipped by you. It is a true story. It stars Jim Sturgess, Colin Farrell and Ed Harris. In 1940 four prisoners break out of a Siberian prisoner of war camp and try an impossible 4,000 mile walk to freedom. Read More Read More
