Original US release date: December 14, 1979 Production budget: $35,000,000 Worldwide gross: $92,455,742 In 1979, Steven Spielberg was already riding high. His two previous efforts in the director's chair, Jaws and Close Encounters of the Third Kind, were massive hits, with Jaws being the highest-grossing film of all-time up to that point and the first... Continue Reading →
#ThrowbackThursday – Platoon
Original US release date: December 19, 1986 Production budget: $6,000,000 Worldwide gross: $138,530,565 #ThrowbackThursday returns with the second Oliver Stone film in the last three weeks, with Born on the Fourth of July being the first, two weeks ago. Much like that film, Platoon is also set against the backdrop of the Vietnam War. However, where Born on... Continue Reading →
#ThrowbackThursday – Born on the Fourth of July
Original US release date: December 22, 1989 Production budget: $14,000,000 Worldwide gross: $161,001,698 For the second week in a row, #ThrowbackThursday features a Tom Cruise film. That's not by design (though I can tell you that more are on the way, at some point) and, unlike last week's featured movie, I had never seen Born on... Continue Reading →
#ThrowbackThursday – The English Patient
Original US release date: November 15, 1996 Production budget: $27,000,000 Worldwide gross: $231,976,425 As big of a movie buff as I am, I have spent 21 years dragging my heels when it comes to seeing The English Patient. There's a reason for that. It's not a good reason, though. It's actually a rather stupid reason. ... Continue Reading →
Review – Dunkirk
Christopher Nolan has been my favorite director since the one-two punch of Memento and The Prestige. He always brings such intelligence and flair to his stories and I feel like a thought-provoking experience is always guaranteed when he releases a new film. Having said that, I haven't been all that excited for Dunkirk. War films... Continue Reading →
87. Hacksaw Ridge
And, just like that, here's the fourth film on my list of 10 Fourth Quarter 2016 Films to Be Excited About. This trailer had me at, "Hello," as its central themes of conflict resolution (especially in war) without violence made it a rare standout in the constant onslaught of war-themed films. This is also an... Continue Reading →
70. War Dogs
I've been a little hesitant to see War Dogs. I originally had planned to see it last weekend, but I loved Kubo and the Two Strings so much, I instead opted to see that one a second time. I like the cast and crew behind War Dogs (which is why I ultimately decided to go for it), but... Continue Reading →
14. Whiskey Tango Foxtrot
Based on the memoirs of foreign war correspondent Kim Baker, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot covers the years that Baker spent in Afghanistan, trying to find her niche in life while also trying to forge her way in a setting that doesn't typically support women carving niches. The film is anchored by an incredibly strong and game cast (Mike... Continue Reading →