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The music of ‘Bram Stoker’s Dracula’ makes for a gorgeous exploitation of the senses

“Do not let your eyes see or your ears hear that which you cannot account for.” Abraham Van Helsing’s warning to three men in disbelief of the living dead has a blunt message: Our senses can lie to us. Anthony Hopkins’s off-kilter professor may be one of the top-billed “jewels” in what Francis Ford Coppola …

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The Perils of Passion Projects

Christopher Nolan recently announced a new project entitled Quay, a documentary short about two British stop-motion animators. Set to premiere next week, it’s a far cry from Nolan’s blockbusters in both scope and subject matter. Yet it’s clearly a personal project, with Nolan using his clout and money to promote two obscure filmmakers. Every artist …

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The Mystique of ‘The Godfather’

It might be cliché by now to admit that The Godfather changed my life, but it truly did change my perspective on the possibilities of cinema. At a very young age, I constantly looked forward to going to the movie theatre. I vividly remember being terrified but thrilled by the realistic dinosaurs of Jurassic Park …

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The Murky Induction Into ‘The United States of Murder Inc.’ #1

The United States of Murder Inc. #1 Story by Brian Michael Bendis Art by Michael Avon Oeming Cover by Michael Avon Oeming, David Mack, David Marquez,[more…] Publisher: Marvel Icon 2014 When Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming get together, it’s murder. Powers #1 began so long ago with the death of Retro Girl and The United …

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New on Video: Robert Altman’s ‘Nashville’

“With its eclectic cast of individuals from all walks of life (typical for Altman), its sprawling narrative of disjointed personal and professional connections (ditto), and its setting of a distinctly American city around the time of our nation’s bicentennial, Nashville comes across as more than a fictional depiction of characters embodying certain nationalistic traits; it truly feels like the film itself is America in a nutshell.”

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5 Surprising Personal Passion Projects of Legendary Directors

There’s something inherently lonely and tortured about being a director. Yes, you’re the tyrant of the set and dictator of the vision, but you’re also the man (or woman) behind the curtain, the puppet master who never appears on stage….unless you’re Clint Eastwood or Quentin Tarantino. Or Alfred Hitchcock….or Roman Polanski…ANYWAY, the point is that …

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‘Dracula’, a vampire movie which doesn’t suck

Dracula Directed by Francis Ford Coppola Written by James V. Har 1992, USA In 1992 director Francis Ford Coppola returned to Bram Stokers source novel as the primary source of inspiration for his gothic chiller Dracula, evading the numerous cinematic translations that have haunted cinema screens over the previous century, giving the classic tale a …

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‘Bram Stoker’s Dracula’- a sensual, gothic love triangle adapted from classic tale

Bram Stoker’s Dracula Directed by Francis Ford Coppola Written by James V. Hart 1992, USA There was a time where horror films were not all about torture porn, found-footage or demonic possessions – this was a time when the genre was less indulgent in killing people. Francis Ford Coppola is known for his epic productions, …

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Extended Thoughts on ‘Return to Oz’

Return to Oz Directed by Walter Murch Written by Walter Murch and Gil Dennis Starring Fairuza Balk, Nicol Williamson, Jean Marsh, Piper Laurie The concept of a “Disney movie” will always be accompanied by a unique set of preconceived notions, and yet we can’t ever totally agree on what it means for a film to …

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2012 in Review: Personal Narratives and the Best Films Seen

Cinema, like most arts, exists beyond time and space. They are a medium of transportation, and for most of us, our only opportunity to fulfil our deepest desires and confront our darkest fears. That’s why it seems unfair to look back on a year in film and focus only on new releases. Our year end obsession with …

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Eight Counts of Grand Theft Cinema

We love crime movies. We may go on and on about Scorsese’s ability to incorporate Italian neo-realism techniques into Mean Streets (1973), the place of John Huston’s The Asphalt Jungle (1950) in the canon of postwar noir, The Godfather (1972) as a socio-cultural commentary on the distortion of the ideals of the American dream blah …

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‘Twixt’ Movie Review – Bounces with self-deprecating humour and love for American Kitsch

Twixt Written and directed by Francis Ford Coppola USA, 2011 Francis Ford Coppola’s newest film, Twixt, enters the realm of popular supernatural dime novels. Val Kilmer is Hall Baltimore, a second-rate Stephen King who is in a slump. Not only has he lost all enthusiasm for the series of novels about witches, but his personal …

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Sound Upon Sound: The Conversation

Undertones: Volume 11 Having the misfortune of being dwarfed by the releases of the critical and commercial giants, The Godfather (1972) and The Godfather II (1974), The Conversation (1974) stands as somewhat of an under-appreciated gem in the Francis Ford Coppola filmography. Though lauded by critics upon its release, it was not a hit at …

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Top 5 Vegas Films

Swingers (1996) Directed by Doug Liman It really isn’t hard to see why this film has acquired a cult following. The atmosphere is laid back, the dialogue is some of the best in any 90’s comedy, the characters are appealing and well-drawn, the casting is perfect, the soundtrack is great, and the situations are honest …

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