Brian's Thoughts on Movies

“I don’t feel I have to wipe everyone out, Tom.   Just my enemies”   Micheal Corleone (Al Pacino) in The Godfather Part II As always, there are major spoilers below. Recently Fathom Events held a screening for The Godfather, Part II.   Due to a technical issue the film started with sound but no picture.   In the audience we heard the gunshot that murders of Vito Andolini’s brother during his father’s funeral but did not see it and I recall being more aware than ever of the power of that gunshot disrupting what was already a tragic event.   A community in Sicily is trying to survive but is kept ever oppressed by the local mafia family, headed by Don Cicio, who seems to do little but try to destroy any potential threat to his power.   Eventually the picture was restored and restarted and I had the joy of seeing this magnificent film on the big screen for the first time.   For three hours and twenty minutes I was mesmerized.   Prior to ...

I was always told that there would be someone who came along that was a lot better than me, and you are definitely better than me Jack."  Ed Sheeran in Yesterday Two of the most interesting credits on the film Yesterday would seem to be diametrically opposed: Writer: Richard Curtis and Director: Danny Boyle.  Both men are about the same age and work primarily in the British film industry but there is where the similarities stop.  Most of Curtis’ films are romantic comedies in which an ordinary person ends up with someone who would by societal standards would be considered unattainable.  Often the higher profile person finds his or her better nature by being involved with the protagonist, who has a loyal set of quirky friends.   Usually one friend in particular is a misfit but the protagonist benefits in the end by putting up with him or her.  The climax of these films usually show one party finding the courage to declare his or her love for the...