REVIEW: Philomena

Directed by Stephen Frears
2013 Drama
1 hour 38 minutes
From 20th Century Fox

Starring
Judi Dench
Steve Coogan
Sophie Kennedy Clark
Anna Maxwell Martin
Mare Winningham
Peter Hermann
Sean Mahon
Ruth McCabe
Wunmi Mosaku

REVIEW: Dallas Buyers Club

Directed by Jean-Marc Vallée
2013 Biographical Drama
1 hour 57 minutes
From Focus Features

Starring
Matthew McConaughey
Jennifer Garner
Jared Leto
Denis O'Hare
Steve Zahn
Dallas Roberts
Griffin Dunne

REVIEW: Kill Your Darlings

Directed by John Krokidas
2013 Biographical Drama
1 hour and 44 minutes
From Sony Pictures Classics

Starring
Daniel Radcliffe
Dane DeHaan
Michael C. Hall
Jack Huston
Ben Foster
David Cross
Jennifer Jason Leigh
Elizabeth Olsen
David Rasche
John Cullum
Kyra Sedgwick

Shane, Come Back

The kid who uttered those immortal lines was, of course, Brandon deWilde.  He was, as they say, born in a trunk, but his theatrical parents were not enthusiastic about bringing him into the business.  His father, Fritz, was a Broadway stage manager and mother Genie was a part-time actress.  They were determined to provide their son with as normal an upbringing as they knew how.

REVIEW: Big Sur

Directed by Michael Polish
2013 Biographical Drama
1 hour 21 minutes
From 3311 Productions and
Ketchup Entertainment

Starring
Jean-Marc Barr
Kate Bosworth
Josh Lucas
Radha Mitchell
Anthony Edwards
Balthazar Getty
Patrick Fischler
Stana Katic
Henry Thomas
John Robinson

REVIEW: The Best Man Holiday

Directed by Malcolm D. Lee
2013 Comedy Drama
From Universal Pictures
2 hours

Starring
Taye Diggs
Morris Chestnut
Terrence Howard
Sanaa Lathan
Nia Long
Monica Calhoun
Harold Perrineau
Regina Hall
Melissa De Sousa
Eddie Cibrian

Picture Quiz II

Well, gee, you did so well on the first Picture Quiz that I thought it was time for another one.  Just identify the titles of 10 movies... no scoring, no popcorn, no problem.

The Directors: Richard Brooks

Maverick is a word that always held an attraction for me.  My trusty dictionary says it is a term for a lone dissenter, perhaps an intellectual, an artist or politician, but definitely one who takes an independent stand apart from his or her associates.  It is a nonconforming individualist, a free thinker, one who pursues  rebellious, even potentially disruptive, ideas or policies.  They say you can't muzzle a maverick.  Richard Brooks was such a man.

Happy Birthday to Us

Let's celebrate my birthday today.  Yes, a Scorpio whose horoscope once read... you may be forgotten but you will never be ignored.  Ha.  Well, I am not forgetting or ignoring two dozen others,  famous in one way or another, who were also born today.  Let's just have a big party. You're invited.

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof: Favorite Movie #6

1958 Drama
From MGM
Directed by Richard Brooks

Starring
Elizabeth Taylor
Paul Newman
Burl Ives
Jack Carson
Judith Anderson
Madeleine Sherwood