RIP Eli Wallach

by Tony Dayoub

"Everyone thinks acting is easy. It's far from easy, but it's the most gratifying thing I do."

- one of the leading proponents and practitioners of the Method, character actor Eli Wallach

Recommended Films - The Magnificent Seven, The Good, The Bad and the Ugly, Cinderella Liberty, The Deep, The Two Jakes, The Godfather: Part III, The Ghost Writer

And an even better list of movies I haven't seen but should: Baby Doll, The Lineup, Seven Thieves, The Misfits, How the West Was Won, Lord Jim, How to Steal a Million, Mackenna's Gold, Crazy Joe, The Hunter, Winter Kills, The Executioner's Song, Nuts, New York, I Love You

Movie Review: Jersey Boys (2014)

by Tony Dayoub

Clint Eastwood, a usually reliable filmmaker, is virtually invisible while directing Jersey Boys, an adaptation of the Broadway musical depicting the rise and ultimate dissolution of the rock/doo-wop icons, Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. Instead, Eastwood stands aside in deference to the material, a by-the-numbers biopic that would be merely serviceable were it not for the group's memorable music. Thanks to the Internet, though, you can queue up "Rag Doll", "Dawn", "December, 1963", or any other Four Seasons song on iTunes or YouTube any old time. So what's left is a mildly interesting story that isn't unique enough to stand above your typical Lifetime TV movie.

Movie Review: How to Train Your Dragon 2 (2014)

by Tony Dayoub

Its poor box office returns are by no means an indication of the quality of How to Train Your Dragon 2, a worthy sequel to its high-flying predecessor. Like the first, this follow-up is the rare movie actually worth seeing in 3D because of its plenitude of dynamic point-of-view shots. You're continuously immersed in the action, often seeing things from the same vantage point as Dragon's underdog hero, one-legged Hiccup (Jay Baruchel). Hiccup is the resourceful dragon rider of Toothless, a rare Night Fury with his own handicap in the form of a mutilated tail.

Movie Reviews: Cold in July (2014) and The Rover (2014)

by Tony Dayoub

A couple of movies, just out in these past few weeks, are worth considering for the way they justify anachronistic masculine concerns with their simple, respective applications of period setting. The Rover is set in the near future, in a world where an unexplained (though I believe the reason is strongly implied) lack of women contributes to the macho aesthetic. Cold in July has it far easier, taking place nearly 30 years ago in Texas where gender equality was not unheard of but definitely slower in getting a foothold.