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Film & TV on DVD - John Doe News & Reviews

Greetings Film Fiends and welcome to John Doe's Film Blog. 30 years of dedicated celluloid obsession has meant that I have seen a few films. Drawing attention to some of the lesser discussed gems that I love. Cult classics, obscure curios and quality genre pictures. This blogs purpose is to translate some of my passion for these films and with luck, inspire you the reader to go check em out.

Film News and Views - Film & TV on DVD

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John Doe's 13 Favourite Irish Themed Films

March 18th 2010 21:12

Top Irish Films to nurse that St Paddy’s Day Hangover

millers crossing, irish films, crime films, coen brothers

John Doe takes his hat off to the happy Go Lucky Land and the films that embrace the Culture.

It’s the morning after St Patrick’s Day here in America and John Doe is struggling to see the world through blood shot eyes. Regretting downing that 15th pint of Guinness at 3am, the leprechaun inside his head relentlessly pounds on the side of it's wretched pot of gold. JD had big plans for today, but now all he wants to do is lie on the couch and indulge in some shamrock cinema.

So in honour of the day that past and the green, green land that patron saint of Ireland loved so much, here are Johnny’s Top 13 Irish themed motion picture pleasures. (In no particular order)

The Coen Brother’s Millers Crossing(1990)
Starring: Gabriel Byrne, Albert Finney, John Turturro, Marcia Gay Harden, Steve Buscemi

The exquisite Tommy Gun scene set to "Danny Boy" from Miller's Crossing

John Huston’s The Dead (1987)
Starring: Anjelica Huston, Dan O’Herlihy, Donal McCann, Donel Donnelly

the dead, john huston, angelica huston, irish films

John Huston's final Directorial effort is a sumptuos adaptation of the james Joyce novel.

Carol Reed Odd Man Out (1947)
Starring: James Mason, Cyril Cusack, Robert Newton, Dan O’Herlihy

odd man out, irish cinema, irish films, ira, ira movie

James Mason stars in this hunted man masterpiece from the Director of The Third Man

John Ford’s The Informer (1935)
Starring: Victor McLaglen, Preston Foster, Margot Grahame, Heather Angel

The opening ten minutes of The Informers tells of an IRA man looking for redemption in Dublin, 1922.

Jim Sheridan In The Name of the Father (1993)
Starring: Daniel Day Lewis, Emma Thompson, Nye Heron, Anthony Brophy

daniel day lewis, jim sheridan, in the name of the father

Daniel Day Lewis is caged in this politically charged protest film.

Tony Luraschi The Outsider (1980)
Starring: Sterling Hayden, Patricia Quinn, T.P McKenna, Niall O’Brien, Craig Wasson

John Boorman The General (1998)
Starring: Brendon Gleeson, Jon Voight, Adrian Dunbar, Paul Hickey, Angeline Ball, Sean McGinley

the general, john boorman, jon voight, brendon gleeson

Brendon Gleeson and Jon Voight at play in an Ordinary Decent Criminal way.

Paul Greengrass Bloody Sunday (2002)
Starring: James Nesbit, Allan Gildea, Mary Moulds, James Hewitt

bloody sunday, paul greengrass, james nesbitt, irish film

Bloody Sunday relives history with Paul Greengrass' breakout film.

John Ford The Quiet Man (1952)
Starring: John Wayne, Maureen O’Hara, Ward Bond, Victor McLagen, Barry Fitzgerald, Joseph O’Dea

the quiet man, john wayne, maureen ohara, john ford

John ford's love of the Irish countryside is apparent throughout the film. John Wayne plays a guilt riddled boxer who flees to Ireland in hopes of never fighting again.

Phil Joanou State of Grace (1990)
Starring:Sean Penn, Gary Oldman, Ed Harris, Robin Wright Penn, John Turturro, Burgess Meredith, John C Reilly

state of grace, sean penn, ed harris, gary oldman, irish mob

The on form cast embrace their Irish-gangsters-in- New-York personas.

Mike Hodges A Prayer for the Dying (1987)
Starring: Mickey Rourke, Alan Bates, Bob Hoskins, Liam Neeson, Alison Doody

A dodgy trailer that at least gives you an idea what A Prayer for the Dying is about.

Martin McDonagh’s In Bruges (2008)
Starring:Colin Farrell, Brendon Gleason, Ralph Fiennes, Elizabeth Berrington

in bruges, colin farrell, brendon gleeson, beer, crime comedy, hitman

Colin Farrell and Brendon Gleeson get the laughs and our sympathies In Bruges

Troy Duffy’s The Boondock Saints (1999)
Starring:Willem DaFoe, Billy Connolly, Sean Patrick Flanery, Norman Reedus

the boondock saints, willem dafoe, sean patrick flannery, boston

The city of Boston and its Irish heritage are never far from mind in this cult vigilante caper.

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Posted By: JohnDoe - Category: Crime, Drama, Film News and Views

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Corey Haim – A Nostalgic Loss

March 10th 2010 23:40

A Lost Boy Lost

Corey and the Frog Brothers

John Doe woke up this morning to the depressing news that former child star Corey Haim has died at the age of 38. Typically when JD is inspired to pen a eulogy it is to reminisce about the deceased's filmography and to lament what could have been or the legacy left behind. But in this case Johnny emotions are decidedly different. The actor’s passing is more of a nostalgic sorrow than the disappearance of an 80’s icon. Kind of like losing a school friend who for a short period of time you saw every day then you grew apart.

As a teen watching The Lost Boys and Lucas so many times that the VHS tape broke, the little Socially Rejected - Vampire Hunter became a buddy to hang out with after school and on weekends. (Yep Johnny’s adolescent years were that lonely.) Not that his was the strongest presence in his films but the cherub personality and abundant charisma meant he was always noticed as part of the gang.

Showing potential as Lucas

It really is impossible to talk about Corey without referring to the other Corey. The casual chemistry between Haim and Corey Feldman in there many collaborations like Dream a Little Dream and License to Drive was so rich it was easy to forget that they were playing fictional characters and believe they were best pals caught in a movie adventure. Crossing over into a warped reality that must have triggered identity crisis, it was as a pair that they seemed complete and relatable rather than two separate entities.

Anyone who has followed the Haimster over the last decade can’t be too surprised by today’s reports. His personal issues and struggles with addiction triggered by a level of fame that exceeded talent have been well publicized. Abused as a child, exploited by the corporate machine and forced to subsist on past spotlight moments, watch any episode of the short lived reality show “The Two Coreys” and it becomes painfully clear that he was his own worst enemy.

Here is a therapy session from “The Two Corey’s” where you see a saboteur whose own ego and persona was cemented by peaking in childhood and never gaining adult credibility.

The autopsy has not been completed yet, so speculation on prescription drug addiction, over dose and suicide are just rumors. For Johnny it is irrelevant what finally put the nail in the coffin and even less appropriate to judge, but being just 6 months younger than Doe and having such a strong presence in his youth this latest statistic has had a surprising impact. One that he wanted to share with genuine emotion without insulting the memory…hope that line was walked.

Corey Haim R.I.P.

Step back in time with John Doe and revisit Lucas, IMO Corey Haim's finest screen performance.

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Posted By: JohnDoe - Category: Film News and Views

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John Doe’s Top 20 Favourite films of the Decade – Part 3 of 3.

January 12th 2010 00:05

JD’s Favourite Films of the Decade - From #20 to 1

Click HERE to see John Doe’s picks for numbers 40 - 21
Click HERE to see John Doe’s picks for numbers 41-60

Donnie Darko, Richard Kelly, science fiction, film, time travel

Frank, Gretchen and Donnie doing what JD loves most.

Thank you readers for your Ghost Dog like patience.

1. Donnie Darko (2001)
“Why are you wearing that stupid man suit?” - Frank

Donnie Darko, Richard Kelly, science fiction, jake gylenhaull

Donnie darko the film that engaged JD emotionally and intellectually with a deft balance that no film has ever achieved.

2. Requiem For A Dream (2000)
“Purple in the morning, blue in the afternoon, orange in the evening. There's my three meals, Mr. Smartypants.” - Sara Goldfarb

requiem for a dream, jennifer connelly, darren aronofsky

Jennifer Connelly lives through the dissection of all addiction.

3. The Man Who Wasn’t There (2001)
“Me, I don't talk much... I just cut the hair” – Ed Crane

man who wasn't there, coen brothers, billy bob thornton

The Coen Brothers manage homage that is unfaltered in originality, atmosphere and character.

4. Apocalypto (2006)
“I am Jaguar Paw, son of Flint Sky. My Father hunted this forest before me. My name is Jaguar Paw. I am a hunter. This is my forest. And my sons will hunt it with their sons after I am gone.” – Jaguar Paw

apocalypto, mel gibson, chase film, human nature, mayan

5.Wall-E (2008)
“Wall E” - Eve

wall e, pixar, science fiction, animated films

6. Children of Men (2006)
“I can't really remember when I last had any hope, and I certainly can't remember when anyone else did either. Because really, since women stopped being able to have babies, what's left to hope for?” – Theodore Faron

children of men, clive owen, science fiction films,

7. Let The Right One In (2008)
“What happens if you walk in anyway?” – Oskar

let the right one in, vampires, horror film, foreign film

8. Mysterious Skin (2004)
“I was bleeding, I kept passing out, I wet my bed, and you never asked why!” - Brian

mysterious skin, joseph gordon levitt, drama

9. Wonderboys (2000)
“So there it was. Somewhere in the night, a Manhattan book editor was prowling the streets of Pittsburgh; best-selling author at his side, dead dog in his trunk.” – Grady Tripp

wonderboys, michael douglas, robert downey jnr,

10. No Country For Old Men (2007)
“What's the most you ever lost on a coin toss.” – Anton Chiguhr

no country for old men, josh brolin, coen brothers, javier bardem

11. The Wrestler (2008)
“The only place I get hurt is out there…The world don't give a shit about me.” – The Ram

the wrestler, mickey rourke, evan rachel wood, sports films, darren aronofsky, marisa tomeii

12. Memento (2000)
“Memory can change the shape of a room; it can change the color of a car. And memories can be distorted. They're just an interpretation, they're not a record, and they're irrelevant if you have the facts.” - Lenny

memento, chistopher nolan, guy pearce, thriller film

13. Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2008)
“Well, I'm sorry to hear you feel that way, as I put such stock in your opinion. As for me being a gunslinger, I've just got this one granddaddy Paterson Colt and a borrowed belt to stick it in. But I also got an appetite for greater things. I hoped by joining up with you, it'd put me that much closer to getting them.”– Robert Ford

assassination of jesse james, brad pitt, casey affleck, western films

14. There Will Be Blood (2007)
“You're a bastard from a basket.” – Daniel Plainview

there will be blood, paul thomas anderson, daniel day lewis

15. Old Boy (2003)
“If you stand aimlessly at a phone booth on a rainy day, and meet a man whose face is covered by a violet umbrella, I'd suggest that you get close to the TV.” - Dae-su Oh
This hammer battle alone would have placed Old Boy in the Top 60.

16. Zodiac (2007)
"I Need to know who he is. I need to stand there, I need to look him in the eye and I need to know that it's him." - Robert Graysmith

zodiac, david fincher, serial killer, robert downey jnr

17. A History of Violence (2005)
“Yeah? Well, why don't you ask "Tom" about his older brother Ritchie in Philadelphia? Ask "Tom" how he once tried to rip my eye out with barbed wire. And ask him, Edie... ask him how come he's so good at killing people.” – Carl Fogaty

a history of violence, viggo mortensen, david cronenberg

18. Love’s a Bitch (Amores Perros) (2000)
“You know what my grandmother used to say? If you want to make God laugh... tell Him your plans.” -Susana

amores perros, loves a bitch, foreign film

19. Sin City (2005)
“I love hitmen. No matter what you do to them, you don't feel bad.”- Marv

sin city, mickey rourke, robert rodriguez

20. The Incredibles (2004)
“No matter how many times you save the world, it always manages to get back in jeopardy again. Sometimes I just want it to stay saved! You know, for a little bit? I feel like the maid; I just cleaned up this mess! Can we keep it clean for... for ten minutes!” – Mr Incredible