With the success of Murder on the Orient Express in 1974, it was inevitable that EMI and Paramount would find another Agatha Christie whodunit to adapt. It was 1978 that gave audiences another all-star mystery, another exotic locale, another corpse in a stateroom.

Death on the Nile was the second in a series of films featuring super sleuth Hercule ( Read more... )

We begin Casting Coup Month with an unusual challenge.

The Little Mermaid is credited with bringing Disney Magic back to theaters. Although there are a few recommendable films, the studio hadn't had a significant hit since The Rescuers in 1977. The Little Mermaid was a return to form in many ways. For one, the studio had all but abandoned musicals; ( Read more... )

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And finally, after much delay and suspense, my Top Ten Films of 2009. These are the movies what made me happy that I spend as much time at the movies as I do. It's no coincidence that I experienced all of these in a movie theater -- it is, after all, the way films were meant to be experienced. I've struggled with my Top Three, having changed and ( Read more... )

Before I name my Top Ten, I want to get this out of the way. I love the cinema more than anything. This is something my family and friends have learned to put up with. Every so often, there's one or two or six movies that I can't help but shake my head at. I'm glad to say it was fairly difficult to compile this list. Indeed, some of these things I ( Read more... )

At midnight, 2009 is officially over. Six documentaries, several sets, a film festival, 72 new films, three Supporting Actress Sundays, 189 posts. And, of course, we must make do with these traditional year-end lists ( Read more... )

DAY TWENTY-ONE OF HOLLMANN HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA

This Christmas Eve will be a very special one in my household. My sister had a baby in March, the first of us to do so. Now, my parents and I are visiting family on Christmas Day, but my sister and her daughter will be staying in town, so we're spending Christmas Eve with them. Which means I'll be ( Read more... )

DAY SIXTEEN OF HOLLMANN HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA

Today....we put up the tree! Dad, Sarah and I did the lights. Becky, Sarah and I put up ornaments. I put up the angel with help from Mom and Dad. And my niece, who is celebrating her first Christmas this year, put the cloth ornaments in her mouth. If only Virginia were there; then it would have been a ( Read more... )

DAY THIRTEEN OF HOLLMANN HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA:

A couple of days ago, some friends of mine held a Classy Christmas party! It was wonderful, of course. The men wore neckties, sports jackets and sweater vests; the women wore cocktail dresses and heels. We danced, we sang, we played a cool party game where you rip paper into a Christmas tree behind ( Read more... )

DAY TEN OF HOLLMANN HOLIDAY EXTRAVAGANZA

Life in the film school is busy, you know. This is my first day without any duties to perform, fortunately, and so I can return to my sadly neglected HHE.

We are finally finished with shooting our F3s. This is the third narrative we have completed at the film school, and once again I have achieved a dream ( Read more... )