Persians: Can We Join Your Fraternity?

Spartans: No. You go to hell and you die.

So, like, there’s this fraternity of warriors. They are so tough, their children are thrown out to die if they aren’t perfect. At age seven they are thrown naked into the winter wilderness to fight demonic wolves or die trying. Because of this,  warriors - definitely not potters, farmers, artists, or god forbid homosexuals – populate the entire city. They leave that amby-pamby stuff to other city-states. And they spend all their time practicing for war.

First Thing We Do, We Kill All The Editors

Since Titanic (1997) it seems like the Final Cut Pro Principle (FCPP) has trapped us all. This is the principle that Final Cut Pro has turned all directors into editors. (NOTE: I know that Titanic and many other films weren’t edited on Final Cut, they had their own editors separate from the directors; I’m just naming the disease after the software. Disclaimer: I’m also skilled in FCP.)

Written and Directed by Bill Condon
CAST: Jaime Foxx, Beyoncé Knowles, Eddie Murphy, Jennifer Hudson, Danny Glover

So many plays and musicals lose so much when they are transferred to the screen that it is an enormous pleasure when they adapt them to film and get it right. And make no mistake about it, DREAMGIRLS gets it right.

Written and Directed by Marc Lawrence
CAST: Hugh Grant, Drew Barrymore, Kristen Johnson, Brad Garrett, Haley Bennett, Matthew Morrison, Campbell Scott

Since Valentine’s Day was wiped out for us this past week (Feb. 14, 2007) with horrendous weather, my wife and I decided to make Saturday our Valentine’s Day celebration. With another couple, we started our evening at MUSIC AND LYRICS, which turned out to be the perfect movie for our mood and spirits. We met other friends at the theatre who also loved it.

Story by Eddie Murphy and Charles Q. Murphy
Screenplay by Jay Scherick and David Ronn

Directed by Brian Robbins

Starring: Eddie Murphy
Featuring: Thandie Newton, Eddie Griffin, Terry Crews, Marlon Wayans and Cuba Gooding Jr.

Directed by Billy Ray

Story and Screenplay by Adam Mazer & William Rotko
Written by Adam Mazer, William Rotko & Billy Ray

Starring Chris Cooper, Ryan Phillippe, Laura Linney, Caroline Dhavemus, Kathleen Quinlan, Gary Cole, Bruce Davison, Dennis Haysbert

These days, it’s hard to find a Hollywood film that doesn’t underestimate the intelligence of its audience. BREACH assumes its audience is intelligent and manages to be top notch entertainment at the same time.