Brian M Downing and the world at war. Timely, thoughtful, and nonpartisan analysis of military matters. @BrianMDowning1.
A review by Brian M Downing Ford vs Ferrari (2019) 8/10 Director: James Mangold Stars: Matt Damon, Christian Bale The film tells the story of Texas maverick Carrol Shelby’s collaboration with the suits of Ford Motors to compete in the World Sportscar Championship races, which included Sebring. Daytona, and Le Read More …
Directed by Elia Kazan 10/10 This is a truly great film. Using no stars, Elia Kazan (A Streetcar Named Desire, East of Eden) tells the story of his ancestors’ hard lives in what’s now central Turkey ca 1900. Greeks and Armenians, both Christian, live as oppressed minorities under Ottoman/Islamic governance, Read More …
Director: Taika Waititi Stars: Sam Neill, Julian Dennison 7.5/10 This adventure-comedy made in New Zealand pairs Sam Neill as a crusty rural-dweller with a young teenager in and out of foster homes. The boy runs away into the rain forest where Neill tracks him down, only to injure his leg Read More …
Director: Quentin Tarantino Stars: Leonardo DiCaprio and Brad Pitt 8/10 I don’t care for Tarantino films but I wanted to see this one because of its setting in the decade I grew up in (or failed to grow up in). The film pleasingly uses LA’s hit radio, television, movies, cars, Read More …
Director: Chan-wook Park (not the director of Parasite, in case you were wondering) 8/10This S Korean film presents a complicated story of a three-way con job involving a man posing as a count, an heiress, and a servant. It’s made more complicated by shifts in chronology and perspective. Furthermore , the splendid Read More …
Messiah (2020) review by Brian M Downing A ten-part Netflix series with several directors 8/10 This is an ambitious and well executed look at faith and despair in the Middle East and US. A Middle Eastern man appears before a fearful crowd in Damascus just as ISIL troops are about Read More …
Director: Danny DeVito Starring: Jack Nicholson, JT Walsh, Danny DeVito, Armand Assante 5/10 Having recently watched The Irishman, I decided to see this. It isn’t in the same league as Scorsese’s movie and it isn’t very good. Nicholson is more convincing as Hoffa than Pacino was. He looked and sounded Read More …
Director: Martin Scorsese Starring: Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Joe Pesci 10/10 I don’t like many Scorsese films. They’re generally repetitive, often tediously long, and overly reliant on oldies for the soundtrack. But I loaded The Irishman up on Netflix and hit play. First thing that comes on? An annoying Read More …
Directed by: Martin McDonagh Starring: Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson, and Sam Rockwell 7/10 This was a much ballyhooed film last year that tells the story of a mother’s (McDormand) determination to get the police to solve her daughter’s rape and murder. The police had little evidence to Read More …
A Star is BornDirector: Brad Cooper (a fellow Hoya!)Stars: Brad Cooper, Lady Gaga, Sam Elliott7/10Not sure why I wanted to see this. Big movies seldom appeal to me anymore. But it was free on Amazon. It’s the story of a worn-out country/rock star who comes upon a young aspiring singer-songwriter. Read More …