Author: Jeff Mitchell

Brian Cox completely transforms into ‘Churchill’ in this conversational biopic

Jeff Mitchell

“Churchill” – Steven Spielberg’s “Saving Private Ryan” (1998) reverberates in the halls of cinematic history as one of the greatest war films ever made.   It effectively pays homage to soldiers – any soldiers – who risk their lives on the battlefield through the personal story of Capt. John Miller (Tom Hanks).  Capt. Miller’s journey to bring Pvt. James Ryan (Matt Damon) home from the war is the true soul of the story, but the film is widely-known for its horrifyingly spectacular and technically iconic 23-minute vision of the D-Day invasion…

Celebrate Memorial Day and “Earn this”

Jeff Mitchell

Memorial Day is chance for Americans to relax and postpone the workweek one day and perhaps find a beach or a barbecue.  Although, not everyone has the day off, as I sit in an air-conditioned coffee shop and three baristas are busy making macchiatos, chai lattes and mochas. Memorial Day is a day when Americans remember servicemen and servicewomen who lost their lives.  From a movie perspective, when I think of Memorial Day, my mind immediately recalls one particular scene in Steven Spielberg’s masterpiece, “Saving Private Ryan” (1998).  Brings tears to…

Happy Birthday, Carey Mulligan!

Jeff Mitchell

Carey Mulligan, one of the finest dramatic actresses working today, turns 32 on May 28.  Her resume is filled with great performances, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences nominated her for a Best Actress Oscar in 2010 for “An Education” (2009).   Be sure to check out her work in “An Education” but also “Never Let Me Go” (2010), “Drive” (2011), “Far from the Maddening Crowd” (2015), and her hilarious – but very caustic – turn in “Inside Llewyn Davis” (2013). Here is a clip from the…