Tag: Christopher Plummer

Does ‘The Man Who Invented Christmas’ work? Humbug.

Jeff Mitchell

“The Man Who Invented Christmas” – Ask any American 6-year-old who invented Christmas.  Depending upon the household, Santa or Jesus would probably be the response, but director Bharat Nalluri and screenwriter Susan Coyne offer a third name. Charles Dickens. Dickens?  Well, the man did write A Christmas Carol in 1843, and his transcendent story has warmly struck jolly and merry nerves over the last 174 years.  In the television/film age, many, many producers have jumped on this particular holiday bandwagon.  Just look at the “Adaptations of ‘A Christmas Carol’” Wikipedia…

Remember Martin Landau in ‘Remember’ on Amazon Prime

Jeff Mitchell

Oscar winner Martin Landau passed away on July 15 at the age of 89, and his long, distinguished career spanned 64 years and over 170 roles in film and television.  A character actor by trade, he always seem to add intrigue to a picture by bringing a distinct flair of gravitas to his supporting performances.  One usually sat up a bit more in the theatre seat and paid stricter attention to the words spoken, when Landau appeared on screen.  Typically, his characters seem to carry more knowledge and comprehension of the given cinematic surroundings than…

‘The Exception’ is intriguing but not necessarily exceptional

Jeff Mitchell

“The Exception” – The definition of an exception is a person or a thing that does not follow a rule.  In director David Leveaux’s first feature film, he wonders if Capt. Stefan Brandt (Jai Courtney) can be an exception and not follow a rule or – more specifically – his orders.  Leveaux raises the stakes for the audience, because Capt. Brandt is not part of an ordinary military outfit, but a very infamous one.  The year is 1940, and Brandt is a German soldier.  Of course, SS soldiers who spoke…