Film Reviews

Bright Eyes (1934) is a beloved showcase for Shirley Temple, the most iconic child star in Hollywood history. Released during the depths of the Great Depression, the film offered audiences a blend of sentimentality, humour, and escapist charm at a time when morale across America was desperately low. Directed by David Butler and written by William M. Conselman, Bright Eyes is most remembered for introducing Temple’s signature song, “On the Good Ship Lollipop,”.

Only Angels Have Wings (1939) is one of the most defining and enduring films of the Golden Age of Hollywood. Directed by Howard Hawks and featuring a remarkable cast led by Cary Grant and Jean Arthur, the film is a rich mixture of adventure, romance, drama, and moral clarity, set against the thrilling—and perilous—backdrop of South American mail aviation.

In Harm’s Way (1965) is a sweeping World War II epic that blends intimate human drama with large-scale naval warfare, bringing together a powerhouse cast under the direction of Otto Preminger. With John Wayne and Kirk Douglas headlining, the film explores themes of duty, honor, loss, and redemption against the backdrop of the early years of the Pacific War, particularly around the time of the attack on Pearl Harbour.

Turner & Hooch (1989) is a quintessential example of the buddy-cop comedy formula with an inspired twist: one half of the duo is a rambunctious, slobbering Dogue de Bordeaux. Directed by Roger Spottiswoode and starring Tom Hanks at the height of his comedic phase, the film merges crime-solving, slapstick humor, and unexpected emotional depth into a commercially successful and fondly remembered entry in the genre.

Released in 1989 and directed by Joe Dante, The 'Burbs is a pitch-black suburban satire wrapped in a slapstick horror-comedy cloak. With Tom Hanks leading a gifted ensemble cast, the film explores paranoia, boredom, and suburban conformity through the lens of middle-class America gone slightly mad. Blending Hitchcockian suspense with cartoony humour, The 'Burbs delivers a unique and highly entertaining take on neighbourhood neuroses and mob mentality.

Tim Burton’s Batman (1989) stands as one of the most influential comic book films of all time. Released during a period when superhero movies were mostly campy or low-budget affairs, Batman redefined the genre with its darker tone, gothic aesthetic, and a sophisticated, noir-inflected narrative. It was not only a box-office smash but a cultural phenomenon, sparking “Batmania” across the globe and proving that comic book adaptations could be serious, stylish, and commercially

Walt Disney’s The Parent Trap (1961) remains a beloved classic of family cinema, notable for its engaging blend of comedy, romance, and heartwarming family themes. Featuring Hayley Mills in a groundbreaking dual role as long-lost twin sisters, the film was both a critical and commercial success upon its release and has since endured as one of Disney’s most charming live-action productions.

The 1987 film Dragnet is a sharp, satirical update of the iconic police procedural television series created by Jack Webb in the 1950s. Directed by Tom Mankiewicz (a veteran writer of James Bond and Superman films), Dragnet reimagines the sober, no-nonsense law enforcement style of the original for a more ironic, comedic 1980s audience.

12 Angry Men (1957) stands as one of the most powerful and enduring courtroom dramas in the history of American cinema. Directed by Sidney Lumet in his feature film debut and based on the teleplay by Reginald Rose, the film explores justice, prejudice, and the power of reason—all within the confines of a single jury room.

Joan of Arc (1948) was a passion project for both its star Ingrid Bergman and its producer Walter Wanger. Directed by Victor Fleming (of Gone with the Wind and The Wizard of Oz fame), the film was a grand, Technicolor retelling of the life and martyrdom of France’s iconic heroine.

Anastasia (1956) is a poignant historical drama wrapped in mystery and intrigue, bolstered by rich performances and elegant direction. The film marked a triumphant return to Hollywood for Ingrid Bergman, who had been effectively exiled from American cinema for several years following personal scandal. Her portrayal of a fragile woman possibly descended from royalty brought her an Academy Award for Best Actress, cementing both her talent and resilience.

Released in 1958 at the end of Hollywood’s Golden Age of musicals, Gigi stands as one of the last and most sumptuous studio-produced musical extravaganzas. Directed with elegance by Vincente Minnelli and produced by the legendary Arthur Freed, Gigi is a visually lavish, musically charming, and thematically complex film that took home a then-record-breaking nine Academy Awards—including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Released in 1986, The Money Pit is a screwball comedy that captures the chaos, absurdity, and rising tension that can result from owning—and attempting to renovate—a crumbling dream home.

When Ocean’s 11 premiered in 1960, it was less a film and more a cultural event. Marketed as the ultimate Rat Pack vehicle, it brought together the most charismatic entertainers of the era—Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peter Lawford, and Joey Bishop—for a stylish caper set against the glittering backdrop of Las Vegas.

Fatal Attraction (1987) is one of the most iconic psychological thrillers of the 1980s—a sleek, suspenseful, and deeply provocative film that became a cultural phenomenon upon its release. Directed by Adrian Lyne, known for his stylized, sensual filmmaking (9½ Weeks, Indecent Proposal), the film explores themes of infidelity, obsession, gender politics, and psychological breakdown.

Winning (1969) is a racing drama that occupies an intriguing space in the career of Paul Newman and in the pantheon of American sports films. Often overshadowed by Newman’s better-known works like Cool Hand Luke (1967) or Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), Winning holds significance not only for its portrayal of the high-octane world of professional car racing but also because it sparked Newman’s real-life passion for motorsports.

High Society (1956) is one of the quintessential MGM Technicolor musicals of the 1950s—an elegant, stylish, and opulent film that combines the glamour of Old Hollywood with the timeless charm of Cole Porter’s music. A musical remake of The Philadelphia Story (1940), it updates the witty, highbrow comedy of manners into a lush musical vehicle for three of the most iconic stars of the era: Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and Grace Kelly.

On the Waterfront is one of the most powerful and influential American films of the 20th century. Directed by Elia Kazan and released in 1954, it combines social realism with emotional intensity to explore corruption, conscience, and redemption. Its story, based on real events surrounding longshoreman union corruption on the New York and New Jersey docks, speaks to both its era and timeless human dilemmas.

The Thin Man Comes Home (1945) is the fifth film in the beloved Thin Man series starring William Powell and Myrna Loy as the suave, quick-witted husband-and-wife detective duo, Nick and Nora Charles. Released by MGM during the final years of World War II, this entry diverges slightly from the glamorous, urban settings of earlier films by taking the Charleses to Nick’s hometown for a rare domestic twist on the established formula.

Horror of Dracula (1958), known simply as Dracula in its native UK, marks a pivotal moment in horror cinema. Directed by Terence Fisher and produced by Hammer Films, the movie revitalized Gothic horror for a new generation, introducing bold color, heightened sensuality, and unprecedented violence to a genre that had become staid and theatrical by the mid-20th century.