Seldon's Blog

Below are images from Season Five of HBO's "BOARDWALK EMPIRE". Created by Terence Winter, the series starred Steve Buscemi: ( Read more... )

Below are images from the 1936 crime melodrama, "BULLETS OR BALLOTS". Directed by William Keighley, the movie starred Edward G. Robinson, Joan Blondell, Humphrey Bogart and Barton Lane: ( Read more... )

"APPOINTMENT WITH DEATH" (1988) Review

Agatha Christie's 1938 novel, "Appointment With Death" has proven to be a problem over the past 70 years or so. If I must be honest, it is not a great novel. Considering the topic of emotional abuse, it had the potential to be great. But I feel that Christie never achieved what could have been a memorable and haunting tale. ( Read more... )

Below are images from "APPOINTMENT WITH DEATH", the 1988 adaptation of Agatha Christie's 1938 novel. Directed by Michael Winner, the movie starred Peter Ustinov as Hercule Poirot: ( Read more... )

"PLATINUM BLONDE" (1931) Review

For over seven decades, many movie fans and critics have ignored the 1931 comedy, "PLATINUM BLONDE". They have dismissed it as some mediocre, obscure film from the early talkies period deemed unworthy of any real film criticism. But due to recent interest in that particular era, the film’s reputation has grown over the past several years. ( Read more... )

Below images from Frank Capra's 1931 romantic comedy called "PLATINUM BLONDE". The movie starred Loretta Young, Robert Williams and Jean Harlow: ( Read more... )

"THE STING" (1973) Review

Whenever film critics or film fans bring up the subject of Best Picture Oscar winners during the 1970s, the topic usually turned to movies like 1975s "ONE FLEW OVER THE CUCKOO NEST". But the two main Oscar winners usually discussed are the "GODFATHER" movies - 1972's "THE GODFATHER" and 1974's "THE GODFATHER - PART II". The 1973 Oscar winner, "THE STING" is sometimes remembered . . . but not always with the same reverence. At least it seems that way to me. ( Read more... )

Below are images from "THE STING", winner of the 1973 Best Picture Oscar winner. Directed by George Roy Hill, the movie starred Paul Newman, Robert Redford and Robert Shaw: ( Read more... )

Below are images from "ROAD TO PERDITION", the 2002 adaptation of Max Allan Collins' 1998 graphic novel. Directed by Sam Mendes, the movie starred Tom Hanks, Paul Newman and Tyler Hoechlin: ( Read more... )

"THE BUTLER" (2013) Review

When I first saw the trailer for "THE BUTLER", I resisted the urge to see it. I have nothing against films about the African-American experience. I could not wait to see Quentin Tarantino's pre-Civil War opus, "DJANGO UNCHAINED". But there was something about the trailer for "THE BUTLER" that turned me off. It had that dignified, pretentious aura that marred "THE KING'S SPEECH" and "NORTH AND SOUTH: BOOK II" for me. I was determined to avoid it. But thanks to my family, I could not avoid it in the end. ( Read more... )