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Website copyright © 2002-2025 by Dennis D. McDonald. From Alexandria, Virginia I support proposal writing & management, content and business development, market research, and strategic planning. I also practice and support cursive handwriting. My email: ddmcd@ddmcd.com. My bio: here.

www.ddmcd.com Research & writing about data, technology, movies, media, and books
Eric Hayden's ASTRONAUT: THE LAST PUSH
Mar 25

Mar 25 Eric Hayden's ASTRONAUT: THE LAST PUSH

Dennis D. McDonald
Science Fiction, Space Travel
After seeing this, I would definitely see someone like writer director Eric Hayden doing a really good job directing the film version of Andy Weir’s The Martian instead of a more mainstream Hollywood type director.

Mar 18
Mar 18 Michael Bay's PAIN & GAIN

Dennis D. McDonald
Action, Comedy
Stupidity and evil lurk beneath the surface here and become increasingly intertwined as the movie progresses.

Mar 7
Mar 7 Testing AFF Donation Widget

Dennis D. McDonald
Chad Stahelski & David Leitch’s JOHN WICK
Mar 4

Mar 4 Chad Stahelski & David Leitch’s JOHN WICK

Dennis D. McDonald
Action, Crime, Revenge, Thriller
If your weakness is revenge porn this is the movie for you!
Anthony & Joe Russo's CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER
Feb 26

Feb 26 Anthony & Joe Russo's CAPTAIN AMERICA: THE WINTER SOLDIER

Dennis D. McDonald
Action, Marvel

For me the saving grace of this movie were the lead characters: Chris Evans of Snowpiercer fame as Capt. America, and Scarlett Johansson (Her, Lucy, Under the Skin, Chef) as Black Widow. 

Jon Favreau's "CHEF"
Feb 22

Feb 22 Jon Favreau's "CHEF"

Dennis D. McDonald
Comedy, Food, Road Trip, Sentimental, Cooking
The director (and star) masterfully manages multiple and entertaining threads without losing focus on the main story focus.
Luc Besson's LUCY
Feb 19

Feb 19 Luc Besson's LUCY

Dennis D. McDonald
Action, Disappointing, Science Fiction
Still, the movie is worth a watch especially for the first half or so. But eventually the silliness overwhelms the acting, editing, and wonderful production values. Lucy at the end reaches for spectacular profundity but lands with the thud. We’ve seen it all before.
Thaddeus O'Sullivan's INTO THE STORM
Feb 9

Feb 9 Thaddeus O'Sullivan's INTO THE STORM

Dennis D. McDonald
Biography, Drama, History, War
What would have happened had England not had a Churchill to guide it the war?
Alexandre Aja's HORNS
Feb 4

Feb 4 Alexandre Aja's HORNS

Dennis D. McDonald
Horror, Monsters, One of a Kind, Fantasy
There is nothing subtle about this film. Everything seems done to excess.
Morten Tyldum’s THE IMITATION GAME
Feb 4

Feb 4 Morten Tyldum’s THE IMITATION GAME

Dennis D. McDonald
Another Time & Place, Biography, Drama, History, Intelligent, Spouse Approved
The Imitation Game might oversimplify at times but it does represent the work of real people and that’s a good thing for modern audiences to see.
Hiroyuki Okiura's LETTER TO MOMO
Jan 29

Jan 29 Hiroyuki Okiura's LETTER TO MOMO

Dennis D. McDonald
Animated, Drama, Ghosts, Japanese, Monsters, Sentimental, Sweet, Anime
What a lovely, gentle, and funny film this is!
Jonathan Glazer’s UNDER THE SKIN
Jan 23

Jan 23 Jonathan Glazer’s UNDER THE SKIN

Dennis D. McDonald
Drama, Emotional, One of a Kind, Science Fiction, Weird
It’s like no place on earth I’ve ever seen.
Spike Jonze’s HER
Jan 22

Jan 22 Spike Jonze’s HER

Dennis D. McDonald
Drama, One of a Kind, Science Fiction
It’s an oddly sterile middle class urban future that’s presented here and one where all annoying visual corners seem to have been knocked or sanded off.
Gabe Ibáñez' “AUTOMATA”
Jan 14

Jan 14 Gabe Ibáñez' “AUTOMATA”

Dennis D. McDonald
Drama, Dystopian, Robots, Science Fiction
This is a highly original spin on both the dystopian and the robots-becoming-human themes.

Jan 12
Jan 12 Nick Jackson's TEMPLE GRANDIN

Dennis D. McDonald
Biography, Inspiring, Intelligent
Claire Danes’ performances as Temple Grandin in this biopic is a stunner.
Peter Jackson's “THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES”
Jan 9

Jan 9 Peter Jackson's “THE HOBBIT: THE BATTLE OF THE FIVE ARMIES”

Dennis D. McDonald
Action, Fantasy, Monsters, Peter Jackson, War, Dragons
Peter Jackson and crew should be proud of what they and WETA have created.
Stuart Beattie’s “I, FRANKENSTEIN”
Jan 7

Jan 7 Stuart Beattie’s “I, FRANKENSTEIN”

Dennis D. McDonald
Action, Monsters, Popcorn, Ridiculous, Thriller, Guilty Pleasure
If you want to put your mind in “park” for 90 minutes this is the film for you!
Wes Anderson's THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL
Jan 5

Jan 5 Wes Anderson's THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL

Dennis D. McDonald
Comedy, One of a Kind, Spouse Approved, Wes Anderson
Highly entertaining, consistently funny, and quite charming overall with a healthy dose of craziness.
Paul Thomas Anderson's THE MASTER
Dec 18

Dec 18 Paul Thomas Anderson's THE MASTER

Dennis D. McDonald
Drama, One of a Kind
The bond between the two characters is never clearly understood. Master and pupil (as the title implies)? Or two dissimilar peas in a pod, one reflecting the other?
Dustin Hoffman's QUARTET
Dec 14

Dec 14 Dustin Hoffman's QUARTET

Dennis D. McDonald
Comedy, Drama, Sentimental, Spouse Approved
It’s a feel-good movie beautifully produced with a heart and a conscience.
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Website copyright © 2002-2025 by Dennis D. McDonald. From Alexandria, Virginia I support proposal writing & management, content and business development, market research, and strategic planning. I also practice and support cursive handwriting. My email: ddmcd@ddmcd.com. My bio: here.