Author Archives: davetcourt

As I often say, if animated films and documentary films tend to get their own categories when it comes to end of the year lists, I will always make an argument that horror should too. It is, after all, one of my favorite genres (see Josh Larson’s book Fear Not: A Christian Appreciation of HorrorContinue reading “2023 In Review: My Favorite Horror Films”

Film debuts can be interesting things to dissect, given that they don’t have a clear measure. They tend to invite a different kind of analysis and critique than seasoned filmmakers working against expectations. The best debuts aren’t ones that adhere to certain ideals, but the ones that clearly demonstrate a filmmakers growing potential. They areContinue reading “2023 Retrospective: My Favorite Debuts in Film”

Lists can be complicated things. On one hand, since every film evokes a different experience, the differences between a number one pick and a number five pick can be mostly arbitrary and a bit insignificant. Perhaps it is a way of simply blocking out degrees of appreciation based on undisclosed measures, and yet, for everyContinue reading “2023 In Review: The Outliers in Film”

Continuing with my 2023 retrospective, this year proved to be quite exceptional for Canadian film. It is a reminder of the importance in investing in and supporting our Country’s film industry. It is easy to fall into the trap of simply seeing the film landscape through the lens of American imports, but there is aContinue reading “2023 In Review: Favorite Canadian Films”

It is that time of year again when many of us find ourselves looking backwards in order to rightly and effectively look ahead. And for those of us who are obsessive an perpetual list makers, this could be undeniably be considered our most favorite time of year. For those of us built to reflect, itContinue reading “2023 In Review: The Years Most Suprising Films”

Film Journal 2023: Wonka Directed by Paul King From the voice behind the beloved Paddington films comes a colorful new vision of Wonka’s past. This is, if there was a pure defintion of the term, the very defintion of a family film, one that sees its success in bridging that gap between old and young.Continue reading “Film Journal 2023: Wonka”

Reading Journal 2023: Time and AgainAuthor: Jack Finney For a book that has been on my must read list for admittedly far too long, this landing in the good not great category might seem like an overt criticism, but it’s not. Good, even at times very good, is the fair assessment, not great is simplyContinue reading “Reading Journal 2023: Time and Again”

Reading Journal 2023: Miracle on 34th Street Author: Valentine Davies There’s a fun bit of irony to the fact that one of the best known and most influential American christmas films is contrasted with a book you’ve likely never even heard of. This is made richer by the fact that the film and the bookContinue reading “Reading Journal 2023: Miracle on 34th Street”

Reading Journal 2023: The History of the SnowmanAuthor: Bob Eckstein It is a bit too perfunctory to make for a fun read, but, as it is with writing the history of anything, the snowman becomes as reasonable place as any to explore the story of our world. As it is, and the author is upfrontContinue reading “Reading Journal 2023: The History of the Snowman”

Film Journal 2023: The Iron Claw Directed by Sean Durkin Strong storytelling and a perfectly captured 70s vibe anchors this surprisingly emotional and deeply affective drama about a family of wrestlers. I went in cold, and the sheer weight of the story’s details really did a number on me. Likely because it was our (myContinue reading “Film Journal 2023: The Iron Claw”