I’ve been moved by the performances of Richard Jenkins. There’s something so honest and real about the man. His acting is so natural and effortless that you don’t see the acting. He’s the Everyman able to portray any character with complete believability. With over 70 films to his credit, Jenkins has portrayed everything from a gay FBI agent, to […]
Author Archives: Jenny Treash
July
24
The Nominee: Naomi Watts
posted by Jenny Treash
Naomi Watts’ filmography is one of great variety. Since she wowed critics and audiences alike in her role in David Lynch’s psychological thriller, Mulholland Drive, she has appeared in several films, all very different from the other. Mulholland Drive launched Watts’ career, bringing her out from under the radar and into the consciousness of filmmakers […]
July
14
The Nominee: Jack Nicholson
posted by Jenny Treash
Where does one begin to talk about Jack Nicholson? His off-screen persona is just as famous as his on-screen one. He’s made many films over his long and storied career and he’s played some wacky, wonderful and unforgettable characters. When I think of him, I don’t think first of any particular role he’s played or […]
July
09
The Nominee: Meryl Streep
posted by Jenny Treash
Considered by many to be the greatest actress of this generation, Meryl Streep has made over 50 films. Her filmography is incredibly diverse including roles as a real-life union activist, a drug addict, a demanding magazine editor, a nun, and Julia Child, just to name a few. Streep has achieved greater commercial and critical success […]
April
24
Hot Docs 2015: Chameleon
posted by Jenny Treash
Watching Chameleon, a film about the life of a journalist, was a huge privilege for me. As a journalism graduate, I appreciate how hard the life of a journalist is. Investigating a story and then telling it truthfully is a difficult task especially when you have to rely on others and their trust in you […]
March
06
The Nominee: Bradley Cooper
posted by Jenny Treash
I was a big fan of the television show Alias. Jennifer Garner kicked serious ass as a secret agent and I wasn’t surprised to see her segue into making more movies after the series ended. What I didn’t expect was the actor who played Will Tippen, her sweet and somewhat nerdy best friend on the […]
February
05
The Nominee: J.K. Simmons
posted by Jenny Treash
There are actors who have been making movies for a long time and have over 100 acting credits to their name, yet they’re relative unknowns to most movie watchers. Their faces aren’t synonymous with their real names, but rather with the characters they’ve played: “Isn’t that the guy who played Juno’s dad in Juno?” Often […]
February
02
The Nominee: Philip Seymour Hoffman
posted by Jenny Treash
Philip Seymour Hoffman was one of our finest actors. It’s strange to say that he was one of our finest; it’s strange to have to write about him in the past tense. One of the first thoughts I had after hearing about his untimely death was that there will be a notable absence in any […]
January
29
80’s Library: The Great Outdoors
posted by Jenny Treash
Waking up to frigid temperatures of minus 15-degrees has made me long for summer. As I drive to work in darkness with gloves on my hands and a scarf around my neck, I think about warm breezes, sunshine and sandals. I think about summertime and the great outdoors. The Great Outdoors! The classic 80`s movie […]
January
21
The Nominee: Benedict Cumberbatch
posted by Jenny Treash
With awards season well underway, I thought it would be fun to write about the careers of award nominated actors and actresses, past and present, in a new feature called “The Nominee.” And the first feature goes to: Benedict Cumberbatch. I have to admit that before The Fifth Estate, I hadn’t heard much about Benedict […]
January
17
Posthumous Films of the Late and the Great
posted by Jenny Treash
Hollywood has bid adieu to many beloved actors far too soon. The sudden passing of actors like Heath Ledger, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Robin Williams have left a deep void in the movie industry that can never be filled. Post-production work and scheduling have resulted in films that were finished before an actor’s death to […]
November
21
80’s Library: Mannequin
posted by Jenny Treash
It’s been a very long time since I’ve written a blog post for my beloved feature, 80’s Library. I was inspired by an 80’s film I happened to see on TV recently: Mannequin. It’s a silly film about a mannequin who comes to life, but it’s so darn entertaining that I can’t help but enjoy […]
September
07
TIFF 2014: Me and My Moulton
posted by Jenny Treash
As kids, I think we’d all admit to being embarrassed by our parents at one time or another. In Torill Kove’s animated short film “Me and My Moulton,” a seven-year old girl struggles with the notion that her family is unconventional and different and she’s quite bothered by it. She’s envious of the family living […]
August
13
Remembering Robin Williams
posted by Jenny Treash
As I sit here this morning still trying to digest the news about Robin Williams’ death, I imagine many other bloggers penning similar pieces in tribute to the great, late actor. Hearing about a loss like this will affect any person who’s ever enjoyed a Robin Williams film. This news has left me feeling very […]
July
18
Schmucks for watching
posted by Jenny Treash
There are those Saturday nights when you find yourself at home, relaxing on the couch, and flipping through channels on the TV. You happen upon a movie that you’ve never seen and you decide to watch it. That’s how my husband and I spent last Saturday night. We knew nothing about the film that was […]
May
05
Longing for a Little Escape
posted by Jenny Treash
It’s been awhile since I’ve gone to the movies. Life events (having a baby) and other things in life (tightening the purse strings) have taken priority and made going to the movies hard for me to do. I used to go to the movies a lot. When there was a movie I wanted to see, […]
March
26
The Metamorphosis of Matthew McConaughey
posted by Jenny Treash
Matthew McConaughey: Academy Award winner. I have to admit that I never thought those two things would go together. When I think about McConaughey’s career, it seemed highly unlikely, at least until recently. He’s been going gangbusters in the last couple of years with artistic integrity and an obvious commitment to his art (he lost […]
February
24
Maternity Leave, Movies and a Baby
posted by Jenny Treash
It’s been over a year since I wrote my last blog post. You see, I had a baby. And while I went on maternity leave from my nine to five job, I didn’t anticipate going on maternity leave from blogging. How naive was I. My “writing time” became “baby time.” More accurately, all of my time […]
December
21
80’s Library: Scrooged
posted by Jenny Treash
I know a lot of people who prefer the classic holiday film A Christmas Carol over the 1988 modernization of the Charles Dickens’ story, but I have to say that I rather enjoy Scrooged. Bill Murray is perfectly cast as a cynical, selfish TV executive named Frank Cross (aka Ebenezer Scrooge.) He’s cut himself off […]
My Movie Resolution
posted by Jenny Treash
It’s a new year and with that comes resolutions. It’s a chance to look inward and take stock of what will improve our overall health and happiness. This year my resolution are pretty simple – in 2015, I resolve to watch more movies. As I’ve written about before, watching movies has kind of fallen by […]