“Leave No Trace” is one of those films that remains too painful for me to watch. There’s only a handful of films that I know I’ll struggle to rewatch again, films like “The Grave of the Fireflies”, “Shoplifters” and “Nobody Knows” each one of these films have connected with me on such a personal level and what occurs on-screen eerily mirrors my own life experiences. Continue reading ITOL’s Cinematic Dads: Leave No Trace
When talking about one my favourite fathers that film has to offer, there’s no way you can ignore the superhero genre or one of its greatest patriarch characters in Big Daddy (Nicolas Cage) from Matthew Vaughn’s 2010 adaptation of “Kick-Ass”. Continue reading ITOL’s Cinematic Dads: Big Daddy
Not all important male figures in a child’s life are their biological parent. Often a Step-Father or father figure is equally valuable, especially in situations where a child has lost their parent or their father is not present in their life. A prime film example is Alfred Pennyworth from various Batman adaptations. My two favorite versions of this character are in “Batman Begins” (2005) played by Michael Caine and in the TV show “Gotham” (2014-2019) portrayed by Sean Pertwee. Continue reading ITOL’s Cinematic Dads: Alfred Pennyworth
“Dads” is a documentary showcasing what everyday dads do and their overall experience with fatherhood. Directed by Bryce Dallas Howard, she highlights everyday and celebrity dads around the world, including hers, Ron Howard.
The documentary opens with home video footage of Bryce Dallas Howard’s birth. We see intimate footage of Ron Howard becoming a first-time father, which then transitions into him on set ready to be interviewed by the same person we just viewed being born. Continue reading AFI Documentary Film Festival, Review: Dads
William Powell is a stockbroker who thinks he runs his house like a well-oiled machine. Irene Dunne is his wife who outmaneuvers him on finances, family relations and pretty much everything else. Together they are raising four boys in 19th Century Manhattan. Powell is too much an old pro of comedic timing to let his portrayal stray into an annoying curmudgeon. Continue reading ITOL’S Cinematic Dads: Life With Father
But an indelible screen dad doesn’t have to have a huge role. I’m thinking of Glenn Ford as Jonathan “Pa” Kent in 1978’s “Superman”. (This was one of my early ventures to the movies as a kid, so I’d no idea at the time that Ford was a screen legend whom Rita Hayworth toyed with in 1946’s “Gilda”.) He’s a great example of an understated moment saying so much and impacting the main character long afterward. Continue reading ITOL’s Cinematic Dads: Pa Kent
“About Time” (2013) is a wonderfully charming film, with a central romance that truly stands out. However, there’s another relationship within the film that’s just as important, as both a catalyst for the story and an emotional tether throughout, which is that of father and son. While our star, Domhnall Gleeson, is perfectly suited as the lead, Bill Nighy’s portrayal is essential. The always incredible actor shines as the father introducing his son to their ability to time travel, but more than that, passing on his wisdom on the appreciation of life. Continue reading ITOL’S Cinematic Dads: About Time
In Their Own League 