Reel Corner - May 2022

Donne Paine

CODA (CODA is defined as Child Of Deaf Adult)

Reel Corner - May 2022

CODA
Winner of the 2022 Academy Award Best Picture
Director: Sian Heder | Cast: Emilia Jones, Marlee Matlin, Troy Kotsur

The setting is the fishing village of Gloucester, Massachusetts. As a Child of Deaf Adults and the only hearing person in her family, high school senior Ruby Rossi always has a lot on her plate. Indeed, trying to juggle back-breaking work on her father’s fishing boat, schoolwork, social life and the family’s expectations can be too much for a teenager. But do her parents know Ruby loves to sing? When Ruby signs up for the school choir, singing becomes a passion, and suddenly, the talented young girl finds herself at a crossroads: Should she spread her wings and follow her dreams, or should she keep fighting everyday battles as a member of the proud Rossi family.

Reel Corner - April 2022

Donne Paine

Ode to Movie Quotes

Reel Corner - April 2022

As the world looks on in horror as Russia invades Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin began his campaign against Ukraine’s legitimacy as a nation years ago. He has argued that Ukraine was an integral part of Russian civilization and blamed the country’s ruling class for convincing the world that Ukrainians were different from Russians. But this denial of Ukraine’s existence has a long history in Russian culture and politics dating back to the 1870’s.

Ukrainian filmmakers have been on the forefront of this struggle for cultural recognition, first during Soviet times when Ukraine was a constituent republic and more recently, since Russia’s annexation of Crimea. After 2014, a new generation of Ukrainian cinema matured under the threat of Russian aggression, but also amid the hope for national renewal. The Reel Corner has listed a few Ukrainian films that can easily be accessed on Amazon Prime, Apple TV or Netflix. Each of them show the spirit and struggles of the Ukrainian people.

Reel Corner - March 2022

Donne Paine

Ode to Movie Quotes

Reel Corner - March 2022

What makes those stand-out lines from movies so quotable?

How many times have you stood on your porch and screamed, “I’m the king of the world!” (Titanic) Or wandered around in the dark and uttered, “I have a bad feeling about this?” (Starwars)

Some films have countless quotes that are distinct in their own right; others have one single line that defines the entire feature. Whether it is a niche film or a classic, there is always something that will stand out, one way or another.endations:

Reel Corner - February 2022

Donne Paine

Movies With Heart

Reel Corner - February 2022

In honor of the month of Love, Valentine’s Day, and Heart-filled experiences, I surveyed my friends at CVS on Matthews Drive in Hilton Head, along with a few others to nominate their favorite feel-good films.

In the chaos we live in today, a film that makes you smile, feel good and look at life with optimism is exactly what we need.

What is your favorite? Here are a few surveyed recommendations:

Reel Corner - January 2022

Donne Paine

And the Winner is...?

Reel Corner - January 2022

January through March the chatter about film is all about awards. It’s time to start talking about the 2022 Oscars. The major fall film festivals—Venice, Telluride and Toronto—have all had their starry red carpets and introduced us to some of this year’s contenders.

After an awkward ceremony last year shaped by Covid, this year the Academy Awards promise to be back in full swing, despite the lingering of that pesky pandemic. While the March 27, 2022, ceremony is still months away, the conversation has already begun. Though everybody has their own opinions on the matter, here are films The Reel Corner thinks will be in the running for Best Picture.

Reel Corner - December 2021

Donne Paine

Ted Lasso and The Kindness Revolution

Reel Corner - December 2021

A friend of mine realized she had lost one of her diamond earrings while having a meal at a roadside Cracker Barrel on her way home to Delaware from Hilton Head. Crying and searching to no avail, she and her husband finished their meals. When asking the waitress for the check, they learned another customer paid their tab in hopes the gesture might soften the blow of the missing earring.

A stranger dropped off a $15 Starbucks gift card at my workstation after witnessing me trying to navigate and mediate two overzealous and demanding patients wanting to “be first” in the Moderna booster line.

Reel Corner - November 2021

Donne Paine

The History Behind Halloween and Scary Movies

Reel Corner - November 2021

Someone told me a story about a shopkeeper in Germany who put his child through college from the profits of the Ursula Andress poster that he kept in his shop window for years of her “Honey Ryder” character in Dr. No. It wasn’t the James Bond poster that created such a stir, and ultimately, wealth for the shopkeeper; it was the intrigue and infatuation of the Bond woman.

James Bond, a fictional character by novelist Ian Fleming in 1953, centers around a British agent working for MI6 under the code 007. James Bond has been portrayed by seven actors: Sean Connery; David Niven; George Lazenby; Roger Moore; Timothy Dalton; Pierce Brosnan; and Daniel Craig in 27 productions. The last and final entry of the series No Time To Die, which opened in October.

Reel Corner - October 2021

Donne Paine

The History Behind Halloween and Scary Movies

Reel Corner - October 2021

On Halloween people shed reality and mark the holiday with costumes, decorations and parties. Creepy legends and characters have evolved based on real terrifying events.

Fear of Vampires: In the early 19th Century, before physicians were able to explain how infectious diseases were spread, hopeless villagers believed that those who perished preyed on the living family members. This fear took such root, it spurred a grim practice of digging up the dead and burning their internal organs to be sure the dead would not return.

Reel Corner - September 2021

Donne Paine

RESPECT: Celebrating Aretha Franklin’s Memory

Reel Corner - September 2021

There has been a lot of press about Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, and RESPECT, the film of her life and the demons that clung to her. Nothing quite prepares you for the film’s presence of Jennifer Hudson’s portrayal of her; she is an amazing talent!

RESPECT
Jennifer Hudson, Forest Whitaker, Mary J. Blige,
Marlon Wayans, Skye Dakota Turner
Director: Liesl Tommy

Following the rise of Aretha Franklin’s career from a child singing in her father’s church choir to her international superstardom, RESPECT is the remarkable true story of the music icon’s journey to find her voice.

Reel Corner - August 2021

Donne Paine

Black Widow: Defining Women’s Strength and Empowerment

Reel Corner - August 2021

“Struggle is necessary for strength.”
“Your pain only makes you stronger.”

These quotes are from the recently released film Black Widow directed by Cate Shortland and starring Scarlett Johansson, Florence Pugh, Rachel Weisz and David Harbour

PG-13

For those of you who don’t know, Black Widow is a member of Marvel’s Avengers—an elite team of superheroes who fight to defend the universe from various evils. Fighting alongside gods, time-travelers and a guy with a bow and arrow, Black Widow’s exploits have been detailed in a series of successful films.

Reel Corner - July 2021

Donne Paine

Summer Movie Previews

Reel Corner - July 2021

In the ultimate symbol of one Hollywood era ending and another beginning, MGM, home to James Bond, Thelma & Louise and Rocky, finally found a buyer willing to pay retail: Amazon.
Rumors have swirled for a while now that Amazon was looking to buy MGM, and this month those rumors were made official with the announcement that Amazon will indeed acquire MGM for $8.45 billion. That means Amazon will now be in control of the crown jewel of spy franchises, James Bond, which could have major repercussions for one of the longest-running and most iconic movie franchises of all time.

The big question now is how Amazon will handle the distribution of the James Bond movies. No Time to Die, the long-delayed latest installment, is set for release in October 2021 through MGM subsidiary. This will likely hold, but will No Time to Die now have a streaming component day-of, or shortly after theatrical release? Is it too late for any kind of streaming deal to come together? Many questions remain.

Reel Corner - June 2021

Donne Paine

Summer Movie Previews

Reel Corner - June 2021

It seems that Hollywood is very busy with its 2021 summer movies coming to theaters for June, July and August. With an ungodly amount of comic book movies from Marvel and DC alike, to the new Fast and Furious movie, this summer is jam-packed with some of the most anticipated releases to ever be announced. This is due, in part, to the fact that many of these films were originally scheduled for a sooner release, or should have been out months ago. The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic led to a great deal of rescheduling and reevaluating primary methods of distribution, with some studios taking the straight-to-streaming route. The ones who chose to uphold the tradition of going to the theater either postponed a release to later in the year, or went as far as pushing it right into the 2022 calendar, which is why you may recognize some of the titles below as films you hoped to see in 2020.

Reel Corner - May 2021

Donne Paine

Small Films Worth Seeing

Reel Corner - May 2021

When it comes to films worth seeing, be sure not to overlook the small stuff—animated and live-action shorts, foreign films and documentaries. We are reminded, especially around award season, that there are many alternatives to feature films that should not be missed.

Here are a few to consider:

Reel Corner - April 2021

Donne Paine

Golden Globe Winner Best Motion Picture Nomadland

Reel Corner - April 2021

NOMADLAND
Director: Chloe Zhao
Frances McDormand, David Strathairn, Linda May

Based on the popular non-fiction book by Jessica Bruder, Nomadland takes you on an adventure connecting with nature through van living. Fern, played by Frances McDormand, is grieving a life that’s been ripped away from her. It seems like she was relatively happy in Empire, Nevada, one of those many American small towns built around industry. When the gypsum plant there closed, the town of Empire literally closed with it. In six months the entire zip code was eliminated. During this nightmare state, Fern’s husband died, leaving her alone and “houseless”. (She uses this term over homeless)

Reel Corner - March 2021

Donne Paine

Celebrating Gullah History

Reel Corner - March 2021

If you missed the month-long Gullah Celebration, hosted by Native Island Business and Community Affairs Association, the celebration showcased the rich cultural heritage of the Gullah people and their history in the Lowcountry. It included an art exhibition, “Taste of Gullah” and Gullah gospel music.

Reel Corner - February 2021

Donne Paine

Following My Heart to Stowe, Vermont!

Reel Corner - February 2021

If you recall movies like Funny Farm with Chevy Chase,  Baby Boom with Diane Keaton, The Cider House Rules, Beetlejuice, The Trouble with Harry (filmed entirely in Stowe), or Four Seasons... they were all filmed in Vermont.

Since new film releases have been few and far between during the pandemic, I thought I’d share what it’s like in the ski village of Stowe, Vermont, where these films were made.

Reel Corner - December 2020

Donne Paine

Top 20-20 of 200 Memorable Films

Reel Corner - December 2020

Hallmark Channel is well-known for its “Countdown to Christmas” and original family-friendly movies, and this year is no exception. Hallmark has announced 40 brand new Christmas movies for its 2020 holiday schedule! The movies will air on Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies and Mysteries.

Though Hallmark movies can be formulaic and simple, they are also free of profanity, sexual situations and heavy drama. They are movies you can watch with anyone from age 2 to 92.

There's a reason why the channel refers to itself as the Heart of TV; there is little ugliness to be found in these shows and movies. You can always find a smile on the faces of the characters, even though there may be some tears, as well. But there's not a lot of arguing or disagreements. What disappointment you find is often fleeting, as is the sadness, because Hallmark knows we watch to be uplifted. Hallmark Channel is, indeed, a happy place. And that's why it had a 9 percent growth last year alone.

Reel Corner - November 2020

Donne Paine

Top 20-20 of 200 Memorable Films

Reel Corner - November 2020

Congratulations Pink!
200 issues is quite an achievement,
and The Reel Corner has been honored to a part of all 200 issues.

There are some interesting facts about the number 200:
> A quarter of the world’s wealth is controlled by just 200 companies.
> 200 miles a day was the average daily distance covered by the Pony Express, the United States first east to west mail service
> There are only 200 white tigers in the world
> The Great Wall of China was built in 200 B.C.

Reel Corner - October 2020

Donne Paine

Tired of Netflix? Here are Some Alternatives to Try

Reel Corner - October 2020

Netflix may be one of the biggest and most well-known video streaming services in the world, but it sure isn’t the only one. There are a lot of Netflix alternatives out there that will keep you entertained every night, some of which are even free.

Amazon Prime Video

Amazon Prime Video is one of the best, if not the best, alternatives to Netflix. Prime offers plenty of popular movies and television shows, as well as quality original programming. The shows that stand out are: “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”; “The Man In The High Castle”; “The Boys” and Tom Clancy’s “Jack Ryan,” to name a few.

Reel Corner - September 2020

Donne Paine

The Future of Movie Theaters

Reel Corner - September 2020

The movie business is always changing, but these days it can be difficult to tell the difference between struggle and outright decline.

It is tempting during these dreary times to pin our hopes on a single solution to an intractable problem: One leader who might save us; one vaccine that might inoculate us; one day when suddenly everything will be back to normal. In reality, the return to normalcy will be slow and halting. Even once a vaccine becomes available, not everyone will receive it at once. We will return to our offices, our friends’ homes and, yes, movie theaters in small groups, then larger ones. Appealing as it was to cling to a symbol of resilience and the shared, communal experiences we yearn for, it was never that simple.

Reel Corner - August 2020

Donne Paine

Celebrating the 19th Amendment in Film

Reel Corner - August 2020

Can you imagine living in a time when your voice, your opinion,
your ability to vote your choice was not recognized? Was not allowed.
Well ladies, that’s the way it was until August 26, 1920, just 100 years ago.

After seven decades of a civil rights movement to allow women to vote,
the 19th Amendment to the Constitution was ratified.

In honor of the fearless, brave, courageous and patient women who helped make it happen, I dedicate the Reel Corner column this month with the following films. These are films of resistance, empowerment and justice.

Reel Corner - July 2020

Donne Paine

Resurgence of the Drive-In & Highway 21 Drive In

Reel Corner - July 2020


With much of the U.S. economy shuttered and people still being slow to emerge, families are finding that the drive-in movie theater presents the perfect escape.
The coronavirus has forced traditional movie theaters

to close their doors. That seems to be the recipe for a resurgence of drive-ins—
a slice of Americana
that had its heyday in the 1950s and ‘60s.

If you drive on Route 21 from Beaufort toward Charleston,
you will pass the cool retro sign of Highway 21 Drive In reminiscent of days gone by.
Low and behold, this drive-in is alive and well and is an oasis for movie goers!

Locally, Highway 21 Drive In has always had a healthy clientele, states owner Joe Barth, but when the virus hit he was ready to close, even though drive-ins are perfect for social distancing. But the clientele outcry was so strong to stay open, he petitioned the governor, and Highway 21 Drive In was given permission, with certain precautions, to stay open. Highway 21 Drive In was built in 1978, Joe and Bonnie Barth bought it in 2004. They added a second screen in 2007 and went digital in 2014.

Reel Corner - June 2020

Donne Paine

What if??

Reel Corner - June 2020

With movie theaters closed and blockbusters-in-waiting being postponed all the way to next year, it's a lot for a film fan to take in. Thankfully, there are many, many films, ranging from the fantastic to the fantastically bad, that offer some escape and comfort in a storm of distressing news.

In other words, the Reel Corner’s got you.

Here are a few movies to watch (or perhaps, revisit) that you may have overlooked while we have been sheltering in place. They are perfect for every mood you might be feeling.  
Be Strong…Stay well …and wear your mask!

Reel Corner - May 2020

Donne Paine

What if??

Reel Corner - May 2020

And, what if…
If we subscribe to the philosophy that life is always working out for us, and that there is an intelligence far greater than humans at work…
That all is interconnected.
What if…
the virus is here to help us?
To reset.
To remember.
What is truly important.
Reconnecting with community.
Reconnecting with family, as there is more time at home.

Reel Corner - March 2020

Donne Paine

March Madness at the Movies

Reel Corner - March 2020

You’re thinking of basketball, right? Think again. In the film industry this term refers to a month where films of lesser known actors and directors are introduced in between the award-winning films of 2019 and 2020 summer blockbusters. As in Basketball March Madness a little known team (in this case film or actor) can become a winner and stir up some critical buzz. It’s also a month where actors we haven’t seen for a while are trying to get back into the game.

With the South Korean film, “Parasite,” winning both Best Foreign Language film and Best Film awards, it has given Asian filmmakers confidence and funding for their projects. You can guarantee you will see more films from Asia.

Reel Corner - February 2020

Donne Paine

The Reel Corner Highlight: And The Winner Is...

Reel Corner - February 2020

It’s the award season once more. 

The Golden Globes are already behind us, and the coveted Oscars are this month on February 9.

If you are a movie-goer like The Reel Corner, you might agree there really weren’t many films to get excited about in 2019. Never fear, The Reel Corner has highlighted a few worth seeing.

Reel Corner - January 2020

Donne Paine

The Reel Corner Highlight: Edward Norton

Reel Corner - January 2020

Scarlett O'Hara and Rhett Butler are one of the most enduring couples in American cinema, and December marked the 80th anniversary of their film debut in Gone with the Wind, a tale of war, love gone wrong and tragic endings. The film’s anniversary on December 15, was met with surprisingly little fuss—positive or negative.

Gone With the Wind can be credited for the existence of the television network Turner Classic Movies. Owner Ted Turner's obsession with the movie led him to buy the film library that became the basis of the network. GWTW is the most famous, most widely loved, and—adjusted for inflation—most successful film in Hollywood history ($3.4 billion in current money).

Reel Corner - December 2019

Donne Paine

The Reel Corner Highlight: Edward Norton

Reel Corner - December 2019

Edward Harrison Norton is an American actor known for his intense performances and uncompromising approach to his work. He has received multiple awards and nominations. Raised in Columbia, Maryland, Norton was drawn to theatrical productions at local venues as a child. After graduating from Yale College in 1991, he worked for a few months in Japan as a consultant for his grandfather’s company before moving to New York City to pursue an acting career. He gained immediate recognition for his debut in Primal Fear (1996), which earned him the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor and an Academy Award nomination. His role as a reformed neo-Nazi in 1998’s American History X earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.

Reel Corner - November 2019

Donne Paine

What’s Hot in Films? Asian American Stories

Reel Corner - November 2019

I have the honor of knowing these talented young men involved in filmmaking each representing a different decade. Let’s hear what they have to say about the future of films and those interested in filmmaking.

Jim Picariello (40-Something)
If you listen to conversations from those on the creative side of the filmmaking industry, the future of quality film production is heading in one direction: Television. Or at least what we call TV—Netflix, Amazon, Hulu. We all have the same conversation about films today: It’s all Disney or super heroes, or horror or cars making things blow up. Where are all the romantic comedies or mysteries or feel-good dramas? They’re turning into 10-episode series on cable or online subscription services. The definition of what’s a movie and what’s a longer movie that is just split into episodes, is blurring.