Alan Williamson

Observations on software, leadership,
and thinking like a CTO

  • Maverick (1994)

    The original Maverick was a TV series that ran from 1957 to 1962 and featured James Garner in the lead role as a drifter gambler in the old west going from poker game to poker game.  This remake see’s Mel Gibson reprising the lead role, Bret Maverick, who is raising the final part of his $25k (or $600k roughly Read Post ⇢

  • Back to the Future (1985)

    What more can be written about this masterpiece?  30 years old this year and this movie simply does not age.  As fresh and as thrilling as the day it was first shown.  Even the DeLorean is not aging after 30 years still looking futuristic.   Living out in the Scottish sticks, I did not get Read Post ⇢

  • The Island (2005)

    I was reminded of this movie while on holiday when I read the excellent book on the story of Dreamworks.  This movie was not without its a problems, with an ever expanding budget that kept the pressure on the young studio to return its investment of finally $126M.  So what does that coin get you? Read Post ⇢

  • Standby (2014)

    This is a no effort-required Irish romantic comedy about a man who, finds himself working with his mother for the Irish tourist board at the information desk at Dublin airport.  A girl from his 8 years past, arrives at the airport stranded for the night, waiting the next flight to the USA (hence the title Read Post ⇢

  • Harry Brown (2009)

    Who remembers the character, Paul Kersey, wonderfully played by Charles Bronson in the Deathwish movies from the 1970s?  Quiet man, turned vigilante   after his limits have been pushed.  You know the story, we have to witness all the atrocities, wrong doings and darn right evil acts, so when the hero of the story finally flips you Read Post ⇢

  • Heat (1995)

    Can you believe this classic is 20 years old this year?  It is still fresh and punchy as the day it was released.  Two screen legends, Al Pacino and  Robert De Niro playing opposite one another.  De Niro plays Neil, the charismatic sophisticated criminal master mind with a penchant for robbing banks.  Pacino on the other hand plays Read Post ⇢

  • The Ladykillers (2004)

    After last nights viewing escapade, one needed something a little lighter, something that didn’t require too much thinking and would lift the spirits with a chortle or two.   Interestingly this particular movie also stars J.K. Simmons doing what he does best; off beat personality.   So with that, the 2004 remake, The Ladykillers, was chosen. Read Post ⇢

  • Whiplash (2014)

    This obscure unknown movie made quite the splash at the 2014 Oscars being nominated across the board for a number of awards including Best Picture.  While getting a huge promotion boost with the Oscars (and various other awards) it still only managed to pull in $13M at the box office, which isn’t a huge amount Read Post ⇢

  • Pride and Glory (2008)

    First off, this movie demands your attention, both physically and emotionally.  For 2 hours and 10 minutes you are entering a very dramatic world of police corruption centered around a single multi-generational family.  The story on the face of it, doesn’t deserve this amount of time, but it does whip by at an alarming pace. Read Post ⇢

the leg-end that is, Alan Williamson.

For over 20 years, I’ve shared my thoughts whenever the muse strikes. It’s unpredictable, honest, unedited, and occasionally witty. I’m living the best years of my life, working harder than ever, and enjoying every second.