The Substance: Had Some until the Two Hour Mark

I really wanted to like The Substance (written and directed by Coralie Fargeat). However, she makes Emerald Fennell look like a happy-go-lucky individual (see Saltburn and Promising Young Woman for references). Her point about the pressure on modern women to stay slim and trim until death is very well done. Relatable scenes to perfectionist types… Continue reading The Substance: Had Some until the Two Hour Mark

Sing Sing Had me at Sing

Did you know Sing Sing is from the Native American language which means stone on stone and that after Edison introduced the electric chair there in 1903 that the town changed its name to Ossining as to not be confused with the jail? And did you also know that while Joker Deux (or whatever the… Continue reading Sing Sing Had me at Sing

Between Two Temples: An Homage to Humans

Here’s a litmus test: if you see the uplifting new film by Nathan Silver and think ‘it’s weird’, you may just need to exit social media and start connecting with human beings on a face to face level. I’m just being honest here. Because if you call people simply being idiosyncratic, or constantly evolving from… Continue reading Between Two Temples: An Homage to Humans

Don’t Listen to the Critics: Dance First, Think Later

Don’t listen to the critics, which could be advice for triple causes: for Samuel Beckett, the subject of Dance First who was never good enough for his mother, for viewers who might read reviews and think they should pass on this wonderful film by James Marsh starring Gabriel Byrne, and heck for any person out… Continue reading Don’t Listen to the Critics: Dance First, Think Later

Twisters: Sexiness Gone with the Wind

What happened to the art of sexy talk? I truly think it’s gone with the wind. Forgive the bad pun, but these youngsters who grew up tethered to their technology need to go back and study such films as Double Indemnity or even Tin Cup for that matter. Sure you can have a machismo action… Continue reading Twisters: Sexiness Gone with the Wind

Touch (ed Me Deeply)

As a retired English teacher, I’ve been burned so many times on books adapted to movies, Fahrenheit 451 (speaking of burned-Oh Truffaut!), Cold Mountain, etc. etc., I was downright wary when I saw the rather dull trailer for Touch (book by Olaf Olafsson). But alas, my fear was just a fault of who developed the… Continue reading Touch (ed Me Deeply)

Fly Me to the Moon, Landing Safely

Fly Me to the Moon is a solid film, like a flight in which you fear some turbulence, but in the end, the pilot handles it safely, yet not quite expertly. The movie was good enough, especially considering the other strange agents out in theaters right now. I’ll get to the main problem right away;… Continue reading Fly Me to the Moon, Landing Safely