Force Majeure and Brene`Brown’s The Courage to Be Vulnerable

Force Majeure is so original that I wonder why it’s missing from Oscar’s best foreign films nominations. The acting and sound design were impeccable. And while running this morning, listening to NPR’s On Being, I realized the importance of an important theme that may be lost in the shuffle of the film’s moral question: when… Continue reading Force Majeure and Brene`Brown’s The Courage to Be Vulnerable

The American Sniper Question; the man, technology’s decimation or age’s wrath?

Here’s the deal: I saw the 73% Rotten Tomatoes, but wanted to see ‘American Sniper’ anyway. Was the percentage accurate? I guess so, considering Cooper’s acting performance and the sand storm scene which were both well executed. Yet the story lacked those moments that evoke sentiment, other than the obvious, ‘war is hell’. Other peripheral… Continue reading The American Sniper Question; the man, technology’s decimation or age’s wrath?

Yes, Virginia there is a S.C.! (Steve Carell)

Steve Carell I was skeptical about Foxcatcher, partly because I couldn’t hide from reviews that claimed the screenplay was thin. Thank goodness I sometimes take these reviews with a grain of salt, as Foxcatcher contains a very well written story and fabulous performances by Steve Carrel, Mark Ruffalo and Channing Tatum. First, the most unique… Continue reading Yes, Virginia there is a S.C.! (Steve Carell)

Reese’s Pieces, “Wild”, Ode to My Mother

I’ll reiterate a statement I’ve made in the past, that the best movies change you on such a deep level that you feel differently not only when you leave the theater, but days afterward. “Wild” directed by Jean-Marc Valee is one of those touching movies, especially for a woman of a certain age like me… Continue reading Reese’s Pieces, “Wild”, Ode to My Mother

Chris Rock Linkedin Endorsements

I love Chris Rock. I loved his recent SNL opening monologue where he said (and I paraphrase) that he wouldn’t go in the new Freedom Tower (former World Trade Center site) if Scarlett Johansson was naked lying in a plate of ribs. I love that he called Ben Roethlisberger the original white Cosby. I love… Continue reading Chris Rock Linkedin Endorsements

Campaign Bumper Sticker 2016

Miles Teller Saw two accomplished films this weekend, one a doc Citizenfour (Laura Poitras) and one of fiction, Whiplash (Damien Chazelle). Citizenfour is basically cinematic voyeurism; watching a man’s last few days of freedom. While I disagree with Leonard Maltin’s hyperbolic review “has Hitchockian suspense”, I will admit it held my interest despite ‘knowing the… Continue reading Campaign Bumper Sticker 2016

Birdman vs. Nightcrawler

Fifty years ago, my title (Birdman vs. Nightcrawler) might have sounded like a new idea from the creators of Mothra vs. Godzilla (Okawara, 1964), but nope, this is my humble blog. First, Birdman. The alphabet soup of screenwriters (Inarritu, Giacobone, Dinelans and Bo) probably should apologize to Michael Keaton. He won’t win the Oscar. And… Continue reading Birdman vs. Nightcrawler

Roger Ebert “Life Itself”

I tend toward constant vacillation (and I say that chagrined, not bragging) so I really wanted to see Life Itself when the doc news was first revealed. But typically, in the lag time between announcing and screening, I started to dread the gruesome medical procedure discussed by the director on an NPR feature. Yet, I… Continue reading Roger Ebert “Life Itself”

1-800-Bill Murray aka “St. Vincent”

First props to deviantart.com for this gorgeous art rendering of Bill Murray! Ok, I was excited about St. Vincent. Wes Anderson cameos aside (most recently “Grand Budapest Hotel”), Bill Murray hasn’t had a lead role in a long while. And I’ve had a Bill Murray crush since his nerdy-sexy SNL days. Lost in Translation has… Continue reading 1-800-Bill Murray aka “St. Vincent”