Departures
For many years, I have recorded films that I want to see in a to-do list software called OmniFocus. There are 128 items on the films list. One of them is Okuribito (a foreign language film). It is in position No. 5, which means it was recorded many years ago. I searched for the film [Read More]
From Marx to MAGA
The WSJ published this beautiful essay by Jacob Berger, a professor of philosophy at Lycoming College in Williamsport, Pennsylvania.
Why MAGA Folks Should Read Marx
Today’s conservative populists will find sympathetic ideas about the failings of capitalism in the writings of the great communist philosopher
On the campaign trail, Donald Trump promised to reform higher education, which he [Read More]
To live
This Chinese novel is deeply moving. The writing is very simple, but it manages to pierce through one’s heart. Set during the Civil War in China, it tells the story of a farmer who gambled away his father’s land and tries to make a living in an increasingly difficult context. First, he is forcefully inducted [Read More]
Romeo and Julia
Shakespeare wrote his play Romeo and Juliet in 1596. I just learned that there have been at least 30 major motion pictures of the play. I once read that there is a new Romeo and Juliet film every year, but I could not confirm this. In any case, Shakespeare’s genius lies in his ability to [Read More]
Sister Act
Sister Act is a wonderfully funny film that showcases the acting skills of Whoopi Goldberg, who can pull off comedy solely with her facial expressions. It reminded me of the more recent Pitch Perfect movies, where teenagers compete to be the best a cappella group. Here, it’s a choir of nuns in San Francisco who, [Read More]
Seven Years in Tibet
I had seen parts of this epic film starring Brad Pitt before, but I had forgotten most of it. I’ve always been fascinated by the Dalai Lama and have long dreamed of traveling to Tibet, which is what drew me to the movie. The plot is compelling. A group of Austrian mountaineers, including Heinrich Harrer [Read More]
A Royal affair
We often think of today’s politics as brutal and ruthless. Watching A Royal Affair, which explores the politics of Denmark just before the American and French Revolutions, reminds us that politics has always been a brutal affair. The film is not uplifting, as it portrays the political maneuvering at the Danish court, but it offers [Read More]
Charade
On Christmas Eve, I stumbled across Charade, a movie starring Cary Grant and Aubrey Hepburn. It is a thriller mixed with romantic comedy. The gender roles in the film are outdated. A leading Hollywood studio would not dare to make such a portrayal today. The dialogues between Grant and Hepburn are very funny. Nobody could [Read More]
Our Little Secret
If you are looking for a holiday movie that will enchant you, do not choose Our Little Secret on Netflix. The premise sounded promising, but the plot is too predictable, and the characters feel like they were crafted by amateur hands. The only thing I enjoyed was studying Lindsay Lohan’s face and trying to imagine [Read More]