Capturing the Moment: Cohen Tribute To Obama

Start the Fire By ROGER COHEN (NY Times) With apologies to Billy Joel, who’s more of a chronologist, and in tribute to a president, Barack Hussein Obama, representing a new post-cold-war generation of 21st-century Americans. We Didn’t Start the Fire (2) Bill Clinton, Tina Fey, capitalist China, O.J., Asia rising, Facebook, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Dick Cheney, Rumsfeld, Ugg boots, image [Read More]

Oh, Liza… John Lahr is too sharp for you

Just read John Lahr’s review of Liza Minelli’s new show “MORE ABOUT ME” in the New Yorker. I felt bad for Liza because the review is almost too penetrating. But it is a joy for the reading public. Liza Minnelli Under the cunning direction of Ron Lewis, and backed by a first-rate big band, Minnelli image [Read More]

The Edge of Heaven

The German title of the film (Auf der anderen Seite) means something like “on the other side”. Fatih Akin, the German writer and director of Turkish background has wonderful material to work with (growing up with Turkish parents in Germany) but lacks the skill to shape the material into a first-class film. He comes across image [Read More]

Twilight

Most people I know woke up to the full powers of the flesh sometimes in their second decade. Some experience this discovery as ‘no big deal;’ others are thrown off balance.  Trying to explore this new territory with some success often proves dauntingly difficult. Many films have been made about teenage romance.  A few of image [Read More]

What George Bush learned during his Presidency

Kimberly Strassel: I ask the president what he’s learned from his time in office—not from a policy perspective, but as a person. His answer is unsurprising from a man who has always talked openly of his faith—though that, too, has earned him criticism. “I’ve learned that God is good. All the time.” PM: Hallelujah. We paid a image smile [Read More]

The Power is Shifting

I remember reading a reminiscence either by President Truman or Eisenhower about the remarkable change they felt the day after they handed over the presidency: While the day before everyone was most interested in them, no one wanted now wanted to see them. The office has the charisma, not they as individuals. Democracy is about image [Read More]