Humor, Situations

Lust in Translation

by:
]I just started to read Pamela Druckerman’s book on the rules of infidelity across different cultures. This report by the former Wall Street Journal writer is exceedingly entertaining and well written. I will publish a summary judgment when I have finished the book. But in the meantime, I want share a few good lines image [Read More]
Diary

America, the land of limited opportunities?

by:
New evidence suggests that old Europe provides more opportunities economic mobility than the U.S. Even Canada comes out ahead. Read this interesting article by Clive Crook. Rags to Rags, Riches to Riches: Maybe it But is America any longer a land of opportunity for the people born here? The evidence, such as it is, points to a image [Read More]
Drama, Movies

Bridge to Terabithia

by:
Many people claim that it is harder to make good friends when you are an adult. I am not sure if this is true.  Adults, perhaps having been disappointed more than once, may be less open than the average child to let a new person into their lives. The film celebrates the power of image [Read More]
Drama, Movies

The Painted Veil

by:
The film starts out slow and seems predictable. But after thirty minutes it takes unexpected turns. Beautiful landscape photos of China and a novel approach to fixing relationship problems give this movie considerable charm. This is the second film version of W. Somerset Maugham novel by the same name. Naomi Watt now has image [Read More]
Drama, Movies

The Holidays

by:
Two ladies (Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet) suffer romantic disappointments and feel they need to go away for the holidays. The swap their homes (LA and the British countryside) and want to chill out without men. Well, easier said than done… The trailer for this romantic comedy turned me off, but I was pleasantly image [Read More]
Diary

Mrs. Queen goes to Washington

by:
Queen Elizabeth is arriving in Washington in a few days. The state dinner at the White House is billed as the social event of Bush’s presidency. George Tenet is not on the guest list. The press is full of stories about whether George Bush will be able to behave as one is supposed to in image [Read More]
Drama, Movies

Heaven

by:
The film reminded me that good art is not artificial. Great art heightens our awareness of reality. Heaven fails because it feels contrived and artificial. Cate Blanchett has one scene in which she unleashes her full acting ability. But she cannot make up for a week script written by Krzysztof Kieslowski, who I image [Read More]