Diary, Must Know

Talk is cheap but surprisingly effective

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Sometimes one piece of writing changes one mind. Until today I thought that talk therapy was utterly discredited. But there appears to be strong evidence that a skilled therapist can help the brain to change its relationship to the world. Depression       From The Economist print edition (Apr 14th 2005) FOR almost a century [Read More]
Drama, Movies

Love’s a Bitch

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Love’s a Bitch (Amores Perros) received an Oscar Nomination for Best Foreign Film, rave reviews, and prizes at numerous festivals. The film did not resonate with me. I think as an observation about the human condition the film is wrong: yes, love can be a bitch, but it is not always a bitch image [Read More]
Humor, People

A Real Run-Away Bride

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Unlike in the romantic comedy with Julia Roberts, the story of this Run-Away Bride is leaving everyone with a sour taste in their mouths. But the reaction of her uncle made me smile: “Jennifer had some issues the family was not aware of. We’re looking forward to loving her and talking to her about these image image [Read More]
Drama, Movies

Hotel Rwanda

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The film highlights powerfully that in the European and American mind a black African life is worth less than a white life. A catastrophy that kills 500 Europeans is emotionally judged to be worse than the killing of 500,000 Africans. The latter event hardly makes the news. Don Cheadle stars in the true-life story of image [Read More]
Humor, People

“My Life so Far” by Jane Fonda

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MAUREEN DOWD has written a funny review of Jane Fonda’s autobiography in today’s NYT. ‘My Life So Far’: The Roles of a Lifetime One day when she was playing cowgirl in the annual bison roundup on one of the New Mexico ranches of her husband, Ted Turner, Jane Fonda realized with a jolt that she image image image [Read More]
Movies, Phantasy

The Incredibles

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Would Pixar Studios be able to put out another movie in the league of Finding Nemo? During the first hour I became skeptical but the second hour proved this film to be amazingly good as well. I am awed by the creativity of Pixar. How do these people continue to crank out one commercial and image [Read More]
Documentary, Movies

The Fog of War

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Robert McNamara was a cold warrior with a soft heart. He led the Pentagon under John F. Kennedy and Lyndon Johnson until the disagreements between Johnson and McNamara over Vietnam became too large. This film is one long interview with McNamara. The subtitle of the documentary is “Eleven Lessons from the Life of Robert S. image [Read More]
Diary

Welcome to the Afterlife of Saul Bellow

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Saul Bellow had to die before I would pay any attention to him. I read today’s obituary in the New York Times (click on “more” button) and immediately realized that I should put some of his novels on my summer reading list. I just ordered myself a copy of The Adventures of Augie image [Read More]
Drama, Movies

Melinda and Melinda

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Is it more accurate to see life as a comedy or a tragedy? This philosophical question gives Woody Allen the hook to explore the complications that arise when an old friend shows up at her friend’s dinner party with more than a little bit of baggage. I was intrigued enough to take another look at image [Read More]