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]
Diary

Peter Pan

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I started reading Bibliomania.com/0/0/323/2396/frameset.html">Peter Pan. The last time that I came into contact with the characters of the story was in the movie Hook, which invented a sequel to the original Peter Pan. I have not heard about the plot of the original story since childhood and had almost completely forgotten it. Reading the image [Read More]
Drama, Movies

Closer

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Closer is depressing in every respect. Nobody gets closer to love, to beauty, to understanding. Not the writer of the script (Patrick Marber), not the director (Mike Nichols), not the viewer (you and me). Watching the film, I felt real anxiety about getting old. Almost 40 years ago Mike Nichols directed Who is Afraid of image [Read More]
Europe, Travel

A London Taxi Ride in Berlin

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I spent less then twenty-four hours in Berlin. On the way back to the airport, I was picked up by a lady who likes to do things a bit differently. In Germany, eighty-five percent of taxi cabs are Mercedes Benz cars. But if you call her up (+49-170-434-02-06), she will chauffer you around Berlin in image image [Read More]
Drama, Movies

The Motorcycle Diaries

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On an abstract level all novels are either stories about travel or character development.  The first half of The Motor Cycle Diaries falls solidly in the travel category.  Not being burdened by responsibilities for others, two young people decide to take a motorcycle tour through the different countries of South America. The camera captures arresting image [Read More]
Drama, Movies

Finding Neverland

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This enchanting film dramatizes how the playwright James Matthew Barrie (1860-1937) created with his best known work, Peter Pan. In 1903 Barrie’s latest play is a total failure with audiences and critics alike. To distract himself from his creative problems,  Barrie (Johnny Depp) starts playing daily with the four fatherless boys and their widow mother image [Read More]
Drama, Movies

The Aviator

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The Aviator received the most Academy Award nominations for the year 2004, with 11 total. This is very difficult to understand because the film is a painfully weak piece of work for Martin Scorcese (director) and John Logan (writer). Both Scorcese in Gangs of New York and Logan in The Last Sumarai have image [Read More]