Diary, Documentary, Drama, Movies

Helmut Schmidt turns 95

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On the occasion on his 95th birthday (23. December 1918), German public television produced and televised a docudrama of the life of the former German chancellor Helmut Schmidt. Lebensfragen (The big questions of life) is based on a long interview and the reenactment of the highlights of Schmidt’s life. The interview was conducted by the [Read More]
Comedy, Drama, Movies

Argo

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Argo chronicles an amazing rescue operation that the CIA orchestrated during the Iran hostage crisis. I don’t want to spoil the fun of watching this film and hence I do not want to reveal what marvelous ploy the CIA came up with to get a few diplomats out of Iran. The film starts with a [Read More]
Documentary, Drama, Movies

Waiting for Superman

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It would be inappropriate to call Waiting for Superman a documentary about the causes of America’s failing schools. Think of it as a promotional film to get you to join the movement to demand changes to American schools. And what a promotional film it is Davis Guggenheim is a master of using the medium to promote [Read More]
Drama, Movies

American Hustle

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David Russel, the director and co-writer of American Hustle is my Santa for this year. He made me a wonderul X-mas present last night. American Hustle wonderfully recreates the look and feel of the late 1970s in New York City. Russel tries to say something deep about American life while at the same time giving [Read More]
Documentary, Drama, Movies

Stories We Tell

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We all know the dynamics of our immediate family. But unless we spent a lot of time—let’s say at the house of our best friend—we know very little about whether what happens in our family is typical or quite different from what happens in most other families. Sarah Polley opens up her family for us. [Read More]
Drama, Movies

Rush

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I am not a fan of Formula One racing or any car racing for that matter. But Niki Lauda is an intriguing figure and Rush received very high ratings by critics and the viewing public alike. So I went to see this new film by Ron Howard. The story is a simple one-a rivalry [Read More]
Documentary, Drama, Movies

NO

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Advertising is curious profession. It is in part art and in part psychology. Some ads are amazingly good, and those who created these memorable ads become famous at least in the subculture of advertising agencies. Until I saw the film “No” I was not aware that advertising people were quite instrumental in throwing General Pinochet [Read More]
Drama, Movies

The Turning

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The project of turning a book of 17 short stories very loosely connected in the one movie is a daunting task. Producer Robert Connolly parceled the task of putting prose into film out to 17 different directors. Each episode has different actors, even if in the book some characters reappear. Since I had not read [Read More]
Drama, Movies

Blue Jasmine

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Perhaps the single best decision Woody Allen made to get back his creativity was to move the location of his movies out of New York. Blue Jasmine takes place mainly in San Francisco although there are periodic flashbacks to New York and its summer playground, the Hamptons. Jasmine has hit rock bottom. Formerly married to [Read More]