Documentary, Drama, Movies

Waiting for Superman

by:
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

by:
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]
Movies, Phantasy

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

by:
I raved about The Hunger Games film. It was fresh and novel. The sequel reminds me of the disappointment I felt when I saw the second installment of Twilight: it was entirely repetitive. The same mood, the same visuals, the same constellation of conflicts and affections. Apparently the director followed to book quite closely. [Read More]
Documentary, Drama, Movies

Stories We Tell

by:
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

by:
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

by:
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

by:
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]
Movies, Phantasy

Toy Story 2

by:
As a fan of Pixar movies, I wanted to see sequel to the first full feature Pixar movie, Toy Story. With the first Toy Story was appealing because the idea of making toys come alive was new. Part 2 is simply more of the same. A toy get’s abducted–in this film Woody himself–and the other [Read More]