Drama, Movies

Last Tango in Paris

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Even good acting (Marlon Brando) cannot save a script that has no depth and a director who lacks an eye for how to pick stories that are worth telling. If one is confused in one’s head (as writer or director), it does not make for good art to let confusion take over the story. The image [Read More]
Movies, Phantasy

The Day After Tomorrow

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The Oscar winning Titanic was boring compared to this remarkable motion picture by Roland Emmerich. America as we know it coming to an end is simply a bigger issue than two lovers going bathing because their vessel hit an iceberg. The notion that New York City could turn tomorrow into Iceland is scientifically wrong; but image [Read More]
Movies, Phantasy

Big Fish

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A son struggles to find his father behind that endless stories and myths that junior heard from the day he was born. As an adult the son feels he does not know who his father really is because the stories are often so unbelievable to the adult mind. When the father comes down with cancer, image [Read More]
Comedy, Movies

50 First Dates

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Deeply built into our notion of romantic love is the idea that there is one other person out there who is tailor-made to be your mate. The only real question in this particular notion of love is whether you are able to find this person among the 6 billion people who could be the one. image [Read More]
Drama, Movies

On the Waterfront

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This movie directed by Elia Kazan holds up even 50 years after its making. Labor unions in America no longer enjoy the power they did after World War II when their struggles with management made the front page of newspapers almost every day.  If the movie were made today the corrupt union boss would be image [Read More]
Drama, Movies

In America

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  A young Irish family emigrates to Manhattan to start a new life. But first the old life has to be left behind, and this proves to be harder than anticipated. Although death seemingly looms behind every corner, life struggles mightily to get back on its feet. This is a wonderfully perceptive film. Jim Sheridan image [Read More]
Drama, Movies

21 Grams

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How do you feel when your heart is failing you, but you don’t know if a donor heart is found in time to save your life? How do you feel when your husband and two little children are killed by an inattentive driver only a few blocks away from home? How do you feel when image [Read More]
Drama, Movies

Cold Mountain

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This Civil War movie works because it is has historical depth and employs a love story very effectively.  Instead of going overboard with passion, the lovers take cautious steps toward each other and just as they allow themselves a kiss and the dream of a life together, Inman (Jude Law) is forced to join the image [Read More]
Comedy, Movies

High Fidelity

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The movie is billed as a comedy. It is not much of one. It is a diary of a man whose girlfriend just walked out and who starts callling old girl friends to find out why they all rejected him. The situation is ripe with comic potential but the narrative lacks power and leaves one image [Read More]