“School of Rock” Rocks

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If you like popular music and if you like to laugh, this movie is pure joy. I haven’t cried in laughter so much for a long time. Jack Black’s acting performance itself is a joy to watch. He deserves an Oscar for the gig.

Capturing the Friedmans

Watching the life of a child molester and the disintegratation of his family is probably not the kind of story most people consider seeing when they wish to have a good night at the movies. But this documentary is such a spectacular piece of work that even a difficult subject cannot get in the way image [Read More]

“Punch, Drunk, Love” and “The Hours”

“Punch, Drunk, Love”. The title of the movie summarizes the film well.  People who have problems with their tempers (Punch) have difficulties maintaining stable relationships. Their dispair can lead them to the bottle (Drunk).  But, according to the film,  there is still hope: Even if you cannot control your temper, don’t give up. There may image image [Read More]

Whale Rider

The whale rider is a young girl who finds herself in the middle of a collision between a small traditional culture in New Zealand and the modern world. Her mother and twin brother die during childbirth. Her father leaves her with her grandparents and tries to escape to Europe. The grandfather has absolutely no use image [Read More]

Together

If you like classical music and detailed explorations of emotions triggered by the relationship between father and son, this is a film is for you. In the middle the movie feels a bit slow. But once you have seen the surprising and dramatic ending, you realize that the slowness in the second hour made the image [Read More]

Dancer Upstairs

I am a big fan of John Malkovich the actor. John Malkovich the director might still win me over some day, but not if he does not hire an editor who can keep the self-indulgence of a movie-star turned director at bay. I was lured into the film by high ratings that the moviegoing public image [Read More]

New Film Review Section

7/27/03. I have migrated to new software which will be much more user-friendly. Here is also my old favorites list: Favorites 2002-3 Talk to Her Adaptation The Pianist About Schmidt Gangs of New York My Big Fat Greek Wedding (funny comedy) Top 5 1. Cinema Paradiso 2. Death in Venice 3. Godfather I and II 4. Casablanca 5. Henry the V Previously featured Top 5 (1996) 1. [Read More]