Diary

Ali

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An interview with Will Smith, in which he described all the preparations that he went through to play “The Champ,” intrigued me enough to rent the video despite the fact that the film was a failure at the box office. I did not get beyond minute 15. This film bombed not because it was too image [Read More]
Diary

Mystic River

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After launching a frontal assault on intelligent film making with “The Bridges of Madison County”,  Clint Eastwood redeems himself with this beautifully directed psychodrama. Mystic River explores the complexities of human relations, following three kids from the playground to the difficultities of living an adult life in the very same neighborhood in which their experience 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]
Drama, Movies

Lost in Translation

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I have never seen a movie quite like this one. It reminds you of a poem. But here most of the work is not done by words but by images. Bill Murray’s performance has received raving reviews.  For me, it was not Bill Murray’s acting that made the movie interesting, but the novelty of how image image [Read More]
Comedy, Movies

“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.

Documentary, Movies

Capturing the Friedmans

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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]
Drama, Movies

“Punch, Drunk, Love” and “The Hours”

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“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]
Drama, Movies

Whale Rider

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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]
Drama, Movies

Together

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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]