I knew I liked Gabe Polsky’s quirky documentary on Russian hockey player Viacheslav Fetisov for a reason. He’s got that Werner Herzog idiosyncratic eye and ear that captures the odd ball in us all. Red Army traces Viacheslav’s rise from Russian youth hockey to the Olympics and beyond. When he requests to play for the… Continue reading Red Army: Slap Shot-esque Stokholm Syndrome
Month: March 2015
Wild Tales, my subtitle: It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over
The Oscars and Time Magazine agreed, nominating Wild Tales for best foreign film and claiming it as one of 2014’s best movies respectively. I don’t disagree though I have a tough time with gratuitous man on man violence. I just can’t bear to watch or listen to the punching, hitting, etc. In Wild Tales, one… Continue reading Wild Tales, my subtitle: It Ain’t Over Till It’s Over
What We Do in the Shadows
Rhys Darby Probably “What We Do in the Shadows” is the most obscure title of all time, as it gives no hint that it’s a mockumentary about Vampires. “Stakes” would have even been better. (*when one of the writer’s last names has the funny words of wait titi, there’s no excuse for an unfunny title:)… Continue reading What We Do in the Shadows
Leviathan, tis the season
I was thinking how depressing a movie Leviathan (direcetd by Andrey Zvyagintsev) is, not depressing in the, ‘Boy do I feel melancholia!”, but more of a super realist/pragmatist life reference. Yet, isn’t that what our pre-Easter/mid lent period is all about? Suffering and self-denial leading up to the…ta-da!- resurrection. But I digress. Leviathan was up… Continue reading Leviathan, tis the season
Peaks and Valleys: The Imitation Game and 50 Shades of Grey
There’s no connection between these two films. Though my opinion going in was reversed in both cases. I thought The Imitation Game would be maudlin historical fiction, but due to Benedict Cumberbatch’s genuine portrayal and Kiera Knightley fantastic as his beard, I was truly moved. I don’t, however, think it was best picture worthy and… Continue reading Peaks and Valleys: The Imitation Game and 50 Shades of Grey
Oscar Comments and New Domain Name Coming Soon
The comment I like best about the best picture Oscar going to Birdman is, “it’s a shallow movie attempting to be deep.’ And as stated in my blog on Birdman, the movie could have been a triumph for Michael Keaton, surely an aging man (or woman) in crisis is worthy of dramatic rendering. But, instead,… Continue reading Oscar Comments and New Domain Name Coming Soon