The Twentieth Century, Oh Canada! Air Kiss!

The Twentieth Century is a satire that makes getting older a breeze…why you ask? Because I learn more about former my upstairs neighbor (me-Rochester, them-Canada). Who knew they had a famous prime minister (or any prime minister) named Mackenzie King who lacked charisma, but made up for that in spades in eccentricity. If you happened… Continue reading The Twentieth Century, Oh Canada! Air Kiss!

Another Round, Perhaps another run at my top 10

Another Round written and directed by Thomas Vinterberg, who according to IMDB, is one of the Danish forefounders of “dogme95, a set of rules dedicated to reintroducing the element of risk in film-making,” is best known to me from his direction in the great Thomas Hardy adaptation from “Far From the Maddening Crowd”. Another Round… Continue reading Another Round, Perhaps another run at my top 10

News of the World, a Mainstream Media Metaphor

You know what your going to get when you turn on or read mainstream news, you choose what makes you feel congratulated with stories that say, ‘you’re right!’ or ‘be afraid’ which in this sense, means, ‘You’re left.’ Ok enough of my political humor…I’m a moderate for the record, wishing everyone could always compromise and… Continue reading News of the World, a Mainstream Media Metaphor

Black Bear and Black Bottom (Ma Rainey’s)

Black Bear, written and directed by Lawrence Michael Levine, had a lot of promise, yet landed with a thud. Let’s just say it’s a movie about a screenwriter full of ideas. The lead is one of my favorite comedic actresses Aubrey Plaza (my faves: Ingrid Goes West &An Evening with Beverly Luff Linn). And while… Continue reading Black Bear and Black Bottom (Ma Rainey’s)

Eternal Beauty, Talented Writer/Director

Craig Roberts wrote and directed Eternal Beauty starring the incandescent Sally Hawkins. She could make almost any script look good, but all she had to do was bring her A game given the poignant, well drawn dysfunctional family comedy/drama. With the help of another new, dare I predict future Oscar nominated, actor David Thewlis (Golden… Continue reading Eternal Beauty, Talented Writer/Director

Mank, David Fincher’s Gorgeous Tribute to Dad; Jack

Wow, I already was in love with Mank the movie, fresh out of the can on Netflix. The black and white cinematography (filmed on Red Prototype by Erik Messerschmidt making me feel I’m in the halcyon Wizard of Oz and am so happy I don’t even want colorization), Gary Oldman’s amazing performance, Arliss Howard as… Continue reading Mank, David Fincher’s Gorgeous Tribute to Dad; Jack

Sound of Metal, Profound: in upcoming best of 2020

Derek Cianfrance is a great writer, known previously for Blue Valentine and The Place Between the Pines. With Darius Marder, who he worked with on “Pines”, teamed up with Derk to do the new movie “Sound of Metal” which I was lucky enough to see on the big screen before the big shut down at… Continue reading Sound of Metal, Profound: in upcoming best of 2020

Two-Fer NEW MOVIE Reviews: something light, something heavy

The Fatman and The Life Ahead are two movies I’ve taken in this week; subversive-lite and poignant-beautiful respectively. The first, The Fat Man is playing for a few more days at Lakewood Ranch (please support them) and probably longer at CineBistro. The movie stars Mel Gibson as Kris Kringle and if the Nelms brother had… Continue reading Two-Fer NEW MOVIE Reviews: something light, something heavy