Words and Pictures: Perhaps Too Close to Home

I saw Words and Pictures two weeks ago at the super quaint Cinema Theater on Clinton Avenue in Rochester, New York where pet therapy (the theater cat) is free with admission. Usually I am chomping at the proverbial cat nip to write about a film, and it wasn’t that the film was bad that kept… Continue reading Words and Pictures: Perhaps Too Close to Home

Snowpiercer: Ode to McEnroe, “You Can Not Be Serious!”

Much like that chair ump with an obvious stygmatism from the late 70’s are Rotten Tomatoes reviewers(94%) and David Denby of The New Yorker. You can not be serious! Snowpiercer was horrid story telling, due to either the original book being flawed or the screenplay and editing askew, and I’m not about to try to… Continue reading Snowpiercer: Ode to McEnroe, “You Can Not Be Serious!”

“Obvious Child”: Pregnant in its Details

Gillian Robespierre may have been inspired by Louis CK’s stand up comedian’s “life on display” award winning formula in her film Obvious Child which she both directed and co-wrote. The movie stars comedian Jenny Slate (as Donna) and actor Jake Lacy (as Max). Although I enjoyed the flick as a whole, overly antiseptic aspects mixed… Continue reading “Obvious Child”: Pregnant in its Details

Battle of the Exes P. Smith vs. S. Shepard: “Nobody Gets the Money“

In probably my most oxymoronic relationship of all time (think Dickens “It was the best of times and it was the worst of times”), my then boyfriend would cite an old Superman episode line by a chagrinned Jimmy Olsen, “Aw, nobody got the money,” when neither of us reached the summit (a coitus euphemism). And… Continue reading Battle of the Exes P. Smith vs. S. Shepard: “Nobody Gets the Money“

Tom Cruise shouldn’t be a punchline: Edge of Tomorrow

You shouldn’t wait till the Edge of Tomorrow to see this film. See it on the brink of today. And let’s discontinue the Scientology jokes, shall we? Tom Cruise not only chooses again and again self-deprecating characters (think his rotund balding exec from Tropic Thunder to the frightened military officer in this film), but delivers… Continue reading Tom Cruise shouldn’t be a punchline: Edge of Tomorrow

Palo Alto: James Franco’s Atmoshpheric Dystopia

Considering author and director James Franco’s idiosyncratic ways, gives me permission to start my Palo Alto blog with an analogy; that even beginning this review is like trying to mount a gigantic marshmallow…what the hell should be my form of attack? As I skulk around the marshmallow, deliberating, how about a ‘fun fact’? (an expression… Continue reading Palo Alto: James Franco’s Atmoshpheric Dystopia

Philip Seymour Hoffman God’s Pocket, what an encore!

I was devastated from announcement word one of PSH’s death, not only because he was from my neck of the woods (Rochester area), but I met him once as well, at the hometown debut of his film “Flawless” at the Little Theater in 1999. He was two people; just a guy who seemed sweet and… Continue reading Philip Seymour Hoffman God’s Pocket, what an encore!

Sophie Fienne’s Documentary “The Pervert’s Guide to Ideology”

What’s not to like about Slavoj’s Zizek’s “The Pervert’s Guide to Ideology” (available on Netflix) which had its Rochester, New York premier at the majestic George Eastman House Dryden Theater on May 17th? And yet how do I impart the vast knowledge that Sociology and Psychology Scholar Zizek imparted in his two hour plus documentary?… Continue reading Sophie Fienne’s Documentary “The Pervert’s Guide to Ideology”

Jim Jarmusch: Only Lovers Left Awake (Alive)

Despite being somewhat disentranced through much of Only Lovers Left Alive, I did enjoy the film. Jarmusch made darkness and despair look attractive, proof of his early trainiing at Columbia, NYU and Cinematheque Francasie. The sets were gorgeous even in their centuries old accumulation of books and instruments. Romance exists even in dimly lit disorganization… Continue reading Jim Jarmusch: Only Lovers Left Awake (Alive)

Le Weekend: How Do I Loathe Thee, Let Me Bark the Ways

Ok, my title isn’t true to the film’s last fifteen minutes, but I couldn’t resist. Le Weekend’s directed by Roger Mitchell (never saw his other films, Notting Hill being one) and stars Jim Broadbent (from my favorite Moulin Rouge), Lindsay Duncan (a new actress to me, but could play Julie Delphy’s mother in a heartbeat, … Continue reading Le Weekend: How Do I Loathe Thee, Let Me Bark the Ways