Persian Version, written and directed by Maryam Keshavarz is a moving based-on-a-true story film. The film garnered two prizes this year at Sundance for both screenwriting and as a drama. The actresses who play mother and daughter (Niousha Noor and Layla Mohammadi respectively) issued robust and believable performances. Iranian women have been through some things… Continue reading Persian Version: Effective Narrative
Category: drama based on a true story
Priscilla: Edward Hopper Level Design, Finger Paint Story
I understand that Priscilla’s life included a lot of isolation with intermittent bells and whistles. And that’s exactly what Sofia Coppola’s easy on the eye movie portrayed. However, this is the movie industry and I feel the story could have included more spice. I mean, wasn’t their sex life ever exciting? Even one roll in… Continue reading Priscilla: Edward Hopper Level Design, Finger Paint Story
Killers of the Flower Moon: About Damn Time
With appreciation to Lizzo for the song title “About Damn Time”, the title fits this review in two ways. First and and foremost, God bless David Grann who wrote the original book and Martin Scorsese for adapting it with Eric Roth. Even more so, to decide instead of a police/FBI procedural to depict the interior… Continue reading Killers of the Flower Moon: About Damn Time
Dumb Money Could Have Been Smarter
Craig Gillespie has moved me in the past with I, Tonya and Pam & Tommy. Dumb Money though simply skims the surface in regard to character development and basic exposition. Paul Dano is an acting God. I have followed his career from There Will Be Blood to Love & Mercy to Dumb Money. I even… Continue reading Dumb Money Could Have Been Smarter
Dreamin’ Wild, Sleepy Tame
I’m sure you have movies you can’t re-watch, even if you loved them the first time, mainly because they’re just too gut wrenchingly emotional. A few of mine are: Blu Valentine, Saving Private Ryan, Manchester By the Sea and Love & Mercy. The last two share involvement with director Bill Pohland who wrote and directed… Continue reading Dreamin’ Wild, Sleepy Tame
Certainly Never Fade Away: The Buddy Holly Story
Similarly to when I’d see my son get standing ovations at SUNY Geneseo, my Burns Court experience last night provoked me to turn around and think, “Why the heck aren’t there even more people here to witness this marvel?” Not only is the film The Buddy Holly Story a super quality film (tightly written by… Continue reading Certainly Never Fade Away: The Buddy Holly Story
Argentina, 1985: If Movie Awards were Sports Contests
Perhaps we should have an alternative to the Oscars, where movies with heart and morality get awarded. I wish that for Argentina, 1985. Argentina, 1985, directed by Santiago Mitre, which he co-wrote with Mariano Llinas and Martin Mauregui, possesses so much quality that I overcame my weariness over courtroom dramas and could get over the… Continue reading Argentina, 1985: If Movie Awards were Sports Contests
Call Jane Makes 2022 Look Almost Utopian
I sometimes lament our 2022 technology obsessed culture, but 1968, to borrow a phrase from a former colleague of mine, was no Swiss picnic. Racial strife and the constrictive gender roles look so dystopian and are the key topics of Call Jane, Phyllis Nagy’s first feature film. The screenwriters Hayley Schore and Roshan Sheti need… Continue reading Call Jane Makes 2022 Look Almost Utopian
Worth: Michael Keaton’s penultimate performance
Hopefully by now, you know I won’t steer you wrong. So trust me when I say, Worth is not only a superbly written film, it raises Michael Keaton to the Jimmy Stewart and Tom Hanks echelon. I’m from Upstate New York, but because I was a Guidance Counselor when 9/11 occurred, my job that day… Continue reading Worth: Michael Keaton’s penultimate performance
Crime Story, How Great Actors Can Save a Film
Clunky is the best word to describe Crime Story and despite its 17% Rotten Tomatoes, the two leads Mira Sorvino and Richard Dreyfuss are such beautiful actors (inside and out) that you’ll follow them anywhere. I did my due diligence to see what’s true about Crime Story (the first title card says ‘based on true… Continue reading Crime Story, How Great Actors Can Save a Film