Category: Uncategorized

I Found “A Hero”, Asghar Farhadi Award Worthiest

I didn’t sleep well last night, but the movie viewing of A Hero was worth the sleep deprivation. While I’m sure this weakness is not solely Sagittarius, I especially related to the movie’s main theme of no good deed goes unpunished. As demonstrated recently in “Red Rocket”, an emotionally engrossing movie always provokes me into… Continue reading I Found “A Hero”, Asghar Farhadi Award Worthiest

The Lost Daughter, A Slippery Slope

I loved the book The Lost Daughter, as Elena Ferrante’s character wrestled with her wanderlust, her desire to excel professionally and experience midlife hedonism. But the movie? Not so much. The harsh visual reality of exasperated mothers who simply induce more needy children was deeply affecting, but in a depressing way. Adapted to screenplay and… Continue reading The Lost Daughter, A Slippery Slope

Just one tiny tick too many…tick, tick Boom!

My favorite musical of all time is Rent, so I confess my bias upfront. For those of you not in the know, tick tick Boom is a both a musical by and basically a mini biopic of Jonathan Larson. My second favorite musical is Hamilton, so I obviously had a good feeling about tick tick… Continue reading Just one tiny tick too many…tick, tick Boom!

Spoiler Alert:A second helping of Annette gleaned these insights

I saw Annette twice and would go again in a heartbeat. I think Adam Driver’s straining voice can be aggravating, but is also symbolic of Henry McHenry’s character straining under the pressure of when an introvert gets caught up in a suffocating life of marriage, fatherhood and competing fame. The foreshadowing of him saying to… Continue reading Spoiler Alert:A second helping of Annette gleaned these insights

Swan Song, hopefully just an opening act

Udo Kier, star of Swan Song is a wonder. He’s been around and while and ashamedly I haven’t seen any of the highly acclaimed recent work he’s done: Bacurau and The Painted Bird, but I’m sure I’ve seen him in one of the many Von Trier movies. But I’ve now redeemed myself by being one… Continue reading Swan Song, hopefully just an opening act

Undine, (Water)Mark her words

I discovered Christian Petzold after catching Transit one home cinema evening. I enjoyed how smart the story was and how it challenged me to pay attention. Likewise, with Petzold’s newest Undine, loosely based on the water nymph mythology. Petzold reteams the unrequited lovers in Transit, actress Paula Beer and Franz Rogowski as well as another… Continue reading Undine, (Water)Mark her words

Mind blowing is not hyperbole: Soul

You’re reading a review by an adult cynic…like animation!? Poppycock. Except….”I Lost My Body” and “Up”. So small group of exceptions. But add and in fact, move “Soul” to the number one position…in fact call me Kanye storming the stage if it doesn’t win the best Oscar animated film. And it makes perfect sense, since… Continue reading Mind blowing is not hyperbole: Soul

Hunger (2008), Beware the Yikes of March

The lovely ladies at Burns Court Theater (part of the Sarasota Film Society) were wonderful hostesses to a pre-St Patty’s Day event showing Steve McQueen’s Hunger from 2008. But let me tell you something…this was realism in all caps, like this: REALISM! Attending this film is as close to being in the Maze Prison in… Continue reading Hunger (2008), Beware the Yikes of March