SOMEWHERE IN QUEENS (Directed and co-written by Ray Romano) was a feast of acting by Laurie Metcalf, Ray Romano, Jennifer Esposito and Sebastion Maniscalpo. Romano possesses a sad eyed handsome Bogart mystique and you can’t help but love him, hence EveryBOGEY Loves Raymond. My hope is for him to receive a few award nominations. He’s… Continue reading EveryBOGEY Loves Raymond: Somewhere in Queens
Calling Two Spades: Mafia Mamma and Renfield
I’m dying to get the rotten taste out of my eyes, ears and mouth of two super lazy movies in a row. I won’t waste much of my precious time on Earth on these two clunkers, but will spell out what was the angle and the failure of each as concisely as I can. Mafia… Continue reading Calling Two Spades: Mafia Mamma and Renfield
Sarasota Experience: You’d Have Me With “Hello”
Yesterday afternoon, before attending the premiere of the short, but brilliant documentary premiere of Shaun Greenspan’s “Sarasota Experience” at the Sarasota Opera House last night, I was walking down Gulfstream Ave., disheartened by the lack of “hello”‘s of which I’ve recently become more and more aware. I truly love Sarasota and love the walk-ability, and… Continue reading Sarasota Experience: You’d Have Me With “Hello”
Madame: Collette & Keitel
Madame is a homework movie I watched for my upcoming talk on Mafia Mamma on April 14th at Burns Court Theater. Madame is written and directed by Amanda Sthers who also wrote Mafia Mamma. Reading her book Holy Lands (also turned into a film), I’m fully understanding her style, whimsically moving. Madame never made it… Continue reading Madame: Collette & Keitel
Famili”AIR”ty Breeds Success
Let’s face it. Affleck and Damon feel like my brothers from another mother. I’ve basically grown up with them from Mystic Pizza to Good Will Hunting to Argo and Stillwater. I love these guys even if they sometimes disappoint (J Lo & Bitcoin commercials, respectively). And of course, who isn’t in love with Jason Bateman’s… Continue reading Famili”AIR”ty Breeds Success
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
Other People’s Children: Sarasota Film Festival
Other People’s Children, written and directed by Rebecca Zlotowski is the second film I saw this week that starts out wobbly like a fresh born calf, but then finally gets in the groove enough to earn a favorable review. The first third of the film was akin to constant Ra-Ra Instagram posts, a look at… Continue reading Other People’s Children: Sarasota Film Festival
Phoenix Film Festival Wrap Up
Shoot me an email if you have opinions or responses: irun2eatpizza@hotmail.com The Phoenix Film Festival centered in Scottsdale, Arizona brought me to emotional heights. While I did handwrite full reviews for each film, for now, I’ll simply rate the films I saw in reverse (countdown) order with just general opinions. Once they come to the… Continue reading Phoenix Film Festival Wrap Up
Je T’Aime Moving French Movies, But…One Fine Morning, CaVa
First, proof that French films have moved me; The Umbrellas of Cherbourg is pure magic and two much more recent that were at least a good card tricks were The Intouchables and Starbuck. Not to mention almost everything Juliette Binoche has starred in. So there. And I even love Mia Hansen-Love’s Bergmann Island. But as… Continue reading Je T’Aime Moving French Movies, But…One Fine Morning, CaVa
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