Steve Carell I was skeptical about Foxcatcher, partly because I couldn’t hide from reviews that claimed the screenplay was thin. Thank goodness I sometimes take these reviews with a grain of salt, as Foxcatcher contains a very well written story and fabulous performances by Steve Carrel, Mark Ruffalo and Channing Tatum. First, the most unique… Continue reading Yes, Virginia there is a S.C.! (Steve Carell)
Reese’s Pieces, “Wild”, Ode to My Mother
I’ll reiterate a statement I’ve made in the past, that the best movies change you on such a deep level that you feel differently not only when you leave the theater, but days afterward. “Wild” directed by Jean-Marc Valee is one of those touching movies, especially for a woman of a certain age like me… Continue reading Reese’s Pieces, “Wild”, Ode to My Mother
Chris Rock Linkedin Endorsements
I love Chris Rock. I loved his recent SNL opening monologue where he said (and I paraphrase) that he wouldn’t go in the new Freedom Tower (former World Trade Center site) if Scarlett Johansson was naked lying in a plate of ribs. I love that he called Ben Roethlisberger the original white Cosby. I love… Continue reading Chris Rock Linkedin Endorsements
Campaign Bumper Sticker 2016
Miles Teller Saw two accomplished films this weekend, one a doc Citizenfour (Laura Poitras) and one of fiction, Whiplash (Damien Chazelle). Citizenfour is basically cinematic voyeurism; watching a man’s last few days of freedom. While I disagree with Leonard Maltin’s hyperbolic review “has Hitchockian suspense”, I will admit it held my interest despite ‘knowing the… Continue reading Campaign Bumper Sticker 2016
Birdman vs. Nightcrawler
Fifty years ago, my title (Birdman vs. Nightcrawler) might have sounded like a new idea from the creators of Mothra vs. Godzilla (Okawara, 1964), but nope, this is my humble blog. First, Birdman. The alphabet soup of screenwriters (Inarritu, Giacobone, Dinelans and Bo) probably should apologize to Michael Keaton. He won’t win the Oscar. And… Continue reading Birdman vs. Nightcrawler
Roger Ebert “Life Itself”
I tend toward constant vacillation (and I say that chagrined, not bragging) so I really wanted to see Life Itself when the doc news was first revealed. But typically, in the lag time between announcing and screening, I started to dread the gruesome medical procedure discussed by the director on an NPR feature. Yet, I… Continue reading Roger Ebert “Life Itself”
1-800-Bill Murray aka “St. Vincent”
First props to deviantart.com for this gorgeous art rendering of Bill Murray! Ok, I was excited about St. Vincent. Wes Anderson cameos aside (most recently “Grand Budapest Hotel”), Bill Murray hasn’t had a lead role in a long while. And I’ve had a Bill Murray crush since his nerdy-sexy SNL days. Lost in Translation has… Continue reading 1-800-Bill Murray aka “St. Vincent”
My Old Crush is in “My Old Lady”
I try hard not to read reviews before I go see a film, but I confess I took a sneak peak to Rotten Tomatoes before heading out to Pittsford Cinema in Rochester, New York to view “My Old Lady”. A trusted friend had told me it was good, but I wanted a professional’s opinion. A… Continue reading My Old Crush is in “My Old Lady”
Gone Girl, I Rest My Case
Miraculously my surprise was intact by the middle of “Gone Girl” despite its notoriety as a best selling book and that the movie had been out for ten days. I take partial credit, not reading the New Yorker review, which is notoriously plot synopsis. I enjoyed three quarters of the film until Ben Affleck’s character… Continue reading Gone Girl, I Rest My Case
Turturro: Woody Allen, a welcome salve. Yes, you read that correctly.
Woody Allen Listen, I lost two of my favorite funny people this year; Robin Williams and Joan Rivers. And I hadn’t seen Woody Allen do the film persona Woody Allen since the ’80’s. So thank you John Turturro for writing a directing “Fading Gigilo” which I finally had a chance to get on-demand this weekend.… Continue reading Turturro: Woody Allen, a welcome salve. Yes, you read that correctly.