23 September 2016. WAR DOGS *** War is not only about power, destruction and killing, but also about money, arms and ammunition. Lots of ammunition and incredible amounts of money to be made in procuring it. And this is one (true) story of two young fellows who almost got away with wheeling and dealing between arms […]
Film: The Beatles – Howard takes us on a thrilling ride through the Beatles’ career
16 September 2016. THE BEATLES – 8 Days A Week – The Touring Years *** Most of us have never seen the Beatles performing live, so this is the closest we’ll ever get to the legendary group that rocked England and then the world between 1962 and 1966, their touring years. Director Ron Howard (“Apollo 13”; […]
Film: Genius – the tale of tempestuous writer Thomas Wolfe and his patient editor
9 September 2016. GENIUS *** The genius of creation, the brilliance of a collaboration. The duo of Colin Firth and Jude Law is a power house of mutual appreciation and turmoil in this literary tale of the creative process. Based on real characters in 1930s New York City, Firth plays top editor Max Perkins at Scribner’s, […]
Film: Goodbye Europe – a film that will stay in your heart and mind
2 September 2016. STEFAN ZWEIG – ADIEU L’EUROPE ***1/2 (vo German, French, etc.) There are films that stay in your heart and mind. Because of their subject, the beauty of the cinematography, the acting, but above all because they both enlighten and touch you deeply. And often because they reflect what is happening today. This biopic […]
Film: A strange magical film that should have won the Palme d’Or
26 August 2016. TONI ERDMANN **** (vo German) This surprising and innovative story from Germany, about a curious father/daughter relationship, was the biggest hit of the 2016 Cannes film festival. After years of exclusion from Cannes (except for the occasional Wim Wenders work), this German film by the vivacious Maren Ade showed there is tremendous talent, […]
Film: an orphan girl who teams up with a blind musician
19 August 2016. BLANKA ***1/2 (vo Tagalog) Blanka is a little orphan girl in the slums of Manila who wants more than anything to have a mother. Her own ran off with some man and abandoned her to the streets. She is a sweet girl who only wants love and a home, but ends up stealing […]
Film: the kids teach their parents a thing or two in: C’est quoi cette famille?
12 August 2016. This week’s releases are French and German, and why not, for we are after all living in the heart of Europe, aren’t we? And they are excellent ones, so take your pick or see all three, for you will be amused, moved and enlightened, respectively. C’EST QUOI CETTE FAMILLE ? *** (vo French) […]
Film: Angry Indian godesses
5 August 2016. ANGRY INDIAN GODDESSES *** One angry Goddess is intimidating, but seven of them?! With all the rapes and injustices going on in India against women, how could these young, liberated women not be angry? Indian director Pan Nalin of the sublime “Samsara” is back with this joyous, colorful yet socially pertinent and necessary […]
Film: The secret life of pets – what your pets do when you’re away
29 July 2016. THE SECRET LIFE OF PETS (Comme des bêtes) ***1/2 Have you ever wondered what your pet does when you go off to work? Well, frisky terrier Max will tell you all about it: his relentless love for his mistress, his crazy buddies, his misadventures – they’re all here in this jubilant tale that […]
Film: A New York society woman who couldn’t sing but believed she was highly gifted
15 July 2016. FLORENCE FOSTER JENKINS **** As I was watching this both touching and amusing story starring Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant, I kept thinking who could have made such a perfect film? (For I go into the press screenings as a “virgin”, wanting to know as little as possible). Then the credits came on, […]
