Peneflix MOVIE REVIEWS BY PENEFLIX

Cate Blanchett is hypnotically astounding as a fallen icon of wealth, fashion and social standing; fleeing New York, the bastion of her halcyon days, to San Francisco, where she hibernates in a vodka, drug-induced fog with her good-hearted, unsophisticated sister (Sally Hawkins, as “Ginger”, is perfect as the selfless foil, rescuing her hapless sister, “Jasmine”, (Blanchette). Stunning portrayals by both ... Read More »

A long time ago, in a millennium far removed, I enjoyed a good, titillating, hair- raising horror flick; that ceased to be when the genre sunk to the lowest level of sensationalism; when the protagonist never died (“Michael”, “Jason”) when massacres became nothing but a torturous homage to mutilation. The key to a successful, terrifying, flesh-tingling film lies in the ... Read More »

Director Gabriella Cowperthwaite’s documentary about SeaWorld Orlando’s orcas (killer whales, “blackfish”) especially “Tilikum”, captured in 1983, is a transformative, illuminating expose; hauntingly embarrassing for all who have ever visited, thoroughly loved watching the amazing, propelling feats, performed by supposedly domesticated mammals, as they partner and interact with their trainers. February 24th, 2010, Dawn Brancheau a seasoned, vibrant, caring trainer was ... Read More »

As of July 25th the worst movie of 2013!  Ryan Gosling must have had a petit mal seizure, (expressionless, he moves as if connected to a morphine drip) along with  Kristen Scott-Thomas to denigrate their skills portraying a mother/son wallowing in drug-infested Bangkok; revenging the death of an older son/brother, after he rapes and murders a sixteen-year-old girl. Every taboo ... Read More »

After seeing “The Kings of Summer” a terrific “coming of age” flick, I decided to skip “The Way Way Back” a repetitive version of the same theme. Fortunately, I listened to major enthusiasts whose approbation infected and inspired my curiosity, I am in their debt. “The Way Way Back” is poignantly, intelligently written, sensitively well-acted, realistic in its tale of ... Read More »

There is nothing more salubrious than divorcing oneself from one’s vocation, avocation; fleeing normalcy and tasting the exotic flavors of another world; China, and its explosive economic phenomena, emerging contemporary art market was my harmonic choice. For two challenging, mind-bending, vastly illuminating weeks my friend and I delved into the escalating, enthralling, exponentially expanding sphere of living  Chinese artists, their ... Read More »

Going with zero expectations I was pleasantly surprised that “The Lone Ranger” was more than minimally entertaining; primarily because of Johnny Depp’s characterization of “Tonto”, the reluctant Indian sidekick of “John Reid” aka “The Lone Ranger”. Armie Hammer, adequately morphs, from an  Eastern -educated, pristine, nerdy lawyer (John Reid) into the “masked man” after his lawman brother “Dan” ( tough, ... Read More »

Written in 1558, William Shakespeare perpetually inspires with stinging, titillating wit, sagacious repartee and timeless wisdom. The film (a true masterpiece by director Joss Whedon) is a dazzling, scintillating comedic tale, touching every element of the human condition: love, betrayal, intrigue, manipulation; portrayed in a contemporary milieu (Whedon’s home, Santa Monica, CA.) by overwhelmingly gifted actors. One does not have ... Read More »

“The Heat” is simple, non-threatening entertainment; a light-hearted hiatus from dark, disturbing, alien, neck-chomping, aerial creatures; traumatic, post- apocalyptic fare that has invaded, monopolized today’s movie houses. Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy have an on-screen chemistry that has bled into their off-screen relationship (female version, reminiscent of Vince Vaughn/Owen Wilson partnership); they depict FBI agent “Sarah Ashburn” (Bullock) and Boston ... Read More »

“The Heat” is simple, non-threatening entertainment; a light-hearted hiatus from dark, disturbing, alien, neck-chomping, aerial creatures; traumatic, post- apocalyptic fare that has invaded, monopolized today’s movie houses. Sandra Bullock and Melissa McCarthy have an on-screen chemistry that has bled into their off-screen relationship (female version, reminiscent of Vince Vaughn/Owen Wilson partnership); they depict FBI agent “Sarah Ashburn” (Bullock) and Boston ... Read More »