Netflix and Beyond

This pivotal, personal portrait of one of the finest living artists should be viewed by anyone with a modicum of interest in art and the artistic process; it is stunning, illuminating, and positively thrilling. Gerhard Richter, born in 1932, Germany, has a multi-layered history revolving around the second world war, dissection of Berlin, living in a politically -charged environment; his ... Read More »

Power is an aphrodisiac; since Early Dynastic Egypt, Mesopotamia, through the centuries, until the present, those with the might have the right to the delights of those whose lights shine at a diminished wattage, and those dim bulbs, like magnets, lust after the powerful, mighty, as sycophants to kings, presidents, dictators. “Hyde Park on Hudson” is a quasi-documentary based on ... Read More »

The director, writers, producers must have suffered a meteoric meltdown to think that this sophomoric drivel qualifies as entertainment. An ageing, once renown soccer player, “George” (Gerard Butler) returns to a town of desperate housewives (Uma Thurman, Catherine Zeta Jones, Judy Greer), to reconnect with his ten-year-old son, “Lewis” (an enchanting Noah Lomax)) and ex-wife, “Stacie” (Jessica Biel). Predictability ensues: ... Read More »

But will return with Amazonian strength in time for the Holiday Hits and Misses! Always, your readership, comments, both positive and negative are relished, appreciated and keep me on my intellectual toes; reminders that the mind is a muscle and craves as much exercise as the body. This vacation will concentrate on  muscles that are flirting with atrophy, dehydrated, pounding ... Read More »

Two years ago ensconced in a theatre in Delhi, the palest face in an arena of enthralled Indians, mesmerized by a Bollywood film revolving around the escapades of good and evil politicians, even without subtitles, I was astonished by the depth of the actors skills.  Today, once again the lightest-complexioned individual,  surrounded by Indian-Americans, in a Midwestern city,  hypnotized by ... Read More »

Which was precisely what the audience suffered through 97 minutes of this brutal, taut expose where all are nefarious; just varying degrees of separation. The once, remarkably handsome Brad Pitt, plays philosophical “gun-for-hire”, “Jackie Cogan” who “kills” from a distance, so as not to get too personal, sentimentally involved; his creed is ambushed by circumstances and his assassinations spread blood ... Read More »

Eleven years ago I read and relished Yann Martel’s irresistible, allegorical “Life of Pi”; many pivotal books gradually sink into the vast recesses of one’s mind, titles fade, but in this instance Pi’s journey sunk its literary teeth into a comfortable corner of my memory;  took up permanent residence, and in gratitude to Ang Lee’s profoundly beautiful, visual production, a ... Read More »

Anthony Hopkins as the cutting, caustic, corpulent creative director “Alfred Hitchcock” (1899-1980) is magnificent. He captures the man with his foibles, charms, inimitable genius, as no other actor could. For those who remember Mr. Hitchcock, Hopkins reincarnates the “Master of Suspense”. “Hitchcock” concentrates on the vicissitudes tackled in the making of “Psycho”( based on the novel by Joseph Stefano) and ... Read More »

Anthony Hopkins as the cutting, caustic, corpulent creative director “Alfred Hitchcock” (1899-1980) is magnificent. He captures the man with his foibles, charms, inimitable genius, as no other actor could. For those who remember Mr. Hitchcock, Hopkins reincarnates the “Master of Suspense”. “Hitchcock” concentrates on the vicissitudes tackled in the making of “Psycho”( based on the novel by Joseph Stefano) and ... Read More »

“Son of Sardar” is  capable of wielding the death knell for future Bollywood attractions in a western world.  Erstwhile stars prostituted their reputations to work in this supercilious drivel: Ajay Devgan (“Halla Bol”, “Omkara”, “Yuva”); Sanjay Dutt (“Naam”, “Parinetta” “Sadak, Saajan”), Salman Khan (“Veer”, “Kuch,Kuch Hota Hai”, “Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiya”); these men are fine, multitalented actors and I cringed ... Read More »