Netflix and Beyond

What is it about time travel that is so hypnotic, magnetic, romantic? The possibility of rectifying past errors? Reclaiming the “one who got away”? Or just the supernatural, infallible power of “knowing”, and possibly “altering” destiny? Time travel has been a pervasive genre, informing contemporary film and literature: “Time After Time”, “Terminator”, “Donnie Darko”, “Groundhog Day” (crippling, anesthetizing redundancy), “Back ... Read More »

But, if you are an advocate of guts and gore, police and perpetrators galore “End of Watch” will satiate your craving, and more! Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Pena are partners, patrolling the crime-infested neighborhoods of Los Angeles. Terrific acting combined with the intimacy of the hand- held camera lends pivotal and realistic credence to a world that exists, but one ... Read More »

Whether an expert or a neophyte, lover or neutral on the sport of baseball “Trouble with the Curve” has no trouble pleasing all audiences. Clint Eastwood, the constant curmudgeon, once again hits it out of the ball park. Eastwood’s “Gus” is an ageing, almost sightless scout for the Atlanta Braves; unlike his vision his instincts for the trade are 20/20; ... Read More »

Masterful, brilliant performances imbue this torturous saga of self-discovery; a struggle to chastise demons, doubts,  destroying one’s mental, psychological, physical path to health and inner peace. Joaquin Phoenix, in a role, likely never to be repeated, is “Freddie Quell” suffering from post- traumatic –stress -disorder, largely undiagnosed after World War II; a veteran of the Pacific front, he is a ... Read More »

Bollywood is still grasping, fighting for a piece of the Western film pie and this enchanting tale should garnish its fair share; if only audiences did not shun this genre that has captivated Eastern viewers for decades. “Barfi” is a deaf/mute who listens and hears only the sound of his pure spirit, eliminating the cacophony of noisy nothingness; his love ... Read More »

Never enamored with the sobriquet “chick flick”; admittedly there are films that fall into that genre. “Beloved” garnishes a slot. It is French Marshmallow Fluff; vanilla, sickeningly saccharine, sentimental, sensational and I could not wait for it to be over. Spanning decades, Ludivine Sagnier  as “Madeleine”: young, vivacious prostitute who marries a “John” has a daughter, divorces; ingénue “Madeleine” matures ... Read More »

“Arbitrage” is the simultaneous buying and selling of a security at two different prices in two different markets, resulting in profits without risk.” It is NOT illegal and this film does NOT address “arbitrage”. Predictably, the successful capitalist is untoward, manipulative, earning his ill- gotten wealth, not by skill and ingenuity but subterfuge, fraud. Devastatingly handsome Richard Gere is “Robert ... Read More »

If you are driven to see this drab, depressing, droning film, check “On Demand”; at least in the privacy of your home you can self- medicate; aiding, wading through a well- performed but meaningless tale of angst at the end . Fine actors (Charlotte Rampling, Geoffrey Rush, Judy Davis) cannot salvage this story of a dying, wealthy, Australian matriarch, luring ... Read More »

In Terrence Malick’s film “The Tree of Life” there is a twenty minute sequence that depicts the birth of the world, the Big Bang Theory; it is breath-taking and the only reason to see the movie. Ron Frick and Mark Magidson’s “Samsara” is a glorious extravaganza, a homage to the universe through the eyes of imposing, innovative geniuses. Wordlessly, we ... Read More »

A tale within a tale within a tale of three authors; at its core a scenario of plagiarism, the act of stealing another’s idea, lying and convincing the world, and yourself, it is your creation, your brain-child; it has been around since antiquity, and undoubtedly will continue until the end of time. This is a good film: well- scripted, presented, ... Read More »