Red Penguins offers a lesson in why not to get involved in conducting business in a culture one doesn’t fully understand. The particular men who got involved in the venture can be forgiven in that their dealings with the Russians occurred at a turbulent time in history—the fall of the Soviet Union, the rise of Yeltsin, […]
There have been so many remakes of Frances Hodgson Burnett’s “The Secret Garden,” that Colin Firth has now starred in two. The Oscar-winning actor originally played the adult version of Colin Craven (Hayhurst) in the 1986 rendition. Here, Firth is the Grandmaster of lunacy, Lord Archibald Craven, with little screen time, but his name in big
Sweet, syrupy, pure fantasy—I loved this movie! The joke’s on me, because it’s not the kind of film that I usually take to at all—in fact, I’m often averse to this kind of thing. Yet, there was something about it that moved me and sustained my interest the whole time. It’s basically a tension between ultra-realism and pragmatics
The first great film of 2020 creeps up on you gradually in the most unexpected way. “Summerland” is the feature film debut of Jessica Swale, who also wrote the original screenplay. She takes us back to the WWII era, just when you think every possible angle has already been captured on film, “Summerland” finds uncharted
In an extraordinary production directed by Marjane Satrapi and starring Rosamund Pike as Madame Curie, we hear the story of an eccentric scientist who won two Nobel prizes through much conflict and a certain amount of public hatred. She was the first woman to win a Nobel, notably being relatively unimpressed with it, but at the
Dave Franco, the younger of the Franco Brothers has now thrown his hat into the director’s ring, like older sibling James (“The Disaster Artist”). “The Rental” is a conventional horror genre flick; four friends, mysterious house, isolated surroundings, you know how these things go. It stars Franco’s wife Alison Brie (“Sleeping With Other People”), and
The Czech Republic’s submission to the Academy Awards that was short-listed from over 90 films to one of the ten, was also one of the films that prompted walkouts during Venice and Toronto film festivals. Director Václav Marhoul’s controversial black and white film The Painted Bird is adapted from the equally controversial author Jerzy Kosinski.
Australian film “Dirt Music” propels supporting actress Kelly MacDonald (“No Country For Old Men”, “Goodbye Christopher Robin”) into her first leading role. The Scottish actress dons a sun kissed tan and a remarkable Aussie accent. Based on the novel by Tim Winton, the screenwriter Jack Thorne (“The Aeronauts”) and director Gregor Jordan (“Ned Kelly”) appear
If you are familiar with Kelly Reichardt’s work, you know never to watch her films late at night or when you are tired. “Certain Women” or “Meek’s Cutoff” are extremely quiet films and indulgent with running time. While her editing tends to drag and draw-out the subject matter longer than patience might allow, she always
Film critic turned director Rod Lurie’s latest film “The Outpost” is based on CNN Reporter Jake Tapper’s book by the same name. It opens with quotes from military leaders regarding the unique dangers of this part of Afghanistan, background notes about time and place, title credits, the names of every character on screen, location credits,