Slick, sophisticated  beginning, quickly sinks into mediocrity, partially because director Rodrigo Cortes’s ambitious mission and script are too erudite; his preoccupation and ardour of science and the cloudy, empirical world of the paranormal becomes detrimental, confusing;  looses its path and the audience. Sigourney Weaver plays “ Dr. Margaret Matheson” a psychologist specializing in debunking, exposing sensational, charlatan psychics. The part …

For “Batman” devotees, if you have not seen it, you must. For the rest of the movie-going crowd be forewarned that it is bleak and massively “dark”; possibly because director Christopher Nolan was astute enough to throw in a heavy dose of reality; daily, we witness the fanatics, armed with nuclear might, threaten world security. Christian Bale is “Bruce Wayne” …

Anyone who has had their first brush with adolescence has fantasized about the perfect partner; the one who completes the puzzle, the conundrum that is “you”; conforms to your ideal; meets and exceeds all your expectations; plainly put, the “love of your life.” “Ruby Sparks” is one of the most compelling, enchanting films of the summer. Created by, and starring …

It is rare, but at times one recognizes a well-made film, beautifully- acted, a tale resonating with verisimilitude but fails to entice, engross or fully entertain ; “Farewell, My Queen” falls into this category. July 14, 1789, Versailles, France; King Louis XVI, and Queen Marie Antoinette are about to meet their historical fates; the imminent bombarding of the Bastille; luxury …

Over the last few days I have been overwhelmed by your comments on my site, email, verbally; regarding my post of July 21st; the supreme tragedy is that it should never been written; the events in Aurora, Colorado should not have occurred; so many lives, families, shattered, fractured for eternity, should still be peacefully intact. Young people of promise erased …

If you have never ventured, but always wondered, lusted for the exotic, compelling mystique of India, “Trishna” dishes up a savory cacophony of sounds, sights, contrasts so vividly realistic, pulsating with polluted, congested, dark, dusky corridors, blinding, sun- scorched fields, man and mammal wedded by culture and necessity; still imbued with a “class” conscious, constricted society; director Michael Winterbottom, without …

I live in movie theatres; my life is defined by film. Entering a darkened theatre I feel cocooned, protected from the heat of politics, problems, weather; with my ticket comes a respite from what troubles me or the woes, aches of the world. Also, never alone, surrounded by strangers, regardless of demographics all there, sharing, sinking into the luxurious oblivion …

Rarely will you encounter a book that soars, takes flight from the first sentence, goes into orbit and lives there for its entirety. “The Next Step: A Gobsmacking Odyssey of Reinvention” by Robert Koppel is an imaginary , universal, stratospheric romp that will resonate long after its final introspective,  illuminating pages. “Fishman”/”Weintraub”/ “Palefsky”/ “Goldberg” join the ranks of literary iconic …

WILL BE POSTED JULY 14, 2012

“Take This Waltz” (previously reviewed 5/27/12), did not improve with a second viewing. Michelle Williams and Seth Rogen star as a couple (“Margot”,  “Lou”) so devoted to each other that their endearments are flavored with untoward, torturous sentiments. She is aimless, rootless, devoid of ambition; he cooks and writes about chicken for a living. Enter Luke Kirby (“Daniel”) as the …