Hollywood

When predictability is ensured, investment in the scenario takes prodigious skill by the director and actors to cement one’s attention; director Peter Berg and Mark Wahlberg mostly succeed; “Patriots Day”, references the bombing at the finish line of the Boston Marathon, April 15, 2013. Commencing, watching the banality of everyday life, Berg personalizes the victims and more importantly the perpetrators. …

A romantic slice of reality from director Shaad Ali, referencing a remake of 2015’s Tamil “O Kadhal Kanmani”; starring Aditya Roy Kapur as “Adi” a nascent video artist and Shraddha Kapoor as “Tara” an architectural student aspiring to study in Paris. Pulsating between Bollywood’s ubiquitous dance sequences (score by A.R. Rahman) lies a contemporary conundrum: young men and women of …

Annette Bening is an actor’s actor, losing herself in the persona of each character she portrays, from “Bugsy”, “American Beauty” to her inimitable “Being Julia” (she should have captured the Academy Award in 2004) her interpretations are profoundly, realistically flawless. She shines as “Dorothea” a fifty-five-year-old, single mother, a cigarette perpetually joined at her lip, living in Santa Barbara with …

Exodus 21:2. If you buy a Hebrew slave, he is to serve you six years; in the seventh year he is to go free, without paying anything. In Kazakh tradition you free your faithful eagle, after seven years of devotion, so the rest of their existence is at their own whim. Director Otto Bell, Cinematographer Simon Niblett and Sia’s song …

“La La Land” provided fabulous fodder for Jimmy Fallons’s  star-infused, opening number; redemptive program, erasing last years’ deadly dud! Acceptance awards by the winners were gracious, heartfelt and in some cases inspirational: Viola Davis wins the highest plaudits for her stunning, humble acknowledgment of her win as the Best Supporting Actress (“Fences”); Ryan Gosling’s (Best Actor Comedy/Musical) tribute to his …

Watching directors Fisher Stevens and Alexis Bloom’s intimate documentary on the relationship between the legendary actors Debbie Reynolds and her daughter Carrie Fisher, I soulfully regretted not seeing it while it toured the Festival circuit; with their passing I found it profoundly tragic and painfully pathetic. Debbie Reynolds had her day in the sun, as did Carrie Fisher; why wasn’t …

Director Martin Scorsese’s “Silence” is terrifying; every scene reminiscent of history’s horrific dossier of those who perished because of their faith, or refusal to acquiesce, convert to the dictates of the conquerors, church or crown; Roman Emperor Nero, slaughtered Christians, 37-68 AD; Jews have been persecuted from the Hellenistic period (323BCE) through 20th century’s Holocaust; Muslims, targets of the Crusade …

An animated romp focusing on every cliché known to man: “follow your dreams” no matter the challenges; once you hit “rock bottom” only way is up; never too old to give life’s expectations another shot. But every one of these aphorisms “sings” with originality in director Garth Jennings “Sing” an anthropomorphic jaunt that resonates demographically; the voices of Matthew McConaughey, …

Being somewhat selective, many films are beyond my pay grade: neck- slurping horror genre, hibernation/rejuvenation sagas, tales from the crypt. Here are the highlights and no lights of 2016. WINNERS:"EYE IN THE SKY""ZOOTOPIA""MIDNIGHT SPECIAL""KRISHA""THE JUNGLE BOOK""SING STREET""THE MAN WHO KNEW INFINITY""HELL OR HIGH WATER""KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS""LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP""CIEN ANOS DE PERDON""SULLY""A MAN CALLED OVE""M. S. DHONI: THE UNTOLD …

Never having seen the video game (nor will, after wallowing in bewilderment for two hours) I was intrigued because historically The Knight Templers and The Assassins were organizations that were informed and grew exponentially around the Crusades (1095-1291); a war for the Holy Land fought by Christians and Muslims; The Knight Templers led by French nobleman Hughes de Payens, consisted …