Hollywood

A “runner”, reminiscent of a broker’s employee, delivering a market order to the broker’s floor trader; once delivered, order executed, the runner runs, and confirms the completion, to the trader. Runners are sinking towards obsolesce, replaced by an electronic platform. Wish this film suffered the same fate before being splayed on the big screen; dumped unceremoniously on a naive, unsuspecting …

Stratospherically thrilling; ethereal engineering, brilliant writing, astounding acting, gift audiences a visual, visceral extravaganza worthy of the highest accolades; ninety minutes of terrifying isolation, profound silence, crippling suspense, celestial, stunning beauty. Alfonso and Jonas Cuaron (father/son) with awe- inspiring genius wrote and directed “Gravity”; aided by the Olympian skills of cinematographer, Emanuel Lubezki, “Gravity” outshines any space movie ever to …

Watching warm, huggable, corpulent James Gandolfini, no longer in our midst, it was difficult not to weep as he so completely imbues “Albert”  with an innate sense of charm, humor; acceptance of his flaws, accomplished long before we meet him, he is guileless and capable of profound love and devotion; a man among men, one just has to look. Writer/director …

The populace thrives on competition; contests abound in all areas of life; commencing with spelling bees, science fairs, essays, dancing, singing, debating; but it is in the world of sports where the lust for victory exceeds all other fields; possibly because of the universal appeal, the devotional aspects of the fans and feeding frenzy of the press; nothing quenches satisfaction …

2011, debuted director Steve McQueen’s compelling “Shame” starring Michael Fassbender; still in theatres: “Thanks For Sharing”  with inimitable Mark Ruffalo; excellent films focusing on sex addiction, kept alive and fed by internet pornography. “Don Jon” is a pathetic imitation on the same theme: Joseph Gordon-Levitt (a talented actor) stars and directs this sad, and insipid scenario of a pumped -up …

By the time I read J.D. Salinger’s “Catcher in the Rye”, published in 1951; much of the mystique had waned; I met my share of “Holden Caulfield” wannnabes; testosterone oozing from every pore, using “phony” intelligence to avoid the regulations of structured academia; boasting of tortured souls, being misunderstood by the mundane masses; destined for mediocrity and a premature obituary. …

A triumphant thriller packed with enough psychological twists to keep one riveted to the screen; terrific acting imbues director Denis Villeneuve’s taut, beautifully- structured scenario about the abduction of two little girls; always a disturbing, problematic theme. Handled magnificently by excellent writing (Aaron Guzikowski) and actors: Hugh Jackman, Jake Gyllenhaal, Terrence Howard, Viola Davis, Maria Bello, Paul Dano, and Melissa …

I have a friend who was poetically flawless, sumptious to behold: tall, pale, luminous Nordic beauty, thin and voluptuous simultaneously (before the image could be manufactured); everything she aspired to, she miraculously accomplished; honor roll, debate teem, cheerleader; legendary achievements, perpetually astounding all who revered her; even worshipped her. Until she tasted the fruit that would doom and consume her, …

It has been a long time since such profound honesty has been depicted on the screen. “Short Term 12”, written and directed by Destin Daniel Cretton focuses on a care center; troubled children under the age of eighteen; castoffs, abused, shunned by family and society; struggling for autonomy, dignity within the boundaries of mainstream dictates. “Grace” and “Mason” are a …

Jennifer Hudson is superb as “Winnie Mandikizela-Mandela” (1936-) the sixth daughter of a teacher and  second wife of Nelson Mandela (1918-); her feistiness as a youngster and intellectual alacrity wins her a scholarship and enlightenment in Johannesburg; she is courted and returns the affections of revolutionary, anti-apartheid/lawyer Nelson Mandela (Terrence Howard’s  interpretation is infused with frustration and the agony of …