Netflix and Beyond

Once upon a time, in the year 1697 a Frenchman, Charles Perrault wrote “The Glass Slipper”; in 1812 The Brothers Grimm elaborated upon the tale of beautiful, orphaned “Ella”, relegated to the status of servant by her heinous stepmother and her two wretched daughters. So, for centuries this bewitching fable has touched the hearts and imaginations of all who have …

“Nothin says lovin like somethin from the oven”, the Pillsbury Dough Boy would have expanded to unlimited proportions in the kitchens, of once ubiquitous delicatessens, now just a “chosen” few. “Deli Man” is a scrumptious,  succulent, salivating love story; the heart of this delicious documentary pulsates with the vibrancy of David “Ziggy” Gruber a third-generation “deli man”; Cordon Bleu trained, …

There are fictional characters, once encountered, that remain perpetually parked, closeted in one’s literary landscape: Holden Caufield, Scarlet O’Hara, Rhett Butler, Sherlock Holmes, Hester Prynne, Hannibal Lecter, Daniel Deronda, Moby Dick/Captain Ahab, Miss Havisham, Sydney Carton, Becky Sharp, Lisbeth Salander, Fishman; in Robert Koppel’s newest, exhilarating, fantastical “Odyssey” we meet “Ira Fleckenstein” and his hilarious, outrageous relatives and friends; following …

Beware of films “On Demand” before they open in theatres; more than likely they are awful and “Maps to the Stars” is a prime example. David Cronenberg exploits every salacious taboo shunned by those with a modicum of morality; blatantly bludgeoning viewers with themes of incest, pyromania, narcissism; repulsive, sickening to view; fine actors wallowing in the roles of slimy, …

A distant, vastly disappointing “second”; unfathomable, dreary interpretation of characters so alive and vibrant in the first “chapter”; gone is the exciting, enticing flavor of India; this bland, silly scenario could have taken place anywhere. The same cast, marginalized by mundane writing and superfluous directing (John Madden, “Shakespeare in Love”). Dev Patel, “Sonny” the endearing proprietor of the “Marigold Hotel” …

Most writers will testify that the “short story” is probably the most difficult to create; within two sentences you have to ambush the readers’ attention;  sink your literary teeth into their intellectual guts; sabotage all extraneous thoughts;  rush to fruition, instantly gratifying their desire to know the conclusion/solution of the tiny tale. “Wild Tales” is comprised of six vignettes focusing …

Interestingly “Focus” intrigued me on a surprising level; not as a “con”, “sting” film, nor as a placid love story, but as a devilish, “slight-of-hand”  scenario;  anyone who has been a victim  (or a potential victim) of invasive thievery will be stunned at the skill and finesse practiced by these artists of trickery, surgeons of stylish, cunning undetected removal of …

Brian D. answered all the questions, including the bonus “2”, correctly; garnishing $150.00; Danny G. missed “1” bonus, winning $125.00. Congratulations boys! My life is informed by movies and those stars who infuse legitimacy into perfect strangers; they come alive and breathe   comfortably forever, in my memory bank. Here are a few “characters” and those who ignited inspiration and dignity …

Hundreds entered, two emerged victorious: one garnished the two extra credit questions. Their names will be posted if permission is granted. I felt the wrong “B” movie took the top Oscars (4 in total; tying with Wes Anderson’s “The Grand Budapest Hotel”); “Whiplash” receiving 3; J.K. Simmons, deservedly earning the “Best Supporting Actor”. With the exception of Patricia Arquette (Best …

Years ago, a friend was astounded when I admitted to not having read nor having a smidgen of interest in  E.L. James’s  literary phenomena; a trilogy that knocked the world on its posterior. So, over a week’s time, I gorged on all three volumes, concluding that James had a staggering imagination and had done her research in the tricks of …