Netflix and Beyond

The fecundity of director Wes Anderson’s imagination has never been so beautifully luminous, so poignantly poetic as in this enchanting, compelling slice of nostalgia; a pecan of a world and life only treasured,  experienced through the written word and a magical film. “The Grand Budapest Hotel”, influenced by the brilliant, prescient autobiography, “The World of Yesterday” by Austrian, Stefan Zweig …

The Battle of Stalingrad is a metaphor for colossal perseverance; the Herculean strength of the dedicated; outnumbered, starving, obstinately denying the German forces a victory . The battle lasted from August 23rd,1942, until February 2nd,1943. The annihilation of the German army (led by doomed Field Marshall Paulus) heralded Germany’s deserved demise. The loss of life, over a million souls, has …

A highly unique and unorthodox phenomenon is the spine of this deliciously delightful film from director Ritesh Batra; over five thousand “Dabbawalas” deliver “tiffin boxes” containing hot lunches (prepared at home or restaurants) for over four hundred thousand people in the workplace; founded in 1890 by Mahadeo Havaji; this organization still thrives in the bustling, cacophonous over-populated city of Mumbai, …

Farhan Akhtan (“Bhaag Milkha Bhaag”) and Vidya Balan (“Kahaani”) depict an urban, sophisticated couple who enjoy creating salacious scenarios to keep their marriage romantically-charged; it works until pregnancy severs the fantasy. “Sid” a frustrated composer and “Trisha” a professional of sorts (we are never informed of the nature of her professionalism) are not prepared for parenthood, but “Millie” becomes a …

Ellen DeGeneres set the tone; the evening shimmered with grace, style, levity, raucous hilarity and sizzling spontaneity. Stunning acceptance speeches coated with humility, pride; resonating with class and respect: Lupita Nyong’o eloquence, Matthew McConaughey’s uniqueness, Jared Leto’s poignancy, Cate Blanchett’s, aplomb, Steve McQueen’s tribute to historical heroes. No one topped Darlene Love’s musical acceptance of her award for “20 Feet …

Weathered, whiskered Liam Neeson is the archetype of a disillusioned, alcoholic Federal air marshal; “Bill Marks”, running on empty, neurotic about flying, shortly after take off on a New York/London flight, receives a “text”, on a secure line, demanding 150 million dollars be transferred to a numbered  account or someone will die every twenty minutes. Hence the flight takes off …

PENEFLIX  5th ANNUAL ACADEMY AWARD CONTEST It is that time of year, when once again I prove incapable of separating my mind and heart; they are so entwined that an autopsy would prove inconclusive. I vote for the film and nominees that I consider the best in their category. I do not play the odds; so many “winners” do, regardless …

This provocative, unlikely Bollywood flick revolves around the bombardment of the norm, society’s dictates and  breathtaking freedom gained from being involuntarily ripped from one’s comfort zone; a kidnapping releases the chained, frustrated spirit of a traditional, wealthy, urban, spoiled sophisticate, engaged to the perfect prospect (cad of a man), “arranged” by the families of the mismatched pair. Alia Bhatt (daughter …

Written, directed and starring George Clooney  as  “Fred Stokes” (George L. Stout), Harvard art conservationist, commissioned by the US Army in 1943 to lead “The Monuments Men”; a team of seasoned curators, architects, historians recruited to capture Nazi- looted masterpieces and return them to their rightful owners. A compelling story based on the 2009, “The Monuments Men” by Robert M. …

Two enchanting and mystical weeks of temple -trekking through ancient, sacred monuments: iconic reminders of a people’s dedication and love for their gods; the might of their of their dynasties (Chola in particular): Shiva, Vishnu and Buddha, their avatars, miracles, mysteries laid bare by the inimitable scholar, Dr. Maduvanti Ghose, Alsdorf curator of Indian, Southeast Asian, Himalayan, Islamic art at …