Netflix and Beyond

Never has cruelty been showcased in such a ravishing landscape; blackness of human nature set in luscious loveliness, a Bordeaux vineyard run by obsessive, perfectionist “Paul de Marseul” (brilliant interpretation by Niels Arestrup); a Beelzebub, with a Faustian tongue whose “grapes” reap more respect than any man. Director/writer Gilles Legrande paints a portrait of evil, so profound, overwhelmingly egregious, it …

Rambir Kapoor, descendant of the Kapoor dynasty,  plays a nice nitwit, “Babli” with a Robin Hood aesthetic, he steals from the insured wealthy to bequeath to dire dallits or those bereft of financial resources; another Bollywood fairy tale that the India populace seems to crave; imbued with terrific, scintillating dance numbers; blindingly colorful costumes, and a plot reminiscent of a …

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. …

Quintessential Bollywood, fanciful fluff, rises above the benign; is pleasantly entertaining because the leading actors are so adorable: Shahid Kapoor and Ileana D’Cruz as “Vishwas” and “Kajal” sing, and with liquid elasticity, dance to some of the most innovative choreography (Caesar Gonsalves, Bosco Martis) spewing from the contemporary fountain of Bollywood ingenuity. The soundtrack, by innovative Pritam Chakraborty, and lyrics …

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, …