Netflix and Beyond

A friend of mine states “money does not care who owns it”; Jackie Siegel (“Queen”) and husband David Siegel, (“King”) reign over the mammoth time-share company, Westgate Resorts. They are the subjects of director Lauren Greenfield’s riches to rags scenario; propitious, that Ms. Greenfield in 2007, focuses on the Siegel’s because they are constructing the largest private residence in the …

Tuesday July 31st, Gore Vidal, one of the world’s most prolific and at times, most controversial writers, died at the age of eighty-six; his iconic quotes have been bantered in newspapers, talk shows over the last few days. As I watched this stupendous documentary (made by first time filmmaker Alison Klayman) about Chinese artist and activist, Ai Weiwei, one of …

Based on the play by Tracy Letts,  director William Friedkin has remained religiously faithful to this ragingly, raunchy, raw rendition of a family pushed to the edge; options dead, every action a reaction; trailer park trash painfully vitalized and depicted by compelling acting. Matthew McCaughey is brilliant as “Killer Joe”, an amoral lawman for murderous hire. Emile Hirsch is smarmy, …

A misleading title. This is a “revolution” of immensely talented contemporary dancers, struggling to make their skills  known to the world, Miami in particular. Under the sobriquet “The Mob” they stage and film their performances on the streets of Miami, Art Museums, City Hall. They are competing for a grand YouTube prize; they have to garnish the “hits”. The silly, …

Slick, sophisticated  beginning, quickly sinks into mediocrity, partially because director Rodrigo Cortes’s ambitious mission and script are too erudite; his preoccupation and ardour of science and the cloudy, empirical world of the paranormal becomes detrimental, confusing;  looses its path and the audience. Sigourney Weaver plays “ Dr. Margaret Matheson” a psychologist specializing in debunking, exposing sensational, charlatan psychics. The part …

For “Batman” devotees, if you have not seen it, you must. For the rest of the movie-going crowd be forewarned that it is bleak and massively “dark”; possibly because director Christopher Nolan was astute enough to throw in a heavy dose of reality; daily, we witness the fanatics, armed with nuclear might, threaten world security. Christian Bale is “Bruce Wayne” …

Anyone who has had their first brush with adolescence has fantasized about the perfect partner; the one who completes the puzzle, the conundrum that is “you”; conforms to your ideal; meets and exceeds all your expectations; plainly put, the “love of your life.” “Ruby Sparks” is one of the most compelling, enchanting films of the summer. Created by, and starring …

It is rare, but at times one recognizes a well-made film, beautifully- acted, a tale resonating with verisimilitude but fails to entice, engross or fully entertain ; “Farewell, My Queen” falls into this category. July 14, 1789, Versailles, France; King Louis XVI, and Queen Marie Antoinette are about to meet their historical fates; the imminent bombarding of the Bastille; luxury …

Over the last few days I have been overwhelmed by your comments on my site, email, verbally; regarding my post of July 21st; the supreme tragedy is that it should never been written; the events in Aurora, Colorado should not have occurred; so many lives, families, shattered, fractured for eternity, should still be peacefully intact. Young people of promise erased …

If you have never ventured, but always wondered, lusted for the exotic, compelling mystique of India, “Trishna” dishes up a savory cacophony of sounds, sights, contrasts so vividly realistic, pulsating with polluted, congested, dark, dusky corridors, blinding, sun- scorched fields, man and mammal wedded by culture and necessity; still imbued with a “class” conscious, constricted society; director Michael Winterbottom, without …