Netflix and Beyond

To commence, I am a supreme despiser of the hand- held camera technique; sounding decidedly pejorative I still consider it amateurish, devoid of professionalism, relegated to the “wanna be a filmmaker”; a high school novice. I recognize that there have been some fascinating films resulting from this technique, “The Hurt Locker” , jumps immediately to mind. In “Blue Valentine” this …

It is an enigma. I am totally devoid of an aesthetic attraction to country western music yet I  find the movies riveting, ravishing and raunchily entertaining. Archival favorites are: “Coal Miner’s Daughter”, Sissy Spacek (Academy Award) portrays Loretta Lynn,  her foibles, follies and fortune, with spunk, fire and dignity; “Sweet Dreams”, Patsy Cline is immortalized by the gorgeous and gifted …

SUBSCRIBERS PLEASE NOTE, I CAN ONLY REPLY TO YOUR COMMENTS ON MY SITE ( if that is where that are posted) www.peneflix.com; really enjoy reading your opinions. It is a healthy, hearty sensation knowing that some of you have questioned the five day hiatus between film reviews; yes, I have been going but I did not want to waste precious …

As I sat alone, entombed in a theatre, that could house 200 on the final day of 2010, watching this silly, trite, but occasionally humorous movie I distinctly heard the ominous toll of the death knoll for all my aspirations, convictions, pejorative as they are, that I could master, muster, conquer the inertia pervasive in the Indian American community and …

  An excellent play (written by David Lindsay-Abaire) has been translated into one of the finest films of the year. Nicole Kidman (Becca) and Aaron Eckhart (Howie) are dealing with the most horrific loss a parent can suffer: the senseless death of a cherished child. (This is evident from the commencement of the movie). Both actors soar in their personal …

Suggestion. Try, and it will be a challenge, not to compare the 1969 version starring the iconic John Wayne, Kim Darby and Glen Campbell. If you succeed you will be thoroughly engrossed, entertained by this Coen brothers remake. Jeff Bridges gives a regal performance as the cantankerous, curmudgeon Ruben “Rooster” Cogburn; a lawman of “true grit” but unconventional methods, hired …

  For forty excruciating, Chinese torturous minutes “Somewhere” went nowhere, I wished I was anywhere, but there; finally left and went somewhere, no matter where, just miles away from “Somewhere”. UNRATEABLE For Now…………Peneflix

FIVE STARS!!!!! One of the finest “fighter” films ever made, and I fall into the category of one who knows nothing about the intricacies of the sport but have loved all the bloody, brutal, archieval pugilistic films ever created.   Christian Bale’s characterization of Dicky Eklund is the anchor, life force, heart, soul and essence of this flawless movie. Ever since …

A spectacular film about a man whose destiny included kingship!  Colin Firth plays George VI, (1895-1952) the younger brother of abdicated King Edward VII (Wallis Simpson). Firth is meteoric in portraying “ Bertie”, as he was affectionally addressed by his family and few friends. He was plagued with physical and emotional vicissitudes throughout his childhood: left handed he was forced …

There are times that some of you have challenged the validity of my “Star” ratings; either too generous, to stingy or too harsh. Many of these rebuttals are legitimate, salient and intelligent. So I have reconsidered and lend credence to your opinions by changing my position; unlike the commandments they are not carved in stone. The changelings are: CONVICTION: GARNISHING …