Netflix and Beyond

By a wide margin one of the finest films of the year; stunning in its message, characterization; a positively superb example of stellar, sensational, spectacular animation (and I do not care for the genre). Directed by Travis Knight, written by Marc Haimes, Shannon Tindle, Chris Butler in collaboration with Laika Production Company have created a fantasy world imbued with magic, …

When one thinks of “Westerns” aka “Cowboy” movies one recalls nascent stars: John Wayne, Gary Cooper, Randolph Scott, James Stewart. They solidified the genre. From the onset, in this contemporary Western film, the protagonists are determined to accomplish their mission, regardless of the plagues visited upon them. Brothers, “Toby and Tanner Howard” (blazingly portrayed by Chris Pine and Ben Foster) …

Directed by Todd Phillips based on a Rolling Stone article by Guy Lawson (eventually became the book, “The Arms and the Dudes”). The protagonists, Efraim Diveroli and David Packouz are brilliantly depicted by Jonah Hill and Miles Teller; nonfiction is realized propitiously by, for the most part, a good script, enhanced by the performances of Teller and overwhelmingly, Hill. Diveroli …

Two Bollywood megastars in an Olympic box office competition. Tough decision as to who wins the gold, Akshay Kumar for “Rustom” or Hrithik Roshan for “Mohenjo Daro”. “Rustom” is a fictionalized version of the 1959 Nanavati Case; a scandalous, sensational affair, where a naval officer supposedly murders his wife’s lover; Akshay Kumar, absolutely devastating in his white uniform, gives a …

Reinhard Heydrich (1904-1942), aka the “Butcher of Prague”, architect of Hitler’s Final Solution was assassinated by Czech resistance fighters on June 4th, 1942. Director Sean Ellis personifies the seven courageous parachutists who willingly sacrificed their lives to fulfill their ambitious, bleak mission. Focusing on Jozef Gabcik (intensely, efficaciously portrayed by Cillian Murphy: “Breakfast on Pluto”, “Wind that Shakes the Barley”) …

Wall Street has its share of female financiers, brokers, bankers; director Meera Menon focuses on their ambitions, struggles to best their testosterone-infused competitors; “Equity” is a reality check and a viable one. Anna Gunn as tough, investment banker “Naomi Bishop”, nails the psyche of someone who suffers no nonsense; her meager background was the fodder for success; she has the …

Notwithstanding, Meryl Streep’s iconic acting acuity and director Stephen Frears good intentions the film is lackluster and sparkless compared to France’s  “Marguerite” (with the incomparable Catherine Frot); Florence Foster Jenkins (1868-1944) was a music patron, completely tone deaf,  delusional in fancying  herself an opera diva; because of her wealth, generosity and protective partner, many suffered through her screeching interpretations of …

My entire Philip Roth (1933) literary lexicon has been informed by a perpetual pull between spheres of ecstasy and disgust. “Portnoy’s Complaint”, “American Pastoral”, “The Human Stain”, are classics that exponentially astound with each reading; “Sabbath’s Theatre” was profoundly revolting from its commencement and is the only book I have ever returned, unfinished. Roth has been fearless in his analytical …

Does anyone care if the script is only five pages in its entirety? Or the cost of carnage, runs into the tens of millions? Unequivocally, no. He’s back….Robert Ludlum’s (1927-2001) over-the-top, charismatic, iconic  “megasaver”…..”Jason Bourne”. Matt Damon imbues him with the proper attributes we crave in our action heroes: sensitivity, Herculean strength and the inscrutable intelligence required to validate his …

Here is the perfect parcel for lovers of “heist” films ( “The Italian Job”, “Oceans 11”, etc. “The Bank Job”); director Daniel Calparsoro serves  a Spanish/Argentine thriller that guarantees total satisfaction; I did not want it to end! Commencing on a tsunami- drenched day in Valencia, Spain, a frazzled,  frustrated bank manager (stunning Patricia Vico) realizes her position is in …