R | 1h 48min | Action, Adventure, Thriller | 18 September 2020 (USA) When I first heard about the recent film “Infidel,” I thought that its premise sounded interesting enough. It bills itself as an action-thriller about an American man who is kidnapped after attending a speaking engagement in Cairo, and his wife then attempts…
Rewind, Review, and Re-Rate: ‘Infidel’: Muddled Messages in a Sorry Script
Film Review: ‘The Croods: A New Age’: Sequel-itis Sets In
PG | 1h 35min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy | 25 November 2020 (USA) The original “The Croods” (2013), about a family of Neanderthal cave dwellers, created such an exotic world and fetching, original atmosphere that when its (voice) cast rode their menagerie of prehistoric pets down the beach and into the sunset, you wanted to…
‘The Voice of the Turtle’: Finding Happiness in Winter
In January 2021, the World War II era is especially relatable: separations, shortages, fears of death, and threats to the American way of life are daily concerns, just as they were then. Thus, when the 1947 film “The Voice of the Turtle” begins with “It was December, 1944, in New York and it seemed as…
Finding Truth, Finding Compassion, Finding Courage
Imagine being jailed, persecuted, and tortured for more than a decade. Imagine having your tortured sister’s lifeless body being withheld from you for almost 20 years, by the very people who tortured you. Imagine your school-age nephew being kidnapped to force you to sign over your sister’s body to authorities. Now imagine having the grace…
Popcorn and Inspiration: ‘The Conspirator’: An Excellent Example of Examining Conspiracy Theories
In The Conspirator, Robert Redford’s courtroom drama about President Lincoln’s assassination, it became clear to me that as a storyteller Redford fearlessly burrows into moral and ethical dilemmas in order to excavate The Truth, and make sure it survives.
Film Review: ‘Soul’: Consistent Pixar Quality But Not Entirely Harmless for Kids
PG | 1h 40min | Animation, Adventure, Comedy | 25 December 2020 (USA) Pixar would appear to have knocked another one out of the park. It’s nice in this day and age to have a product that doesn’t decline quality-wise, but maintains its standards or even evolves. “Soul” maintains Pixar’s integrity of quality, while pushing…
Rewind, Review, and Re-Rate: ‘Platoon’: Soldiers Agree—Most Realistic War Movie Ever Made
R | 2h | Drama, War | 6 February 1987 (USA) I used to tend bar near Bedford Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, which, in the early ’90s, was Crack Cocaine Central. We had an interesting regular: Freddy, in his mid-30s, wore combat boots, an army jacket, skull tattoos, an drab-olive green bandana, and lamented that he’d missed…
Popcorn and Inspiration: ‘Stray Dog’ Review: Harley-Davidson Culture Is Therapy for U.S. War Vets
A documentary about an American war veteran and the PTSD therapy he receives from biker culture and caring for others.
Popcorn and Inspiration: ‘The Intouchables’: A Heartwarming Biopic About Togetherness Despite Differences
R | 1h 52min | Biography, Comedy, Drama | 2 November 2011 (France) As we head into 2021, forms of media that focus on the positive aspects of life are a good way to begin the new year—especially in light of all the divisiveness that has encapsulated 2020. In the cinematic realm, I couldn’t think…
Popcorn and Inspiration: ‘Joyeux Noël’: A Modern Classic That Celebrates Our Common Humanity
PG-13 | 1h 56min | Drama, History, Music | 9 November 2005 (France) Christmas is the time of year (yes, even in 2020) when hearts are warmed with good cheer and kindness, and when the air fills with that giddy happiness at hearing children caroling and at the aromas from our traditional Christmas meals. But…
-
Recent Posts
-
Archives
- May 2025
- April 2025
- July 2023
- June 2023
- May 2023
- April 2023
- March 2023
- February 2023
- January 2023
- December 2022
- November 2022
- October 2022
- September 2022
- August 2022
- July 2022
- June 2022
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- September 2013
- July 2013
- March 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- December 1
-
Meta