Dear Mr. Watterson (2013) Following the adventures of a six-year-old boy and his possibly imaginary stuffed tiger, Calvin and Hobbes was one of the last great comic strips. Exploring big picture ideas through the eyes of a child, it offered an innocent look at a vast and frightening world. This strip elevated the medium to levels of… Continue reading Tiny Calvin meet tiny Hobbes
Month: June 2014
Stringer Bell was a very good man
Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2013) Released just months before his death, this biographical film serves as a eulogy for the former South African President. Idris Elba will always be Stringer Bell, but he’s also great as the eponymous detective Luther, and has become a tentpole fixture in Thor (2011), Prometheus (2012), Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance… Continue reading Stringer Bell was a very good man
The one, true special relationship
One True Thing (1998) Ellen Gulden (Renee Zellwegger) is a writer for a magazine in New York. Her father, George (William Hurt), is a semi-famous author and professor who can’t seem to write a second novel. Her mother, Kate, (Meryl Streep) is a housewife. When Kate is diagnosed with cancer, Ellen is coerced to stay home… Continue reading The one, true special relationship
On the road to charisma
Zero Charisma (2013) In his thirties, overweight, and living with his grandmother, Scott’s life revolves around the weekly Dungeons and Dragons game he hosts in his basement. When one of the regular players quits to save his marriage, Scott recruits Miles, a successful blogger, to replace him. Eventually, his jealousy of Miles’s success and popularity with… Continue reading On the road to charisma
Be kind to the women
Be Kind Rewind (2008) For some inexplicable reason, Mr. Fletcher (Danny Glover) refuses to upgrade his video rental store to DVDs and continues to rent exclusively VHS tapes. When Mr. Fletcher goes out-of-town, he leaves Mike (Mos Def) in charge, and local weirdo Jerry (Jack Back) magnetizes himself erasing every tape in the store. Mr.… Continue reading Be kind to the women
Palestenian angst
Omar (2013) A pinch of Romeo and Juliet, a dash of The Manchurian Candidate (1962), set in the middle of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It’s boring and forgettable. As I watched it, I could feel the details of the film fading from memory. It reminded me of A Prophet (2009), another critically praised film which left me going “meh.”
We took a picture at the beach
Beaches (1988) The friendship between C.C. Bloom (Bette Midler) and Hilary Whitney (Barbara Hershey) survives cultural differences, social inequalities, petty jealousies, torrid affairs, bitter fights, and death. Midler’s public persona is so similar to C.C., the movie feels like a parody. “Wind Beneath my Wings,” was such a massive hit, it’s difficult to remember she… Continue reading We took a picture at the beach
Porky’s still fat
Meet John Doughboy (1941) This humorous look at military life premiered just before US entry into World War II and provides insight into American attitudes before the war. Porky’s Hare Hunt (1938) This short features an early version of Bugs Bunny with Porky Pig playing the role now usually reserved for Elmer Fudd. Jeepers Creepers (1939) When police… Continue reading Porky’s still fat
The thief from karama lives in the castle in the sky
Karama Has No Walls (2013) This film, chronicling the 2011 Yemeni Revolution, is an interesting, insider account of the uprising, but too short for viewers to invest in the story it tells. Castle in the Sky (1986) Princess Sheeta is the surviving member of a royal line from an ancient civilization and unknowingly possesses the… Continue reading The thief from karama lives in the castle in the sky
Three kings with fantastic hair
The King of Comedy (1983) Rupert Pupkin (Robert De Niro) is an aspiring comedian looking for his big break. He idolizes talk show host Jerry Langford (Jerry Lewis) and dreams of one day performing on his program. When he meets his idol, Pupkin think he’s finally made it, but Langford is dismissive of his talent,… Continue reading Three kings with fantastic hair