Paper Moon

Peter Bogdanovich had a vision for this film, and he executed it expertly. The casting is superb. The story veers into dark corners at times, but a winning human spirit triumphs. Fun to see a real life father-daughter act in parallel roles onscreen.


Written 11/10/09

The Baxter

Understated and subtle. Michael Showalter is a winning dweeb in the lead role. The humor doesn't bang you over the head, but guffaws will abound with perceptive viewers. The story hangs well together and - save a few ineffective scenes - is an affecting portrait of The Search for Love.


Written 11/10/09

Rudo y Cursi

I wanted to love this. I am a devoted fútbol fan and thus always interested in quality film depictions of the beautiful game. In that way, "Rudo y Cursi" is decent: the fútbol, though sparsely shown, is believable and enjoyable. But the dominant story of the two brothers is rather miserable, quickly becoming agonizing to watch. The viewer can tell from a million miles away what tragedies will eventually befall the two. The film is stylishly made and pretty to look at, but unfortunately the story is redundant and the two lead characters are not likable enough.


Written 9/8/09

Punishment Park

Of course this is heavy-handed -- it's an unflinching satire of the Vietnam war-era battles between the "squares" and the "hippies" in the U.S. Director Peter Watkins' filmmaking here is ever-imaginative and gripping. Some of the dialogue is repetitive, sure, but the film thrusts viewers into such a believable alternate reality that flaws in the execution are forgivable. Since the release of "Punishment Park" in 1971, countless viewers have believed the film to be a factual documentary. It is that convincing.


Written 9/8/09

The Class

An outstanding, vivid portrait of the inherent challenges in educating younger human beings. Humanizing, warm, witty, and fresh. If you enjoy the film, I suggest you skip the special feature "Behind the scenes" -- watching this lessened my overall enjoyment. Seeing the view *backstage* does not always enhance one's appreciation of a work of art.


Written 8/30/09

Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters

Every shot in "Mishima" is a visual poem, but not all of these are pleasant to ingest. Director Paul Schrader produced a challenging work that is certainly not for everyone. The man Mishima remains enigmatic despite the film. Sometimes bio-pics can tarnish a legacy, but "A Life in Four Chapters" only amplifies Mishima's singularity. This most certainly is not the film to watch the first time you meet your partner's parents... you may want to lean toward lighter fare on that occasion.


Written 8/30/09

Cuba: An African Odyssey

This documentary reveals the history of Cuban involvement in African nation-building. It is a fascinating collections of stories. Many of Cuba's efforts in Africa were abject failures, and a few were true triumphs. The film may be perceived by some viewers as pro-Cuba, but that does not detract from its excellent content and storytelling.


Written 8/24/09