Monthly Archives: February 2022

Perhaps you’ve heard of the Himalayan nation of Bhutan’s pursuit of “Gross National Happiness.” It’s this gloriously progressive ideal aimed at prioritizing well-being and a satisfying, even joy-filled life over international capitalism’s national scorecard — gross domestic product. But who … Continue reading →

At this reductivist stage of his career, does Liam Neeson even need to “take a meeting,” look at a script or sign on the dotted line? It’s not like he’s just remade “Taken” in every movie since 2008, but every … Continue reading →

Let’s not think too much about the resolution to Stacey Gregg’s haunting “Here Before.” It’s too pat to feel satisfying after all that we’ve invested in that’s come before it. But what we’ve seen and settled into up to that … Continue reading →

One of the undisputed masters of special effects during the celluloid film era has passed away. From “2001” to “Star Trek: The Motion Picture,” with “Blade Runner” and so many other titles added for impact, if it looked other worldly … Continue reading →

“Donkeyhead” might be the best indie dramedy on Netflix right now. Intimate and funny, touching and set in a place and a subculture mainstream cinema never ventures — the Sikh community of Regina, Saskatchewan — it’s great example of “write … Continue reading →

An animated action comedy coming to screens, large and small, this June. Chris Evans and somebody voicing a robotic cat are featured. And Keke Palmer, Taika Waititi, James Brolin…

First Oscar thoughts, well HEY, they nominated Ciaran Hinds for “Belfast.” And Judi Dench! Pair up two scene stealers, let’s see if it pays off. And there’s Kirsten and Kristin and Jessica Chastain, LOADED Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress … Continue reading →

The potent warnings about about how societies descend into fascism are scattered throughout “Fabian: Going to the Dogs,” a German drama about the people, attitudes and conditions of 1931 Weimar Germany, based on a novel published as it was happening. … Continue reading →

Channel surfing this evening after laboring through a three hour picture on Weimar Germany, I stumble across one of this month’s many broadcast offerings of Sidney Poitier films, the best way to honor a screen icon whose noble life off … Continue reading →

The Spanish Civil War is the one modern conflict that never seems to run out of lessons to pass on to us. The intimate, epic-length Spanish drama “The Endless Trench” is one of the best illustrations yet of what being … Continue reading →