FOLIE INDEED: THIS TIME THE JOKE IS ON US
What a waste! The only folie (or delusion) in Joker: Folie à Deux is believing that I want to spend quality time with Arthur Fleck, the pathetic figure first played by Joaquin Phoenix in 2019. This time, he meets his…
I’M JUST WILD ABOUT ‘THE WILD ROBOT’
I no longer feel an imperative to see and review every animated feature that comes along, but Chris Sanders’ The Wild Robot is exceptional in every way. It embraces a wide range of emotions and somehow manages to keep cynicism at bay.…
HEADS UP: IT’S NATIONAL SILENT FILM DAY
What started out as a lark, or a novelty, has blossomed into an event of real significance: National Silent Film Day. Some participants are celebrating this Saturday, the 28th, and some on Sunday, the 29th. I could easily watch…
THE CRITIC
Any film bearing that title and Ian McKellen in the leading role holds the promise of good entertainment, even the possibility of greatness. Add to that the credentials of the writer, Patrick Marber (Closer, Notes on a Scandal), director…
BRINGING RARE MOVIES AND MOVIE LOVERS TOGETHER
This past weekend was like visiting an oasis. It brought back memories of attending the annual Cinefest in Syracuse, New York, where every day was packed with screenings—and lots of chatter with like-minded friends in between. I proposed to…
MERCHANT IVORY: A UNIQUE LOOK BEHIND THE SCENES
I screened this documentary out of a misplaced sense of duty. After all, the filmmaking team of Ismail Merchant and James Ivory made a number of exceptional films over many years’ time, and Ivory is still going strong at…
I’M GOING UNIVERSAL NEXT MONTH
I am proud and delighted to report that I am programming and hosting a series of six rarely-seen Universal Pictures from the 1930s next month at Quentin Tarantino’s New Beverly Theatre. From Friday to Sunday, September 20-22, I will…
