THREE STOOGES, GROUCHO, BEAU GESTE AND OTHER OBSESSIONS
The line between scholarship and obsession is often blurry. Academics are praised for spending years on a thesis or book, while superfans and enthusiasts are often dismissed as wackos. Here are five happy results of personal, passionate pursuits: four…
‘ARE YOU THERE, GOD? IT’S ME, MARGARET’
As a critic, I hesitate to use the word “perfect” but it is the first adjective that comes to mind as I compose this review of Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret. Several generations of girls will attest to…
‘CHEVALIER’: A BELATED INTRODUCTION
Don’t feel ignorant if you’ve never heard of Joseph Bologne; neither had some of the people who made this movie. It’s easy to see why they responded to its story once it was uncovered. Bologne was the illegitimate son…
‘SOMEWHERE IN QUEENS’
Ray Romano made his bones, so to speak, as the star and co-creator of the hugely successful TV series Everybody Loves Raymond. Since its demise, the former standup comic has avoided trying to repeat himself and done admirably well (see Get…
‘AIR’ GIVES MATT DAMON ROOM TO BREATHE
The only problem facing Air is that people may be expecting a bigger movie, as one might assume given that the ostensible subject is basketball superstar Michael Jordan. Here’s the truth: although the story revolves around him, Jordan isn’t really in the…
THE MAN WHO STOLE AN OSCAR FROM CLARK GABLE
When speaking of great stars from the golden age of Hollywood, one name is often conspicuous by its absence: Robert Donat. Yes, he was British, but he also worked in Hollywood and the year that Gone With The Wind…
‘THE LOST KING’ IS A MOVIE WORTH SEEING
The line has been uttered more than once over the decades and it still holds true, no matter who first said it: there’s nothing wrong with the movie business that can’t be fixed by good movies. The industry cannot…
