I love St. Patrick’s Day. It’s so inclusive. By that I mean that though it’s a bona fide religious holiday, you don’t need to be particularly pious to enjoy it. Beyond its religious significance, Wikipedia aptly describes March 17th as a celebration of Irish history and identity, including “…prominent displays of the color green, feasting, copious consumption of alcohol, religious … More Details
First, let’s acknowledge that I laughed as hard at Bridesmaids as most anyone else. It was a consistently diverting, often very clever romp, and I thought Kristen Wiig and the rest of the cast were, on the whole, first-rate. That said, even with the extra smarts and wit that distinguished this movie from so many imbecilic contemporary comedies, Bridesmaids still … More Details
Should we call him “Spartacus”? Or “Champion”? Both names certainly fit the man. Kirk Douglas turns 95 tomorrow, and he is still very much with us. (Over the past couple of years, I’ve spotted him and his beloved wife Anne twice in New York City, once in a restaurant and once at the theatre.) He embodies the American Dream because … More Details
Several weeks ago, I was sitting at lunch opposite my twenty-eight year old second cousin once removed, with a host of other family members. It being a reunion of sorts, the mood was jolly. I have always liked my cousin- she is smart, brassy, funny- extremely well spoken and well educated. The kind of person that gives you hope for … More Details
Judging by what I’ve seen recently, I think the answer is “yes”. Yet even so, some of our (supposedly) finest critics still find reasons to celebrate. Truth be told, I have a bone to pick with New York Times reviewer Manohla Dargis- a big one. In her maddening write-up of an execrable movie called “Bad Teacher” (“When The Teacher Gets … More Details
With today heralding the official arrival of summer, I’m thinking about those great movies that reflect the heat, transition and sheer release of the season in exciting, unexpected ways. Yet when I did a Google search of top summer movies to inspire me, I actually found a lot of less-than-stellar movies being served up- among them, “Meatballs” (1979), “One Crazy … More Details
Even though mainstream Entertainment Weekly magazine named him the 16th best film director of all time, if I mention the name Ernst Lubitsch to my own middle-aged contemporaries, I usually get a hazy look. “I’ve heard that name, but who was he?” The reason for this may be that Ernst Lubitsch had heart trouble, and died young (in 1948, at … More Details
I remember several years back hearing that Maxim Magazine had pronounced the ageless Frank Capra chestnut “It’s A Wonderful Life” (1946) one of the worst Christmas movies ever made. The statement sounded silly, then and now, as the film is still acknowledged to be one of our most touching, even profound Christmas films. Yet with glitzier fare squeezing out this … More Details
Below you’ll find the movies that to my mind, best capture the essence of the holidays, year in and year out. The values and emotions imparted in these timeless films are sure to stoke the spirit of “Peace On Earth, Good Will Towards Men” (and women). This leads me to suggest that they belong in every home. Happy viewing! Holiday … More Details
On the first of this month, Walter Matthau, who left us just a decade ago, would have turned ninety. Ruminating on this unnoticed milestone made me consider anew what a unique and gifted screen actor he was. Matthau was never endowed with the superficial attributes of your typical Hollywood star: he had a pronounced New York accent, a stooping gait, … More Details
