When Comedy Was Clean and Comediennes Were King

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

Christian Bale: So Many Good Parts, But Is There A Part Missing?

When Christian Bale won his Oscar for “The Fighter” (2010), I was hardly surprised, but nor was I elated. And I had to ask myself why. This now hugely successful movie star is prodigiously talented, blazing with intensity and intelligence- not to mention killer good looks. Still- with apologies to all the self-proclaimed “Baleheads” out there, on an emotional level … More Details

Movies That Scream America

As we head into the Independence Day weekend, I wanted to suggest some classic titles scattered over the decades that each in their way evoke our country’s unique character. Some of these movies are overtly patriotic, portraying seminal moments and figures in our colorful history, while others delve into more complex, troubling periods and events which have also helped shape … More Details

To Martin Scorsese, The Criterion Collection, and Anyone Else Who’ll Listen: More Public Domain Classics Worth Saving

With the passing of British filmmaker Ronald Neame, I decided to revisit the classic Archers’ film “One Of Our Aircraft Is Missing” (1941). Here is an historic film, released when the Brits were at their lowest ebb in the war, and due to its public domain status, it is only available in a muddy print, with the sound so muffled … More Details