Michael says: “First-time filmmaker Alice Wu has created a delightful, blend of romantic comedy and culture clash in her story about the multi-generational, Chinese-American family. Wil is a successful young surgeon in New York City, but each Friday night she
Michael says: “My experience with Sarah Silverman amounted to her brief appearances in the recent documentary THE ARISTOCRATS, but an invitation to the Sarah Silverman party was reason enough for me to catch her first performance film, SARAH SILVERMAN: JESUS
Bruce says: “Very few of the world’s top directors have ever left their careers on the highest of notes. That cannot be said of Ingmar Bergman. His SARABAND has the touch of genius, revealing the wisdom of age but none
Bruce says: “Hyun-jung is a young professional who is secure in every way. Her job is terrific and she is both appreciated and rewarded for her efforts and talent. She is her parents favorite child and she is madly in
Hilary says: “This docu introduces Paul Green, a Philadelphia man who runs his eponymous School of Rock Music, an after-school program for 9- to 17-year-olds. “Green, himself a frustrated musician, is by turns a nurturing and harsh teacher to his
Rize (USA; 86 min.) directed by: David LaChapelledocumentary Diane says: “RIZE, a docu by David LaChapelle about clowns and krumpers in South Central LA, lets the subjects speak for themselves. Both groups (who have a formal showdown at the
Bruce says: “RETURN TO THE LAND OF WONDERS is a documentary about what is going on in Iraq today. The filmmaker’s father is Adnan Pachachi who has lived in exile for 35 years. He is one of the key people
Michael says: “I was fortunate enough to have seen the Broadway production of ‘Rent’ with the original cast back in the early 90’s and was caught up in its enthusiasm and heartfelt emotion. ‘Rent’ captured a youthful bohemian artistry with
Bruce says: “Henry Darger (1892-1973, pronounced Darjur) became the darling of the outsider art world about a decade or so ago. The film begins with a query, ‘Am I a real enemy of the cross or a sorry Saint?’ This
Bruce says: “Costume dramas are not my favorite genre especially ones such as PURPLE BUTTERFLY that have the look and feel of a Banana Republic ad. That may sound a bit harsh, but I have serious reservations as to whether
Bruce says: “Based on three short stories by Ervin Lázár, THE PORCELAIN DOLL consists of three distinct vignettes related thematically. Director Péter Gárdos, who also wrote the screenplay, draws on Hungarian history and culture to tell his tales. ‘Hungary,’ as
Bruce says: “This simple story is about two Palestinian childhood friends who decide to become suicide bombers. The story may be simple but the issues are not. For over thirty years terrorism has been a major issue in Israel. Israel
Hilary says: “Not quite as aggressively offensive as HAPPINESS or STORYTELLING, but overall PALINDROMES is one unpleasant viewing experience.” 1 cat Rick says: “Oh for crying out loud, why is it that so few people seem to like PALINDROMES?!
Bruce says: “What happens when the child is forced to care for the parent? After all, that is what eventually happens to most of us. The tables turn. We tend to our aging parents, then in turn, our children care
Thom says: “I’m really quite curious why this film has been so lauded. With Quentin Tarentino having long established the hatred and insidiousness of the ‘revenge’ film, this had the dubious distinction of trying to go one step further. This
Michael says: “The solo directorial effort by actor Campbell Scott (he co-directed BIG NIGHT) is a meditation on place, looking at the mystical, transformative powers of New Mexico through a quiet, quirky family drama. Eleven-year-old Bo plans her getaway from
Chris says: “Whenever I write a music review, I usually end up drawing clever/lazy comparisons to other artists, but I honestly wouldn’t know where to begin with Klaus Nomi. A beguiling figure in New York’s new wave scene in the
Michael says: “Eschewing the dreamlike mystery of DISTANCE and MABOROSI, and the mystical backdrop of AFTER LIFE, Japanese director Hirokazu Kore-eda grounds his latest film in the harsh realities of modern day. Akira is the protagonist, a pre-teen, the oldest
Bruce says: “This star-studded vehicle is divided into nine vignettes each named after the woman who is the main character. Each vignette is a stand alone short film but several characters do pop up in other vignettes. Sissy Spacek figures
Clinton says: “This Israeli film was a real treat, a foreign film that transcends country and language to tell a very human story. This is the world as seen through the eyes of young Nadav. His parents have recently split
