Month: September 2014

“Words and Pictures”–Graphic Dullness

Written by diana on September 29, 2014. Posted in movie reviews. 3 Comments on “Words and Pictures”–Graphic Dullness

This movie’s central theme asks the question: “Is a picture worth a thousand words?” In a contest between art and literature, a high school teacher of English literature and a teacher of painting are determined to prove that their specialty depicts the reality of experience more effectively than the other. English teacher Jack Marcus (Clive Owen) is barely making it to his classes on time, drinking from a flask in his car during recess. In the past he was a gifted poet but no longer. Then the renowned artist Dina Delsanto (Juliette Binoche) is hired to teach gifted...

“Incendies”–Scorched and Fiery

Written by diana on September 24, 2014. Posted in movie reviews, Unhealed Wound. 2 Comments on “Incendies”–Scorched and Fiery

Incendies “Incendies” was nominated for a 2011 Best Foreign Film Academy Award and also named by the New York Times as one of the 10 best films of 2011. A French-Canadian drama adapted from Wajdi Mouawad’s play of the same name, “Incendies” tells the family saga of twenty-something twins, — brother (Simon) and sister (Jean)– who are determined to know the mystery of their reserved mother’s life even though they have not had a warm, affectionate relationship with her. In their mother’s will she has left two letters. One is to be...

The Book Thief–Not to be Shelved

Written by diana on September 16, 2014. Posted in movie reviews. 3 Comments on The Book Thief–Not to be Shelved

A pre-teen girl, Liesel Menninger (the extraordinary Sophie Nelisse) is handed off by her mother, who no longer can care for her , to a middle-aged couple. The time is pre-Kristallnacht Germany, 1938. Her foster home is simple and impoverished. Her foreboding foster mother, Rosa Hubermann (the extraordinary Emily Watson) shows little affection, at first, for the frightened girl. But the irascible father Hans (the endearing Geoffrey Rush) comforts the shy twelve-year old with magical and fanciful allusions to literature and music, playing his accordion and composing songs just for...

“Happy Valley”-No One’s Idea of Happiness

Written by diana on September 10, 2014. Posted in Television reviews. 4 Comments on “Happy Valley”-No One’s Idea of Happiness

This compelling and addictive police drama stars Sarah Lancashire as the middle-aged Yorkshire police sergeant Catherine Cawood, who struggles daily between remembering the suicide of her teenage daughter and developing love for the young boy her daughter left behind. Divorced and estranged from her son partly because of that tragic death, Catherine is determined to capture her daughter’s lover/killer/rapist, but the search almost spirals out of control when the perpetrator, Tommy Lee Royce (played by James Norton) is released from prison. Her pursuit of Tommy Lee Royce becomes...

Month: September 2014

“Words and Pictures”–Graphic Dullness

“Incendies”–Scorched and Fiery

The Book Thief–Not to be Shelved

“Happy Valley”-No One’s Idea of Happiness

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