The little-known story of three brilliant African American women pushing back against the pre-Civil Rights America of 1961. These three engineers and mathematicians were crucial to America’s first space launch with John Glenn.
“Some people build fences to keep people out–and other people build fences to keep people in”.
The film “Fences” (released Christmas Day 2016) is based on the 1987 Pulitzer Prize-winning play and screenplay by the brilliant playwright August Wilson (1945-2005).
“Fences” is set in 1950’s Pittsburgh. Troy Maxson (Denzel Washington) had been a promising baseball player in the Negro Leagues in a time before Jackie Robinson. After serving time in prison he meets Rose (Viola Davis) who believes in him and devotes her life to their family: his...
[Another guest post by Ray Hecht, who reviewed this movie on his website on January 5. The movie has already been released in China where Ray resides but will not be released in the US until February. The following review is abridged.]
The Great Wall was recently released in China with much hype. Directed by the critically acclaimed Zhang Yimou ( Raise the Red Lantern), and starring Matt Damon, it is the first truly American and Chinese coproduction.
Unfortunately, the film has already been poorly received and critically panned in China. However, it can still make for an enjoyable...
I don’t know about you, but this past Year of the Monkey was exhausting with its promises of unpredictability and turmoil! The craziest year in the Chinese zodiac, the Year of the (hyperactive) Monkey officially ends January 27th. Now the New Year of the Fire Rooster which begins January 28 is going to bring fresh challenges requiring practical solutions! Everything you loved/hated about 2016 is still here in 2017 — there’s just going to be way, way more of it. That’s the good news/bad news.
In a Rooster Year, everyone can reap rewards by tapping into Rooster traits of...
Here are the reviews I wrote this year with the criteria that they were available online and were not widely distributed through movie theaters. Of the 43, here are my favorites. It was much more difficult than in past years, since this year was absolutely stunning. Both television and cinema have continued to produce phenomenal story-telling.
The following list is not ranked –only grouped by genre. I could not limit my choices to only 10.
INDIES and FOREIGN CINEMA
1) “No”–Mad Men in Politics (June 19, 2016 review): In this Chilean film, with uncanny...
