Year: 2017

La La Land–Insipid But Entertaining

Written by diana on February 19, 2017. Posted in movie reviews. 3 Comments on La La Land–Insipid But Entertaining

This 2016 Academy Award nominated musical (a record-tying 14 nominations), written and directed by Damien Chazelle (the wunderkind creator of the astonishing Whiplash, see my December 8, 2014 review) is this year’s can-do-no-wrong rom-com starring Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone. La La Land is a bold resurrection of the Fred Astaire/Ginger Rogers 1940-50s musical with a blend of nostalgia (using filtered-lens cinematography and costumes) mixed with the novelty of contemporary millennial life in Los Angeles. A flip-book of competing images of vintage and modern LA with twirling skirts...

“The Break”– Or, The Nervous Breakdown?

Written by diana on February 12, 2017. Posted in Television reviews. 2 Comments on “The Break”– Or, The Nervous Breakdown?

The Break (La Trêve) is the first French-language Belgian TV crime drama now available as a Netflix Original. The Break is now my newest addition to my ever-growing listicle of bleak, grim, moody, obsessive dramas from around the world, many Scandinavian “noir”. This is a must-see. The main character, police detective Yoann Peeters (the extraordinary Yoann Blanc)has moved rather reluctantly from Brussels to his hometown village of Heiderfeld. After the death of his wife and an internal affairs investigation that left his professional reputation compromised, Peeters is searching...

“Department Q Trilogy”–Danish Noir

Written by diana on February 5, 2017. Posted in movie reviews. 5 Comments on “Department Q Trilogy”–Danish Noir

Based on Danish author, Jussi Adler-Olsen's bestselling crime thrillers, the riveting Department Q series has become one of Denmark’s most popular cinematic exports. The entire series has been released on video on demand (through Netflix). This series needs more visibility and exposure--it is a viewing must!

“Hidden Figures”–A Gestalt for Our Time

Written by diana on January 31, 2017. Posted in movie reviews. 4 Comments on “Hidden Figures”–A Gestalt for Our Time

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.

“Fences”–In or Out?

Written by diana on January 23, 2017. Posted in movie reviews. 2 Comments on “Fences”–In or Out?

“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 older...

The Great Wall–Not Trump’s Version

Written by diana on January 16, 2017. Posted in movie reviews. No Comments on The Great Wall–Not Trump’s Version

[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 romp. The...