Written and directed by Woody Allen, this romantic comedy is vintage Woody Allen. I love Woody Allen, but I don’t really, really, really love Woody Allen to the point that I think everything he does is brilliant and witty. He has had some real dogs. How many people have suffered through “Cassandra’s Dream”, for...
“The Princess of Montpensier”–Where’s the There There?
Based on a 1662 novella, “The Princess of Montpensier” opens with a savage battle scene during the French civil war between Catholics and Protestants (Huguenots) in the year 1562. Marie de Mézières, a beautiful young princess (who looks like a combination of Michelle Pfeiffer and Uma Thurman), reluctantly submits to an arranged...
“Irina Palm”: How Desperate Can You Get?
When I saw the DVD of this movie with the opening menu, I was not quite sure what I was in for. Was this going to be soft porn or an indie film with an unexpected story to tell? As it turned out, “Irina Palm” is so idiosyncratic and original–but not for everyone–that I wasn’t sure if I should recommend it to...
“The Conspirator”–Is Anyone Listening?
“The Conspirator” opens with a gripping Civil War battle scene and treats us to incredibly imaginative camera angles, shot in sepia tones to time-travel cinematically to the late 1860’s.
This is a story that sits underneath a story we all know– the history-book narrative of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination by John...
“The Book of Mormon” and “Avenue Q”–Nothing is Forever
While visiting New York City last week my husband and I had the immense pleasure of seeing two absolutely hilarious musicals, “The Book of Mormon” and “Avenue Q”, the former premiering on Broadway last March, the latter still enjoying a seven-year run.
“The Book of Mormon” is the hottest play on Broadway right...
“Road Trip”–a short story
My short story “Road Trip” has just been released in the Spring 2011 issue of Calliope, the official publication of the Writers’ Special Interest Group of American Mensa, Ltd. This is a condensed portion of a chapter from my work-in-progress, a novel entitled Things Unsaid. I really enjoyed writing this “flash...
