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Megan Leavey

It is always more difficult to analyze a film based upon a true story.  One never knows which parts are real and which are cinematic license.  Megan Leavey starring Kate Mara is the story of a Marine corporal and her bomb sniffing dog Rex.  Both start out raw and have difficulty dealing with people. Together… Continue Reading

Wings (1927) – An exhilarating experience

The first film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture Production was William Wellman’s Wings in 1927.  It took 83 years until another silent film won the best picture award –The Artist (2012).  I had the honor to see a screening of a restored version of Wings today at the Music Box Theatre in… Continue Reading

Someone please rescue “The Zookeepers Wife”!

The Righteous Among the Nations are non-Jewish invididuals who have been honored by Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust memorial, for risking their lives to aid Jews during the Holocaust. Two such people are Antonina and Jan Żabiński, married Polish zookeepers who saved over 300 Jews during their country’s Nazi occupation.  The new film, The Zookeepers Wife,… Continue Reading

Their Finest

I got to see a screening of “Their Finest” at the Chicago European Union Film Festival yesterday.  Perhaps because I am deep down still a Brit, I wrapped myself into its cozy, delectable blanket.  However, the American audience that i joined also thoroughly enjoyed the viewing. Smiles were on their faces as they left the… Continue Reading

Paris Can Wait (2016)

Premiering last Summer at the Toronto International Film Festival, the pleasant fluff Paris Can Wait finally made it to Chicago last Friday.  Octogenarian director Eleanor Coppola {Francis’s wife] was present for a pre-screening reception and post viewing discussion.  Coppola becomes the oldest American director to make a debut feature film.  Her prior efforts have focused… Continue Reading

Tell No One (2006)

This weekend I watched one of my favorite films, Tell No One (Ne le dis à personne) .  Based upon a novel by American writer Harlan Coben, the movie takes place in France whereas the book’s story occurred in New York.  The transfer of location helps add to the story.  I write about this film… Continue Reading

The Sense of an Ending

I had the opportunity to screen this thought provoking film last week.  I do not want to say too much at this times since I have assigned it to my film study group when it comes out on general release. The film requires patience from the viewer.  Director Ritesh Batra [The Lunchbox] develops his characters… Continue Reading

Julieta

I apologize for the delay in posting on this film but I got sick right after viewing it. Because the film was based on three Alice Munro short stories rather than a pure Almodovar script the film had a different feel to it.  The film did not flow well and it was unclear if that… Continue Reading

A Very Different Academy Award Ceremony

Perhaps an unusual difference with the Oscars tonight was that the major awards were spread out among the top three films:  Manchester By The Sea winning Best Screenplay and Best Actor; La La Land winning Best Actress and Best Director and finally Moonlight winning Best Supporting Actor and Best Movie.  The biggest surprise was watching… Continue Reading