Barefoot to Timbuktu begins with a man crossing a barren desert. Ernst Aebi is a Swiss-American free spirit who set out to explore the world and wound up becoming a hero, and friend, to the people of Araouane, a settlement in the middle of the Sahara. Aebi stayed for three years teaching the inhabitants how to plant, learn, and build their own buildings. Martina Egi’s documentary focuses on the ... more >
Archives for January 2010
ARCHIVES
The book of Eli
To exercise control over the masses
Denzel Washington, Mila Kunis and Ray Stevenson
Directed by the Hughes Brothers
Denzel Washington vs. Gary Oldman sounded like a quality action flick. Plus, throw in the style of the Hughes brothers (where have these guys been since doing "From Hell"?) and it’s all the more reason to see Book of Eli. Only despite Washington bringing a bad-ass gravitas, Oldman chewing scenery, and the Hughes giving the film the mandatory dreary look of an apocalyptic world, Garry Whitta’s ... more >
Fish Tank
Latest effort makes Brit helmer shine
Katie Jarvis, Michael Fassbender and Kierston Wareing
Directed by Andrea Arnold
Andrea Arnold’s “Fish Tank” was a big hit in Britain and at Cannes and now tries its hand at America, who will probably nickname it “White Precious.” Anchored by a star-making performance from Kate Jarvis, Arnold’s film is more grit and zero melodrama, a step-up from the weepy style of “Precious.” Jarvis plays Mia, a teenager living in the ghetto where kids expect to follow in the option-less ... more >
Crazy Heart
The Dude more grizzled and older but certainly none the wiser
Jeff Bridges and Maggie Gyllenhaal
Directed by Scott Cooper
The good news is, the Dude is back. The even better news is, he’s in top form and in a great picture. Jeff Bridges plays Bad Blake, an alcoholic, washed-out, has-been country music singer not caring much about anything after four failed marriages, a son abandoned years ago, a career mauled by alcohol and a star fading as rose that of a younger protégé, Tom Sweet. Bad sets the bar fairly ... more >
VOTE FOR PROPOSITION 86
By ALI NADERZAD - January 11, 2010 Lindsay Lohan was in a car crash over the weekend according to TMZ. Here's a copy of her most recent tweet: "2010 is about moving forward, not backwards. Leaving the bad (people, habits, and negative energy behind) time to make changes-right!?!?:)Let's make our new year's resolution, people, how about it? Let's ask our legislators to help make Lohan (or 'Lilo' as ... more >
Youth in Revolt
And so once again we join Michael Cera in progress as he tries to lose his virginity. Does this sound like the plot of every Michael Cera film? I mean, at least in Juno, he got it over with real quick-like. In Youth in Revolt, it doesn’t come so easily. But at least it is, surprisingly, darn funny, if silly as hell. You must wonder why the Weinsteins would wait to stash this in the January dump ... more >
David and Layla
In case you missed it
David Moscow, Shiva Rose and Callie Thorne
Directed by J. Jonroy Avani
Rodney Kings’ immortal and oft-quoted words, “Why can’t we all get along?” come to mind upon viewing “David and Layla,” (2005) the poor man’s “My Big Fat Greek Wedding.” The politically correct brigade, now counting pretty much everyone, has praised this ridiculous and trite movie where, hurray, people of different backgrounds finally get along. The Layla of the title is an Iranian Kurd from a ... more >