My Problem with “The Reader”

I don’t like Hanna Schmitz. Today, at the very least, she would be arrested for child molestation no matter how old she thought Michael Berg was. There is some kind of Oedipus complex here, a fixation on a mother figure that is not fully fleshed out during the brief times we see the 15-year-old “kid” [...]

Congratulations, Meryl Streep

I’m pleased to be able to update Meryl Streep’s anemic trophy case! (See the January 18th blog)  Congratulations! Congratulations, Meryl Streep, on her “Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor” SAG award. Ms. Streep, who was unprepared for a podium visit, made, as expected, the best speech of the evening. All of the award shows should [...]

About Bishop Richard Williamson there is no Doubt

If you haven’t seen the movie Doubt, and if you do not want to know what happens to Father Brendan Flynn, then read no further because I’m supplying some spoilers. I stuck my fingers in my ears whenever someone spoke about The Sixth Sense and fortunately no one ruined that movie for me. I don’t [...]

These are a Few of Their Favorite Things

According to an Internet website, an Entertainment Tonight segment mentioned that Barack Obama named Meryl Streep as one of his favorite actors along with Jimmy Stewart, Spencer Tracy, Humphrey Bogart, Susan Sarandon and Angela Bassett. I certainly can’t argue with his choices but it got me wondering (uh oh). I poked around to see if [...]

And the Band Played on … and on … and on …

Oh, what a wonderful day. We have a new president. Defiant dead-eyed Dick has been wheeled away. Buckshot Sarah hasn’t been heard from in awhile. I celebrated the day by blasting a homemade audio CD of patriotic music periodically: Sousa, Dolly’s Color Me American Red White and Blue, Bruce’s Born in the USA, Jimi’s Star [...]

The Visual Guide to Meryl Streep’s Awards

There is a misperception in the film culture that Meryl Streep is the most decorated actor in the history of film. That may very well be true if you considered all of the nomination certificates she has earned. An entire paper wardrobe could be created from them, but if you were designing a suit of [...]

Yale University’s Payne Whitney Gym

I was an athlete when I was young. The plethora of diet books that greet you at a Barnes and Noble bookstore entrance every January reminds me that those days are long gone. When I was in undergraduate school in the middle 1970s I was fortunate to have easy access to the Payne Whitney gym [...]

The Golden Globes British Invasion

The Golden Globes were on last night, in case no one noticed. I never paid much attention to the Golden Globes since the days of Pia Zadora, who had a standing order at the Razzie Awards, when she won a New Star of the Year Golden Globe. While I was watching I was following the [...]