Comment Archives: Stories: Film
Re: “The Fighter is pat and derivative”
I admit that I didn't read the entire review, but I disagree entirely with the writer's opening statements. This film is a sleeper, sure to rock the Academy's best actor category whenever nominees are announced. I feel like Neil's got something on his chest or something, barraging Russel's Fighter as he does. BTW - Aronofsky is exec. producer, so expect some sweet visuals. This is a good movie, worth much more than its counterparts at the theater.
Re: “Davis Guggenheim's tendentious education film, Waiting for "Superman"”
It seems that your lack of knowledge about how charters work should not be part of a basis for a bad review of this movie. The issue of the failing schools in this country is indeed a complicated issue. Waiting for Superman highlights the major and most important issues that contribute to the the serious flaws in the education system. Although Guggenheim did not lay out a step-by-step plan to fix the system, he did define the problems, which is a crucial step in inciting change. There were also examples of people/schools that did come up with ways to find/keep good teachers.
I can appreciate a critical view of someone's work in a documentary such as Waiting for Superman, but as someone who has experience in the public school system and as a teacher, your critic seems to come from an ignorant place.
Re: “The girl who nailed the coffin shut”
The book was very good. I'll reserve judgment as to the film until I see it.
Re: “Davis Guggenheim's tendentious education film, Waiting for "Superman"”
In retirement and reading a lot trying to understand how my mother was influenced by those educators who were prominent then, I have gotten into the works of Maria Montessori. Her Absorbent Mind is light years ahead of what is being used today to foundation our approach to education. I didn't attend her schools; got onto her circuitously, but the data we need to do the job right already exists. Unfortunately, we've gone so far down the road from her/that (if it was ever really adopted by anyone other than her own schools), that it would require a devolution to begin to get any of it in now. We're totally disconnected from the essence of what it means to educate.
Re: “Davis Guggenheim's tendentious education film, Waiting for "Superman"”
Yes, it's SO complicated. Just send them more money. Every year. Regardless. (Or, should I say, Irregardless.)
Re: “Davis Guggenheim's tendentious education film, Waiting for "Superman"”
I agree the movie wasn't perfect but it does help raise awarness of how the system is letting down so many students. I went to public school and so does my daughter. I'm not even sure if Charter Schools are the way to go but something has got to give!! I just wish more kids had and kept the attitude of those kids in the movie. Their desire for a better education should be contagious!
Re: “Davis Guggenheim's tendentious education film, Waiting for "Superman"”
This is the first intelligent discussion I've seen of this movie. Thank you.
richard krawiec
Re: “Davis Guggenheim's tendentious education film, Waiting for "Superman"”
PUBLIC Education is not for sale! Don't let this film convince you that priviatization by corporate millionaires a hedge fund interests is the way for sustainable public education reform!
http://www.waitingforsupermantruth.org/
Re: “The curious case of Joaquin Phoenix in I'm Still Here”
I hope Phoenix/Affleck are finding this entire enterprise/saga worth their time and tedious efforts, as it was quite a feat to pull off. Silly humans and those *overly* celebrity obsessed done got punk'd. And the insights of this review/analysis of this movie/cultural-Rorschach in this article cover the spread as well as any I've read tonight. Thanks!
Re: “The curious case of Joaquin Phoenix in I'm Still Here”
I've been over JP for years. Not worth the waste of time.
Re: “Bland love in (500) Days of Summer”
I agree with most of what you say, (especially in regards to The Smiths being an oddity) but did you ever think that maybe the narrator (and the screenplay) are employing irony? Or that Deschanel's character is purposely flat in order to show Levitt's (and gooey romantic comedies') ignorant gaze through rose-colored glasses? Maybe I'm trying to infuse more complexity into a film that cannot hold up...lol
Re: “Quiet desperation in Mademoiselle Chambon”
I now read Fellerath's reviews almost exclusively to see if he will ever write a film review WITHOUT detailing the ending. Honestly, it seems like one of the first things a movie reviewer should know, and yet he just doesn't seem to grasp the concept that you're not supposed to spoil things for the reader. How much disdain must he have for the readers that makes him keep doing this?
Re: “Getting burned by The Girl Who Played With Fire”
D.J., thank you for your comment here and your email. The misspelling of the character's last name has been corrected.
Re: “Getting burned by The Girl Who Played With Fire”
How difficult would it have been to check the spelling of Michael Blomqvist's name in your review of "The Girl Who Played with Fire"? You consistently spelled his name "Blomkist" throughout the article. It's hard to take your review seriously, and I suspect you haven't even read the books or you would have known how to spell his name. Did you think we wouldn't notice? Proofread, proofread, proofread...
Re: “Iron Man ramps up the camp but falls flat”
I completely agree with your review of Rourke's role as, although I think he's a great actor, the movie provided him little opportunity to prove it. Rockwell, on the other hand, I thought was great. The whole movie's a live-action cartoon. I thought he masterfully handled RDJ, which is a feat neither Jude Law nor most actor's could achieve.
/www.examiner.com/x-32477-Raleigh-Movie-Examiner~y2010m5d23-Iron-Man-2-A-two-hour-enzyte-commercial-with-explosions
Re: “In the Valley of Elah”
Very good review overall. Just watched the film here in 2010 as our focus shifts to Afghanistan and Pakistan still hides Osama Bin Laden. While I agree it is wise and good to examine the consequences of war, the idea that the US is a Goliath with pathology without acknowledging that there is enough human pathology to keep the war business going for a very, very long time, is naive at best, dishonest and craven at worst. It is shocking, as well, that Godfrey Cheshire (is that a real name?) says the US caused civil war in Iraq. This guy needs a very, very long history lesson.
Re: “The worlds of babies in a new documentary”
I would guess that many people who choose to be child-free still enjoy looking at babies and being around them. Enjoying and being curious about the very young is simply a human trait, whether or not you want to raise children.
Re: “The worlds of babies in a new documentary”
Just a comment on the first line: "Everyone loves looking at babies." Actually, not "everyone" does. The Indy is very adamant that it embraces all kinds of diversity. Please don't forget the child-free. It's not an easy choice since there is such a backlash from the "normal" folk. Thanks.
Re: “Swedish thriller The Girl With the Dragon Tatttoo”
Re: "Lisbeth is also involved in a couple of startlingly violent early scenes that have little to do with the story." Yes you're right - these apparent acts of violence have little to do with this particular story - however - remember this is a trilogy and these particular abuses against Lizbeth have everything to do with the final two acts of the trilogy. You may need to read the books.
Re: “A thematic feast in Black Swan”
You gave away WAY too much of the ending in this review.