Hugo: Martin Scorsese Film Marks 10th Anniversary

The magical celebration of cinema that is the Oscar-winning Hugo marked a substantial departure for filmmaker Martin Scorsese. Hugo is based on The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick, a cousin of David O. Selznick. The gist of the film is that 14-year-old Hugo Cabret (Asa Butterfield) is living in Paris with his father in 1931. His father had found a broken automaton and the two work to repair it until Hugo’s dad dies…

"Hugo: Martin Scorsese Film Marks 10th Anniversary"

Sarah Silverman Talks Casting Non-Jews As Jews

In her recent podcast, Sarah Silverman commented about the recent casting of Kathryn Hahn as the late Jewish comedian Joan Rivers. Speaking on her podcast, the comedian remarked: “There’s this long tradition of non-Jews playing Jews, and not just playing people who happen to be Jewish, but people whose Jewishness is their whole being. One could argue, for instance, that a gentile playing Joan Rivers correctly would be doing what is actually called ‘Jewface.’” Silverman…

"Sarah Silverman Talks Casting Non-Jews As Jews"

Locked Down: A Feature Film For Covid Era

Locked Down has the tough responsibility of being one of the first major studio films to take place during the Covid-19 pandemic. Filmmaker Doug Liman may be ambitious enough to want to film in outer space with Tom Cruise.  But before doing that, he went about filming this project during the pandemic.  Many of us have been living this horror movie since last March–some in worse circumstances than others.  One thing this film does get…

"Locked Down: A Feature Film For Covid Era"

Spider in the Web: A John le Carré-esque Thriller

It’s a busy summer for films about the Israeli Mossad because Spider in the Web is the third such film to be released in just over a month. For the second time in a month, another thriller gets released in the vein of John le Carré.   Moreover, it’s the second of the trio to feature Ben Kingsley.  While The Red Sea Diving Resort had Kingsley portray a superior in a supporting role, he’s front and…

"Spider in the Web: A John le Carré-esque Thriller"

The Red Sea Diving Resort: A True Story

Chris Evans leads a cast of Mossad operatives in The Red Sea Diving Resort as they work to rescue Ethiopian Jews and bring them to Israel. I would imagine that more people know the story behind Operation Moses or Operation Solomon more so than Operation Brothers.  Regardless, this film is a good one to watch as things play out on screen.  Even though we have an idea of what is going to happen, there’s certainly…

"The Red Sea Diving Resort: A True Story"

Iron Man 3 – The Road to Endgame

Iron Man 3 gets us back to Tony Stark’s story by largely drawing upon the “Extremis” arc so as to lend the film more of a thriller element. The film flashes back to New Year’s Eve 1999.  This is when Tony Stark first encounters Maya Hansen (Rebecca Hall).  She comes up with technology that allows for the regeneration following injuries.  It’s no surprise to see that Aldrich Killian (Guy Pearce) is interested in the technology…

"Iron Man 3 – The Road to Endgame"

Schindler’s List: Steven Spielberg’s Epic Masterpiece

Schindler’s List isn’t only Steven Spielberg’s epic masterpiece but the film is what cemented his legacy as both a filmmaker and human. Oskar Schindler (Liam Neeson) rescued the lives of approximately 1,200 Jews despite being a member of the Nazi party. He took over an enamelware plant and this plant is soon populated by the Jews living in the Kraków Ghetto.  Under accountant Itzhak Stern’s (Ben Kingsley) management, a countless number of Jews would find…

"Schindler’s List: Steven Spielberg’s Epic Masterpiece"

Operation Finale: The Capture of Adolf Eichmann

Operation Finale takes audiences on a thrilling ride back to the 1960s when Mossad hunted down one of the chief architects of the Final Solution. When World War 2 came to an end in 1945, those in Nazi leadership had choices to make.  They could kill themselves to avoid capture or try to seek refuge in a country that would allow them to do so.  Hitler, Himmler, and Goebbels had all killed themselves but others…

"Operation Finale: The Capture of Adolf Eichmann"

Dave: The President We Need Right Now

Dave is able to hold up so well 25 years after it’s release because of such a strong performance by Kevin Kline. Ivan Reitman followed his 1980s successes by directing the political comedy from Gary Ross’ hilariously written screenplay.  There are so few political comedies that can work in a way that the script does.  Could the Oscar-nominated screenplay be written today and still appeal to movie going audiences?  I’d like to think so.  A…

"Dave: The President We Need Right Now"

The Jungle Book lives up to Walt Disney classic

The newest feature film adaptation of The Jungle Book is everything it was expected to be and so much more.  This is only the second live-action film to be produced by Disney.  The last live-action film was released in December 1994 but the animals talk this time around. It’s been a few years since the last time I watched the animated classic but there are some nice homages to the classic, including the classic songs.…

"The Jungle Book lives up to Walt Disney classic"