One Life: Saving Jews During the Holocaust

One Life tells the story of how Sir Nicholas “Nicky” Winton played a role in saving many Jewish children during the Holocaust. Bleecker Street is handling the American release. Unlike Warner Bros.’ handling of the UK release (more in my interview with James Hawes), the press and marketing materials do not hide the fact that the refugees are predominantly Jewish. I’ve known about the Kindertransport for years. In fact, the Kindertransport would inspire Michael Bond…

"One Life: Saving Jews During the Holocaust"

Jerusalem: Center of the World

Jerusalem: Center of the World takes viewers back to the beginning of Jerusalem’s history, starting with Abraham and Isaac. By the time you read this, I’ll have made my long awaited return to the Western Wall aka the Kotel, the holiest site in all of Judaism. Jews have gathered at the Western Wall since the fall of the Second Temple on Mount Moriah, at least during the times that we were allowed to. For instance,…

"Jerusalem: Center of the World"

#NOVA: A Traumatizing But Essential Documentary

#NOVA is an hourlong documentary following the events of the Supernova Psy-Trance Festival during the Hamas attack on October 7. If you’re unfamiliar with what happened on October 7, it was the worst attack on Jews in a single day since the Holocaust. Filmmaker Dan Pe’er was aiding survivors when he first begin receiving the initial footage that led to the film. #NOVA is a documentary that uses smartphone, bodycam, phone audio, and GoPro footage…

"#NOVA: A Traumatizing But Essential Documentary"

Damsel: Millie Bobby Brown Faces a Dragon in Netflix Film

Millie Bobby Brown goes face to face with a dragon in Damsel, the newest original Netflix film to star the Stranger Things actress. I’m going to get to the idea behind the film in a moment. But before I do, I’ve been enjoying the Netflix original films starring Millie Bobby Brown. There’s something about them that allow the actress to show off her wit or action skills. This film is no different except for the…

"Damsel: Millie Bobby Brown Faces a Dragon in Netflix Film"

One Day in September: The Munich Olympics Massacre

Kevin Macdonald’s Oscar-winning documentary about the 1972 Munich Massacre, One Day in September, marks its 25th anniversary this year. “When I was a kid my father used to say our greatest hopes and our worst fears are seldom realized. Our worst fears have been realized tonight. They have now said there were eleven hostages; two were killed in their rooms yesterday morning, nine were killed at the airport tonight. They’re all gone.” – Jim McKay,…

"One Day in September: The Munich Olympics Massacre"

Sharknado Gets 10th Anniversary Special Edition DVD

Not only was Sharknado restored for the film’s 10th anniversary in 2023 but there is an upgrade in visual effects and new shots altogether. When Sharknado premiered during the summer of 2013, it became a cultural phenomenon. For better or worse, everybody was talking about it online. As a result, more sequels would make their way to TV–five sequels in all. Not just this but they got funnier in nature and an increasing number of…

"Sharknado Gets 10th Anniversary Special Edition DVD"

Canadian Bacon: Remembering John Candy 30 Years Later

Canadian Bacon may have been the only narrative feature directed by Michael Moore but it was the final film to star John Candy. No Canadians were harmed in the making of the film. I decided to watch the film to mark the thirtieth anniversary of Candy’s passing. Honestly, it was either this or Wagon’s East, which also starred the late Richard Lewis. In any event, Canadian Bacon was available to stream through Hoopla without commercial…

"Canadian Bacon: Remembering John Candy 30 Years Later"

The Debt Is A Gripping Thriller

The Debt is an a remake of the 2007 Israeli Ophir-nominated thriller, Ha-Hov, and follows its cast through both the past and present. The 2007 film did not get a theatrical release in the United States although it played film festivals and aired on TV. Despite this, British filmmakers would still remake the film for English-speaking audiences. After all, it did pick up four nominations in the Israeli version of the Academy Awards. The names…

"The Debt Is A Gripping Thriller"

Contagion: Pandemic Thriller Arrives on 4K Ultra HD

Steven Soderbergh’s 2011 pandemic thriller, Contagion, is making its arrival on 4K Ultra HD a few years after renewed interest in the film. Nobody would have thought in 2011 that people would be taking a renewed interest in 2020. But sure enough, the Covid-19 pandemic happened and people made the film a streaming hit. I was not one of those people because of my headspace at the time. It was tempting, don’t get me wrong.…

"Contagion: Pandemic Thriller Arrives on 4K Ultra HD"

The Man Who Wasn’t There: A Film Noir

Life is not what it seems for a small-town California barber in the Coen brothers’ 2001 film noir, The Man Who Wasn’t There. Even this is a film noir, the Coens bring their own ideas into the genre. It’s not your typical film noir. The lead character does not intentionally set out to commit any crime. It just kind of happens. But if you read any of James M. Cain’s work, you’ll find characters behaving…

"The Man Who Wasn’t There: A Film Noir"