Being Mary Tyler Moore Is A Definitive Documentary

Being Mary Tyler Moore is a documentary that allows the seven-time Emmy-winning actress to tell her own story through archival footage. Outside of the archival clips featuring Moore speaking with interviewers, James Adolphus takes the smart approach of not using talking heads in the traditional way. While there are a number of voiceover interviews, nobody is seen speaking on camera. Some are for a brief clip while others like James L. Brooks and Jim Burrows…

"Being Mary Tyler Moore Is A Definitive Documentary"

The Long Way Home: From WWII to Israel

The Long Way Home follows the years in the aftermath of the Holocaust in which Jews are displaced and have nowhere else to go. The film starts with a quote from Exodus 13: “When Pharaoh let the people go, G-d did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near…But G-d led the people round by way of the wilderness…” Per the film’s on-screen text, the voices are taken…

"The Long Way Home: From WWII to Israel"

Dug Days Is Sentimental After Ed Asner’s Death

Pixar’s Dug Days–launching Wednesday on Disney+–makes for sentimental viewing after the passing of Ed Asner over the weekend. All five shorts feature Dug (Bob Peterson) and his human, Carl Fredricksen (Ed Asner), with the lovable pooch taking in the backyard. The shorts focus on a wide variety of subjects be it puppies, flowers (okay, fireworks), a strange smell, etc. “Flowers” in particular is a short that is almost certainly going to resonate with every single…

"Dug Days Is Sentimental After Ed Asner’s Death"

Ed Asner: Remembering A Legend

Ed Asner, a former president of the Screen Actors Guild and star of both The Mary Tyler Moore Show and Lou Grant, died at 91 years old. The news of Asner’s passing comes on the 18th anniversary of my seeing The Second City in action for the first time in 2003. Prior to the Second City performance, I was preparing for a career in politics. My plans changed as a result of this show. In…

"Ed Asner: Remembering A Legend"

SXSW 2019: The Garden Left Behind

With a spotlight on one woman’s struggle to live an authentic life, The Garden Left Behind is a beautiful film that covers quite a bit of ground. The film focuses on Tina (Carlie Guevara) and her grandmother Eliana (Miriam Cruz).  The two of them are undocumented Mexican immigrants living in New York City.  Tina is a transgender woman and works to bring in money to pay their bills.  Meanwhile, Eliana stays home.  Obviously, there are…

"SXSW 2019: The Garden Left Behind"