|
|
| Stefan Gruenwedel's Articles: 1 to 10 of 53 | Previous Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next Page |
 | The Japanese Way of Death Rating: 4 out of 5 stars.
People hate the thought of dying so much, it's no wonder whole industries exist to either help us delay the inevitable with medicines or tart us up with embalming fluids when it's our time to lie six feet under. The Japanese are no exception. Any culture that turned the act of pouring a cup of tea into an intricate ceremony long on symbolism could certainly turn a wake into a meaningful ritual that helps families say [i]sayonara[/i] to their loved ones. [b]Departures[/b] ("Okuribito") provides an illuminating, touching, yet not humorless look inside a little-known profession, even for the Japanese.More |  | More a Marathon Than a Sprint With its blushingly romantic tone, copious (if harmless) pratfalls, charming moments, and well-intentioned characters, [b]Run Fat Boy Run[/b] hits all the right marks to qualify itself as lighthearted matinee fare that does no harm and shatters no clichés.More |  | Love and War Setting a gay love affair amid the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is just one of several riveting aspects of [b]The Bubble[/b], a heartfelt relationship and political drama from director Eytan Fox. He is no stranger to controversy. In 2002 his film [b]Yossi & Jagger[/b] depicted the hazards of love between two male soldiers stationed in an Israeli outpost on the Lebanese border. Now [b]The Bubble[/b] widens his scope to explore the dangerous love affair between a Jew and an Arab in Israel.More |  | How to Win Friends and Influence People Sometimes having a fabulous life is not all it's cracked up to be, especially if you're a disagreeable person. What's the point of having friends if they put up with you only because they feel they have to? Daniel Auteuil stars as François, an arrogant, cutthroat, ruthless (and middle-aged) antique dealer in Paris who thinks his life is pretty fabulous. One day when he's at a dinner party with what he considers his dearest acquaintances, he's mortified to learn the truth: that none of the people there actually likes him.More |  | Where it all began As this town's antidote to the onslaught of summer blockbusters, the [b]San Francisco Silent Film Festival[/b], now in its twelfth year, provides an ever-satisfying look back into the early decades of the 20th century when films leapt off the silver screen in all their monochromatic glory, accompanied by the true surround-sound of live music. This year's festival spans the silent era of filmmaking -- from its earliest days to the peak of its maturity -- and includes eye-popping treats from France, England, and Italy.More |  | Opera lite Maria Maggenti's romantic comedy, [b]Puccini for Beginners[/b], upends conventions about gender roles while relying on tried-and-true notions of fidelity and commitment to fuel its screwball storytelling. Struggling novelist Allegra (Elizabeth Reaser) finds herself in some classic Woody Allen moments -- psychoanalytical interior monologues included -- when a long-term relationship unexpectedly ends.More |  | An Unholy Trinity Coinciding with World AIDS Day, Thom Fitzgerald's cinematic triptych presents three disparate yet complementary stories about how this indiscriminate disease afflicts individuals, communities, and societies on three continents in very different ways. Based on writer/director Fitzgerald's experiences in China, South Africa, and the West (specifically Canada), [b]3 Needles[/b] portrays the AIDS pandemic on a scale that is alternately intimate and sweeping. As a result, the film is irresistibly watchable and ultimately disturbing.More |  | Fragments of a Terrible Day The tumultuous year of 1968 shaped and shattered many lives around the world, but in one particular moment, the sudden killing of an inspirational politician derailed the outcome of a crucial presidential election and changed the political guard in America for decades. An all-star cast usually ruins a movie. However, in the case of [b]Bobby[/b], it is the film's foundation.More |  | Goy Toys They Aren't Politics makes strange bedfellows, and causes strange side-effects. Because of the closed borders to Palestinian workers, Israel has tried to fill in the gaps in the job market in interesting ways. Tomer Heymann's [b]Paper Dolls[/b] explores one odd byproduct of the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian conflict: transgender Filipino expatriates who care for elderly Orthodox Jews by day -- and perform in drag shows by night.More |  | Little Men Two facts about love and relationships have inspired romantic comedies for decades. The first is that love is mysterious. The second is that it takes work to make a relationship last. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to weave these themes into an entertaining night at the movies. Even so, [b]Trust the Man[/b] crashes and burns not long after takeoff.More |
| Stefan Gruenwedel's Articles: 1 to 10 of 53 | Previous Page 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next Page |
|
