Author Archives: Robert K Stephen (CSW)

RKS Literature: The Particularly Nasty British Press (Balzac)

“Whenever you see the press out for the blood of some powerful figure, you will not be far wrong in concluding that behind the attacks there is the story of a refusal to pay or to render some service or other. Blackmail arising out of their private lives is the special terror of rich EnglishmenContinue reading “RKS Literature: The Particularly Nasty British Press (Balzac)”

RKS 2023 Film: “A Song Film by Kishi Bashi”: ‘Omoiyari’: American “Concentration Camps” for Japanese Americans

Internationally acclaimed Japanese American composer and songwriter Karou Ishibashi with his stage name of Kishi Bashi takes us on a journey of history and self discovery and offers a glimpse of a less than logical and reasoned United States President Roosevelt’s Executive Order 9066  to designate exclusionary zones where in Goebbelistic fashion anyone of JapaneseContinue reading “RKS 2023 Film: “A Song Film by Kishi Bashi”: ‘Omoiyari’: American “Concentration Camps” for Japanese Americans”

RKS 2023 Film: “A Thousand Pines”: Mexploitation, Mexmisery but Mexsalvation?

So here I go again with yet another documentary about Mexicans working in the United States. There have been a range of Mexemotions from entitlement, outrage, gratitude and perhaps a combination of all these elements. The previous Mexmigration films I have reviewed have focused on illegals from Mexico working in the United States without properContinue reading “RKS 2023 Film: “A Thousand Pines”: Mexploitation, Mexmisery but Mexsalvation?”

RKS 2023 Wine:  2019 Boya Syrah From Chile: Conquering the Barnyard!

The Boya 2019 Syrah is from Chile’s Leyda Valley. It was aged in neutral oak for 16 months. Aroma: Black cherry, blackberry and a bit too much barnyard leaning toward funky. Brett? Some like that “perfumed earth” smell believing it gives some charm to a red wine. A bit of a snake charmer so oneContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine:  2019 Boya Syrah From Chile: Conquering the Barnyard!”

RKS 2023 Film: “Retirement Plan”: Bang Bang, Garroting and a Few Broken and Slashed Necks

Ashley’s husband Jimmy double-crosses his crime boss Donny by stealing a hard drive from him in Miami but Donny (Jackie Earle Hailey) and his thugs manage in the robbery attempt to blast Jimmy’s companion who dies with shots to the gut in the robbery getaway car driven by Ashley. Jimmy correctly suspecting his goose isContinue reading “RKS 2023 Film: “Retirement Plan”: Bang Bang, Garroting and a Few Broken and Slashed Necks”

RKS 2023 Film: Toronto International Film Festival Winner “KANAVAL”

“KANAVAL” a feature film written and directed by Henri Pardo was honored with the Amplify Voices Award for Best BIPOC Canadian Feature also picking up an Honourable Mention for Best Canadian Feature Film at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival. Nine-year-old Rico (Rayan Dieudonné) and his mother Erzulie (Penande Estime) flee 1975 Haiti after hisContinue reading “RKS 2023 Film: Toronto International Film Festival Winner “KANAVAL””

RKS 2023 Film: “Dreamin’ Wild”: Rock n Roll “Back to the Future”!

How many serious and penetrative rock n roll films have you seen? Probably few if any. Good times, booze, dope, sex and often destruction. Joplin, Moon, Hendrix, Prince or Michael Jackson. “Dreamin’ Wild” probes the link between past and future and ends up solidly in the present. Minus drugs, booze and sex! Unrealistic you mayContinue reading “RKS 2023 Film: “Dreamin’ Wild”: Rock n Roll “Back to the Future”!”

RKS 2023 Wine: A Seinfeld Stop Short Divergence Twenty Mile Bench Gamay Noir

As far as red wine pours there is no doubt Ontario Cabernet Franc can stand up to the best. Ontario Gamay Noir has that potential. The Divergence 2021 Gamay Noir from Divergence Wines in the Niagara region of Ontario is made from grapes grown on the Wismer Wingfield Vineyard. Divergence Wines appeared on the sceneContinue reading “RKS 2023 Wine: A Seinfeld Stop Short Divergence Twenty Mile Bench Gamay Noir”

RKS Literature: The Cold Blade of a Journalist (Balzac)

“He savoured one of the secret and the keenest pleasures known to the journalist- that of sharpening his epigrams, whetting the cold blade that will find its mark in the heart of the victim, and decorating the pommel for the benefit of the reader. The public admires the clever workmanship of that sword and hasContinue reading “RKS Literature: The Cold Blade of a Journalist (Balzac)”