No doubt you have seen many movies about a convict on parole trying to go “straight”. They usually are linear and without any artistic creativity. Well ”The Five Rules of Success” is not one of those Turner Classic Movies that are entirely linear but nonetheless interesting. This film takes the genre into a whole differentContinue reading ““The Five Rules of Success”: Above and Beyond the Con Trying to go Straight”
Tag Archives: Robert K. Stephen movie reviews
“All The Streets Are Silent”: Hip Hop and Boarder Treasure Trove New York Style
Nothing could be farther from silence in the streets of New York in this documentary that chronicles the convergence of hip-hop, rap and skateboarding (1987-1997) in New York City. The documentary is full of the roaring streets of New York City with a subculture of boarding and rap and hip-hop music. You know once uponContinue reading ““All The Streets Are Silent”: Hip Hop and Boarder Treasure Trove New York Style”
“Amityville Poltergeist”: Where is the horror?
Here’s a typical horror movie with perhaps a twist which might be totally out in leftfield but when you make a movie be prepared for possible multiple interpretations. Quickly then to the plot. After losing his mother to cancer Jim (Parris Bates) moves out of town leaving his father and sister behind. He hangs withContinue reading ““Amityville Poltergeist”: Where is the horror?”
“Archipelago”: A Dreamy and Poetic Journey: Toronto Hot Docs
Félix Dufour-Laperrière’s “Archipelago” is an animated dreamy poetic journey in which 12 different animators show their style of animation. The narration is at times poetic and very fluid. This in contrast to an old newsreel narrated in a 1950’s style. I think the newsreel was called “Les ÎIes de St. Laurent” taking a voyage fromContinue reading ““Archipelago”: A Dreamy and Poetic Journey: Toronto Hot Docs”
“Perfumes”: Not as Sure as I Thought I Was
Make no mistake French film can produce just about everything from the banal to the complex as far as films go. Having been watching them for 45 years, often late night when I lived in Montreal, hopefully you can take my word on this. For example, there is the classic “Indochine” with Catherine Deneuve whichContinue reading ““Perfumes”: Not as Sure as I Thought I Was”
“Magaluf Ghost Town”: An awkward documentary: Toronto Hot Docs
The promotional material from the film’s distributor leaves the impression that the town of Magaluf will be the subject of the documentary “which during season becomes a Deadwood-like capital of sin and vice”. Magaluf is a beach town on the Spanish island of Mallorca invaded in the summer season by British youth or better saidContinue reading ““Magaluf Ghost Town”: An awkward documentary: Toronto Hot Docs”
“Lady Buds”: Women and Cannabis in California: Has legalization created criminalization? Toronto Hot Docs
Most of this documentary is focused on the Emerald Triangle of California, namely the counties of Mendocino, Humboldt and Trinity Counties where over 60 % of California cannabis is grown but mass production seems to be shifting to Santa Barbara and the Mojave Desert. The documentary focuses on women cultivators, distributors, educators and activists. InContinue reading ““Lady Buds”: Women and Cannabis in California: Has legalization created criminalization? Toronto Hot Docs”
“The New Plastic Road”: Poor Tajik Peasants Take a Crack at International Commerce: Toronto Hot Docs
In 2004 the Silk Road between China and Tajikistan re-opened creating economic opportunities for Tajikistan the poorest of the former USSR republics. We meet Davlat who had a meagre poverty-stricken childhood with 11 people living in his family home. He lived in Kazakhstan for 8 years and then one year in Germany before returning toContinue reading ““The New Plastic Road”: Poor Tajik Peasants Take a Crack at International Commerce: Toronto Hot Docs”
“Seyran Ateş: Sex Revolution and Islam”: A Courageous attempt to bring Islam into the 21st century: Toronto Hot Docs
Seyran Ateş is a Turkish born woman who at a young age moved to Berlin. She had a strict Muslim upbringing making her feel like a prisoner. Only whores would go to movies with their friends. Women don’t read books so that was forbidden. Hating her lonely and oppressed teenage years she ran away fromContinue reading ““Seyran Ateş: Sex Revolution and Islam”: A Courageous attempt to bring Islam into the 21st century: Toronto Hot Docs”
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