There is a wonderful scene in Ira Sachs’ new film, Love Is Strange, in which Ben (John Lithgow) and George (Alfred Molina) share a drink at a venerable gay bar in New York City. Ben relates a powerful story to the bartender, in which he and several gay friends marched into that very same bar …
When it comes to gripping and powerful films, HBO knows what they’re doing. Though they are TV movies, they actually feel like big Hollywood productions and often times, they are. Big name stars, expert directors, and brilliant screenplays are what comprise an HBO film these days and this is fortunate for the viewer because they are in for truly quality films. The extremely sobering The Normal Heart continues this trend of excellent filmmaking and the results are just divine.
So intertwined are Ben (John Lithgow) and George’s (Alfred Molina) lives in Ira Sachs’ new movie Love Is Strange that everything is completely changed by the absence of one another. Uncannily reminiscent of Leo McCarey’s depression era film Make Way for Tomorrow about an elderly couple forced to live apart by bankruptcy, Love Is Strange echoes that story in many ways but adds modern relevance by making the couple gay and the cause of their separation rooted in homophobic discrimination. At the cost of plausibility it lamentably shoots itself in the foot so that it can stay located in Manhattan but through virtue of the talent on hand it is still able to create piteous moments of longing for a hard won happily ever after that’s been unceremoniously cut short.
The Truth About Emanuel Written and directed by Francesca Gregorini USA, 2013 “Reality is overrated,” says the title character of The Truth About Emanuel, quite drily, early in the film. And, indeed, the difference between what’s real and what’s fake, and whether it matters for a person to delineate between the two, is at the …
Bless Me, Ultima Directed by Carl Franklin Written by Carl Franklin USA, 2013 Bless Me, Ultima seems designed for high-school English teachers desperate to spruce up their lesson plans near the end of a school year or semester. By itself, the film is sincere and earnest to a fault, and charming if too episodic and …
Harry’s Law Created by David E. Kelley imdb, NBC, Wednesday at 9PM 1.01 Pilot Directed by Bill D’Elia Written by David E. Kelley 2.01 Hosanna Roseanna Directed by Bill D’Elia Written by David E. Kelley 2.02 There Will Be Blood Directed by Bill D’Elia Written by David E. Kelley 2.03 Sins of the Father Directed …
15- Donnie Barksdale in The Gift Actor: Keanu Reeves Memorable quote: “Messing with the Devil is gonna get you burned. Everybody knows that.” Say what you will about Keanu Reeves, but given the right project, proper casting, and competent direction, the man can do a decent job. He is far from outstanding in The Gift, …