XXY

This excellent film by Argentinian writer/director Lucía Puenzo deals with a family’s problem with hermaphroditism. That is, a couple have a teenage daughter who is half woman and half man. What is remarkable about the movie is the intelligence and the maturity with which it deals with the topic. Because she is a…

That Stupid Louis Vuitton Ad

Several times, in respectable arthouse cinemas in this city, we have been subjected to an ad from Louis Vuitton, which pretends to be more like a short, dreamy movie, until you start seeing the luggage. Soft focus landscapes of rich white people traveling, always almost alone in…

Pan’s Labrynth

I’m not a huge fan of fantasy. In fact, I pretty much hate fantasy, a reason why extravaganzas like Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter simply do not interest me. I like my stories firmly rooted in reality, which tends to be messier and more complex than parables and fables and clean fights between…

“You’re a tomato!”*

I really loved watching Sydney Pollack every time he appeared in a movie. He was amazing as Dustin Hoffman’s agent in Tootsie. The scenes where he argues with Hoffman are delightful. He was great in Michael Clayton and even in those nice Cingular commercials about not using cellphones while in…

Stalinists Accuse Hollywood of Lying

Members of the Russian Communist party have called for the new Indiana Jones film to be banned in the country because they say it distorts history.
Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, set during the Cold War, sees Harrison Ford’s character battle…

Tribeca Film Festival: Film OD

I was given a one day free pass to the Tribeca Film Festival. I was in the midst of boycotting said event, because they rejected my short film. I Want Revenge. But after my free day pass.
I saw 4 features and like 5 shorts. At one point my head was about to explode.
I saw…