Hollywood has a fetish for vilifying capitalism. Albeit an adaptation, The Constant Gardner nevertheless relishes the obtuse phantasmagoria world of profit as shame.   Paralleling conspiracy theorists which interject the notion that pharmaceutical companies have incentive to disease people to sustain their profits versus heal, as if their research and development infrastructure is incapable […]

Pornography is the ablest example of decadence in modern society. It is consumed in droves, yet does not allow the purveyors of its work to be accepted after the lights turn off.   This documentary checks in on over half a dozen pornography stars in retirement. Fortunately, we have a diverse sample of their attitudes […]

  The film begins when the protagonist, Irving, makes a bold statement: he will not be like his father when he grows up. Clearly coming from an immigrant family, Irving sees that it is the con men who rule his neighborhood. Of course, making such a monumental life decision at the age of 10 doesn’t […]

In what is now common-faire, satirical narratives involving the daily lives of successful actors attempt to take the mundane luxury and find absurd. It is quite an easy thing to do, as the inhabitants of their universe mock the self-righteous decorum which they do not belong in, yet merely savor.   The pairing of these […]

  American Psycho wonderfully satirizes the world of Masters of the Universe – investment bankers who feel omnipotent by being able to get “rez”s at Darcia on moment’s notice. It is a good thing that this film was adapted and written by two women. They take their keen eye toward status and social conformity and […]

This is simply an eclectic disarray. It does not know exactly what to be, other than an attempt at irreverence, which misses. However, failure in itself still has meaning, in demonstrating the newfound viability for film making.   This clearly is a script which would not pass the benchmark for most studios. They are in […]

Mona Lisa challenges the audience to see the under-world of London as having a personality. That personality is front-and-center with George, an ex-con (or whatever a convict equivalent is on that island – I am too uncultured to know), who takes us through a voyage of the black market of sex.   Is it any […]

  Swirling in the vortex of another male sophomore production, Revolver encapsulates – or at least tries to – sentimental verve. In that, the bloodshed and outlandish machismo actually serves a purpose beyond scintillating teenage boys.   Masterfully, Mr. Ritchie does not reveal his hand until the closing credits. He is indeed attempting to ‘con’ […]

  Noir films have a certain sensation about them, where too much investment in the effort creates predictability, and a repellant and detachment from the film observer. Indeed, good noir depictions do not try to work within the theme at all. The only connected dots between the treatment and the genre is simply a story […]

  In the midst of the emergence of the ability for women to apply themselves in a sophisticated manner in a sophisticated labor market, the consciousness, or placement of the modern female in society, has had its landscape pruned.   Whereas before, perhaps in a “simpler age”, women devoted their time solely on beautification and […]