When I spoke with Victor Levin by phone on April 3, 2015, I was surprised to learn that one of the thing that I appreciated most about his feature film directorial debut, the practicality of the women of the piece about extra-marital affairs in contrast to the shock evidenced by the men, was not something… Read More »
RUN ALL NIGHT with Liam Neeson
There is a reason that there is a rigid formula for Liam Neeson action films: it has a tendency to hit more than it misses. In RUN ALL NIGHT, the tropes are all present and accounted for with the variations that are permitted within the formula’s rules. Neeson is the everyman with, you will pardon… Read More »
JULIE & JULIA
If Julia Child had not chosen the right moment to powder her nose at an embassy party in Paris, she might never have met Simone Beck, and there might never have been the classic cookbook, Mastering the Art of French Cooking. If Julie Powell, at the end of a particularly trying day as a government… Read More »
CITY ISLAND
The Rizzo Family of CITY ISLAND is a family of secret smokers. That smoke, though, is just a screen for the many other secrets that lurk amid this close-knit but volatile family, one that has no problem expressing itself, but not as much talent in sharing confidences. In fact, most of the secrets, smoking included,… Read More »
Katie Holmes & Peter Hedges Assemble PIECES OF APRIL
There is not a doubt in my mind that PIECES OF APRIL will be a new holiday classic. If nothing else, it gives the cooking-impaired among us hope as it pits heroine April against a balky stove and a raw turkey. When I spoke to APRIL’s star, Katie Holmes, and its writer/director, Peter Hedges, on… Read More »
Frederic Lilien Shares THE LEGEND OF PALE MALE
When Frederic Lilen ran away from home to avoid the family law business, becoming the cinematic chronicler of Pale Male, New York City’s most famous red-tailed hawk, wasn’t even on his radar. In fact, he’d never even heard of the bird and his loyal following until after a serendipitous lunch meeting. He was taking a… Read More »
Raymond De Felitta Takes Us to CITY ISLAND
For a labor of love like CITY ISLAND, Raymond De Felitta was happy to bide his time, waiting for the right actor, Andy Garcia as his lead, man with a secret Vince Rizzo. When I talked with de Felitta by phone on March 12, 2010, why only a great actor can make bad acting fun,… Read More »