La La Land
Seven Golden Globes? No way! I saw La La Land, and La La Land was no Manchester by the Sea. Light, upbeat, feel-good, fun to watch, catchy tunes, Ryan Gosling—but nowhere near the award-grade film that some others were. So what's the deal? I think I figured it...
manchester-by-the-sea
It's taken a week for me to recover from the emotional impact of this film. The unflinching tale of a family's tribulation and one man's inescapable heartbreak is easily the finest film I've seen in 2016, showcasing not only director/writer Kenneth Lonergan's deft...
fantastic beasts
How wonderful to see Fantastic Beasts, and where to find them—this latest tale of magic, darkness, and colorful creatures— without ever having read or seen any of the Harry Potter films. I was in a unique position bringing no expectations or prior acquaintance...
Two upcoming book events!
Hitting our stride now! Two Santa Cruz "Inside the Flame" events coming up. Please SAVE THE DATES! Tuesday December 6th we'll have some dinner, some wine, and I'll read a bit and reveal a lot @ Gabriella Cafe. Afternoon Prosecco Party at Soif, December...
Allied Boredom
Since this film will be gone by the time you read this, there isn't much point in offering an actual critique. Allied is a film loosely structured around Brad Pitt's ability to wear suits and Oscar-winner Marian Cotillard's inability to spin straw into gold. The film...
Inside the Flame
A book of sensory adventure: The rituals, passions and discoveries of an engaged life.