— by BEV QUESTAD — Sometimes my high school students ask, “What is evil?” Is it a lack of social conscience or a desire to harm others? Is evil behavior a brain malfunction or mental disorder? Is evil itself an invasion of the devil or a regression to bloodthirsty animalistic surviva[...]
Author Archive
Review: Deceptive Practice
— by BEV QUESTAD — A stocky man tears up a piece of paper into tiny little pieces that flake to the ground. Then a little white butterfly flutters out of his hand. He picks up a slick deck of cards and fans them out in patterns. After shuffling a half dozen times he picks […][...]
Review: Louder Than a Bomb
— by BEV QUESTAD — If high schools put the same insane competitive energy they put into basketball and football into … well, let’s say poetry, what would it look like? You’d have tryouts to even get on the team. There would be determined coaches, individual drills and after-school [...]
Review: Drawing Dead
— by BEV QUESTAD — The sun is shining and a man is shown walking along an isolated road (where are those?) bordered by tall, thick grass with two dogs tramping at his side. He is pulling a cart and stops, pulls out his violin and masterfully creates an ambiance of light-hearted bliss[...]
Review: Girl Rising
— by BEV QUESTAD — There is no mother, no charismatic leader and no NGO whispering inspiration to the nine little girls featured in “Girl Rising.” They simply rise up, say no to their circumstance, and through uncanny determination, attain their goal. “Girl Rising” documents [...]
2013 PIFF Awards Announced
— by BEV QUESTAD — The results of the respected Portland International Film Festival (PIFF) Alaska Airlines Audience Awards are in. With more than 37,000 attendees, 93 feature films and 42 shorts, the 36th year of PIFF was a tremendous success. Traditionally held in conjunction with the [...]
Review: Kon-Tiki
— by BEV QUESTAD — In the running as one of the five nominees for Best Foreign Film, “Kon-Tiki” delivers an entertaining adventure with a terrifying storm, shark attacks and six very handsome Scandinavian men. Norwegians are noted for being self-sufficient, sparing of words (they tal[...]
Review: War Witch (aka Rebelle)
— by BEV QUESTAD — She’s 12, her country is in a civil war and she’s been kidnapped. Komona, played with stunning naturalness by 15-year-old Rachel Mwanza, is thrown over an invading rebel’s back while the villagers in her little river outpost are sprayed with machine gun fire[...]
Review: Reality
— by BEV QUESTAD — “Reality” is about one man who craves notoriety, whether it be through cross-dressing or starring in a reality TV show. Even though he has a family who adores him, his self-interest and growing obsession with chasing fame propels him to risk all he has – his true[...]
Review: English Vinglish
— by BEV QUESTAD — Richly leveled with wit, warmth and wisdom, “English Vinglish” is a film for every person, regardless of age, nationality or politics. Set first in India, an exquisitely beautiful woman, played by India’s most popular actress, Sridevi, finds that not being profic[...]
Review: The Sapphires
— by BEV QUESTAD — Four Aborigine gals, an alcoholic Australian DJ and the Vietnam War combine to make up a film you’re going to love. It is a rockin’ tribute to human drive and values and a poignant story of love, forgiveness and race amidst the bombs and casualties of war. Based on[...]
Promised Land: Review
— by BEV QUESTAD — With “Promised Land,” Matt Damon, John Krasinski and Dave Eggers combine forces to knock out a challenging screenplay on the ongoing American battle over environmental issues. The battle du jour is over fracking, which involves breaking up the earth’s crust sever[...]
Review: The House I Live In
— by BEV QUESTAD — Eugene Jarecki, a filmmaker with notable family fame and never-ending connections, might not be here today if it had not been for his father’s family escaping the Holocaust and his mother’s family eluding Russian pogroms. Born from a lineage of nightmares but raise[...]
Argo Tops 2012 OFCS Award Winners
— by BEV QUESTAD — The 2012 Online Film Critics Society Awards have been announced and “Argo” heads the honors winning Best Picture. While also nominated, “Zero Dark Thirty” has proven contentious in its depiction of torture. While every American should see it, the politically sa[...]