— by BEV QUESTAD — I messed up. I thought the title was “Begonia” after the flowering plant. But then I checked the spelling and then its definition. Boy, was I off track on that – and a lot more. Kudos go to the writer, Will Tracy, for the obscure title concept. Though his screenp[...]
Archive for the ‘Reviews’ Category
Review: Sentimental Value
— by BEV QUESTAD — Oh, my precious Norway, you consistently rank in the top 10, amongst other Scandinavian countries, of the happiest in the world. You have one of the safest, most comprehensive, caring governments on the planet, yet it’s from your country we get your consistent explor[...]
Review: Train Dreams
— by BEV QUESTAD — Sometimes it seems that life happens to us – that we just go along, minding our business, trying hard to do our best and then, wham — a bad thing happens or a good thing happens, without will on our part. That’s the way it seems for Robert Grainier. Aroun[...]
Review: The Perfect Neighbor
— by BEV QUESTAD — Filmed via police body cams, police procured videos, and 911 recordings, “The Perfect Neighbor” is an Oscar nominee for Best Documentary. It’s a powerful way to create film verité – no voice-overs and no explanatory narration. You just get the action and voice[...]
Review: Anniversary
— by BEV QUESTAD — Oh, Americans, we complain about being too polarized and that extremes on the right and left are dangerous and a threat to society. So, my friends, what if there was a Unity Party? What if there was a remake of the flag with the stars and the blue background in [&helli[...]
Review: Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery
— by BEV QUESTAD — Just as convoluted and star-studded as the prior two “Knives Out” whodunits, “Wake Up Dead Man” will likewise challenge your sleuthing skills. But added froth to the bouillon in this third Rian Johnson creation is Catholicism. Conflicted Father Jud Duplenticy ([...]
Review: Orwell: 2+2=5
— by BEV QUESTAD — And we are not at war with Venezuela, the War in Gaza is not a genocide, and prices in America are lower than ever. Double-speak, a term inspired by George Orwell’s terms, Newspeak and doublethink as presented in the satire “1984,” is now de rigor politicalspeak [...]
Review: Rumours
— by WILLIAM STERR — The G7. A group of the seven leading “democratic” nations. All are Western, except for Japan, and they represent 29 percent of the world’s economic production but only 9.6 percent of the population, at around 783 million people. The United States, Canada, Great[...]
Review: A House of Dynamite
— by WILLIAM STERR — During her career, Kathryn Bigelow has produced a number of outstanding and intriguing films. Among them are “Near Dark” about a vampire family, “The Hurt Locker” which deals with the Iraq war, and “Zero Dark Thirty” about the search for Osama bin Laden. [...]
Review: Caterpillar
— by BEV QUESTAD — Is there any part of your body you would not consider enhancing? People pay plenty for nose jobs, liposuction, breast implants, and face lifts. They endure temporary physical deformity and incapacitation for a promise of future beauty and glory. So, would you also cons[...]
Review: The Secret Agent
— by BEV QUESTAD — The New York Times listed “The Secret Agent” in its top 10 movies of 2025. It’s got a great title, it was made in Brazil, and it starts with a dead body under some casual cardboard flapping in the wind at a gas station. Flies buzz, dogs come, and Che […][...]
Review: Sentimental Value
— by WILLIAM STERR — Film directors can be difficult people – especially if you have to live with one. Just ask Nora and Agnes. Their father, the celebrated Scandinavian auteur Gustav Borg (Stellan Skarsgård – “Dune”), was barely part of their lives as they grew up – alway[...]
Review: Holding Liat
— by WILLIAM STERR — “We’re being led by by crazy people, whether its on the Israeli side or whether on the Palestinian side. And the result is all this death and destruction. And the whole thing makes me angry.” So said Yahuda Beinin one week after his daughter Liat and son-in-law[...]
Review: The Ugly Stepsister
— by BEV QUESTAD — This is one heck of a wild, bold take-off on The Grimm Brothers’s tale of Cinderella. Still set mostly in medieval times (some girls having braces is a surprise), “The Ugly Stepsister” explores a possible backstory to the rags-to-riches beloved princess. Who was [...]