— by BEV QUESTAD — “What is it about this job that’s worth more than your life?” shouts an exasperated Lindsay Mills’ to her boyfriend, Edward Snowden. Oliver Stone, whose controversial films have won nine Academy Awards, lays out a story about a man willing to give up everything for his beliefs. Stone has said […][...]
Review: Among the Believers
— by RON WILKINSON — Directors Mohammed Naqvi and Hemal Trivedi (written by Jonathan Goodman Levitt) somehow obtain amazing access to the extremely powerful, and heavily armed, Muslim cleric and Taliban ally Maulana Aziz. Although one has to wonder how much they dared record, their spontaneous and open discussions with the cleric, always surrounded by […][...]
Review: When Two Worlds Collide
— by BEV QUESTAD — Starting out as if it was going to be a National Geographic special, the gorgeous footage of sounds and sights in the steamy Peruvian Amazon region aims to delight. Then our hero appears and says he is about to become Tarzan. He disrobes and jumps into a murky body of […][...]
Review: Go Home
— by BEV QUESTAD — Arriving as an ex-pat now from Paris, hauntingly beautiful Nada returns to her war-torn Lebanese village to find her abandoned old home ransacked and its property full of garbage. “Go Home” is written on the inside of the walls after she returns from hearing a noise outside. She’s sure that […][...]
Review: The Lovers and the Despot
— by RON WILKINSON — “The Lovers and the Despot” is a movie about a fascinating story. It is a story of love, betrayal, hero worship, international politics and film making. Unfortunately, although the story may someday be told, it is not told in this movie. Presumably, writer/directors Ross Adam and Robert Cannan did the […][...]
Review: SEED: The Untold Story
— by BEV QUESTAD — “The diversity in our seed stocks is as endangered as a panda or a golden eagle right now. We have the largest seed shortage in history,” warns Will Bonsall, a long-haired, long-bearded 67 year-old dedicated to seed collecting. He reports that 94 percent of our total seed vegetables have been […][...]
Rocky Sequels: Which is your favourite?
The Rocky franchise is loved by millions, and its many installments and commercial success are very much testament to this. Its popularity is reflected in the Rocky-themed merchandise that is available to buy. From US flag shorts, to sweatshirts adorned with famous images, to Rocky slots on www.slotsites.net, it’s pretty clear that the original 1976 […][...]
Review: Fatima
— by BEV QUESTAD — I am quite interested in the complex issues swirling around immigration because I shelter an immigrant from a third world country in my own home. As an orphan, he had no opportunity for a decent education in his home country and no prospects for a career. But after immigrating here, […][...]
Review: For the Love of Spock
— by BEV QUESTAD — The raised eyebrow, the split fingers salutation, the mind meld and the dignified pointed ears: Spock represented a logically-evolved mind dedicated to the search for truth. Leonard Nimoy, who embodied this Star Trek (ST) character, became inextricably linked to his self-controlled TV persona and his own name became interchangeable. When […][...]
Review: Sonita
— by BEV QUESTAD — Even though girls are not allowed to perform in Afghanistan or Iran, Sonita is absolutely obsessed with singing. This brave documentary follows her as she dangerously competes in, and then wins, an international online rap contest. Award-winning filmmaker Rokhsareh Ghaemmaghami knew she had an unusual subject for her documentary. Sonita, […][...]