In Defense of Cover-Ups
Do people really want to know everything about their rulers, or do they only think they do because the media want to tell them? — From The New Criterion of December, 2005
New World, The
You thought the discovery of America was an event of world-shaking importance? Turns out it was just an inter-racial love-story.
Fun With Dick and Jane
Jim Carrey plays the only decent, honest guy in the world who, having been screwed over by the system, turns to crime. What’s so funny about that?
White Countess, The
Another hokey and tasteless attempt at audience manipulation from the Merchant-Ivory rubbish factory
Memoirs of a Geisha
Part romance, part lurid soap opera and part picture postcard of old Japan, this film slips just enough of the real thing past its inevitable Hollywoodification to make it worth seeing
Entry from December 6, 2005
We think that the days of honor are past, at least of honor as it was always traditionally understood, which meant bravery (and truthfulness) for men, chastity (or fidelity) for women. Nowadays, we pretend to think — perhaps we really do think — that there is no shame to a man in admitting to cowardice…
Transamerica
A form of pathography in which the audience is kept at arm’s length from the hero/heroine by the compassion he/she demands of it
Manicheanism à la Mode
Whence comes this outburst of scientific odium theologicum against religious belief? Could it be the brainiacs are really just simple-minded Lennonists? — From The New Criterion of November, 2005
Yours, Mine and Ours
The original was pretty dire, but the re-make is unspeakably awful
Pride and Prejudice
Yet another attempt to bring the classic novel to the silver screen, but without paying much attention to anything in it beyond the plot.