Monthly Archives: February 2009

Plague proves only a mild inconvenience for Gielgud

Posted on February 26, 2009 by admin

Simon Dutton, Michael Feast in Plague Over England at Duchess Theatre thru May 16 By Ray Bennett LONDON – Arriving at a time when Sean Penn is being honored for playing a gay man who was killed, Nicholas de Jongh’s … Continue reading →

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Oscar finally recognizes funnyman Jerry Lewis

Posted on February 23, 2009 by admin

Jerry Lewis in his 1963 masterpiece The Nutty Professor Jerry Lewis films always made me laugh, the ones with Dean Martin and those that came after. It’s about time the Motion Picture Academy acknowledged him, as they do tonight with … Continue reading →

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Oscar predictions, but I wouldn't bet on them

Posted on February 22, 2009 by admin

Frank Langella in ‘Frost/Nixon’ is brilliant and overdue for screen honors Oh, well. My record in Oscar predictions is wretched, but there could be some surprises tonight so here goes:

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Kaufman joins Rourke and Wrestler in Spirit Awards

Posted on February 22, 2009 by admin

Steve Coogan was the host of the 2009 Independent Spirit Awards Charlie Kaufman’s “Synecdoche, New York,” which was my favourite film of 2008, has finally picked up a couple of awards. It was named best first feature and won the … Continue reading →

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Duffy nabs three honors at the Brit Awards

Posted on February 19, 2009 by admin

Welsh singer Duffy, who picked up a Grammy Award for best pop album last week, landed three prizes at the Brit Awards Wednesday night. Here’s coverage in the Daily Mail with some good images from the show plus my review … Continue reading →

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BERLIN 59th film festival hands out its awards

Posted on February 15, 2009 by admin

Claudia Llosa receives her Golden Bear for Milk of Sorrow The 59th Berlin International Film Festival wrapped Saturday night. Here’s coverage from The Hollywood Reporter‘s Scott Roxborough: BERLIN — It started with a scream and ended with a song. In … Continue reading →

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BERLIN Help Gone Mad is slow, perplexing, and very Russian

Posted on February 13, 2009 by admin

Sergey Dreiden and Evgeny Syty tilt at urban windmills in Help Gone Mad Review from the Berlin International Film Festival By Ray Bennett BERLIN — Russian director Boris Khlebnikov‘s enigmatic urban saga “Help Gone Mad” is very Russian indeed with … Continue reading →

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James Gray's Two Lovers offers old-fashioned romance

Posted on February 13, 2009 by admin

Joaquin Phoenix and Gwyneth Paltrow in James Gray’s ‘Two Lovers’ James Gray’s “Two Lovers” has just opened in North America and it’s really worth seeing. It’s set for release in the U.K. on March 27. Here’s my review from the … Continue reading →

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BERLIN John Hurt returns reliably brilliant as Quentin Crisp

Posted on February 12, 2009 by admin

John Hurt as Quentin Crisp on his sojourn in Manhattan in his 70s Review from the Berlin International Film Festival By Ray Bennett BERLIN — When John Hurt portrayed Quentin Crisp in the movie “The Naked Civil Servant” 33 years … Continue reading →

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BERLIN Rachel takes a penetrating look at a death in Gaza

Posted on February 12, 2009 by admin

Activists in Gaza try to stop a 65-ton bulldozer like the one that crushed Rachel Corrie Review from the Berlin International Film Festival By Ray Bennett BERLIN — The drive to keep alive the name of a young American woman … Continue reading →

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