Category Archives: Comment

Joni Mitchell still has that ‘Shine’

Posted on December 2, 2007 by admin

Cigarette in hand, Joni Mitchell was in fine form on the BBC’s Sunday morning public affairs program “The Andrew Marr Show” today. Speaking from Los Angeles, Mitchell was unapologetic about releasing “Shine,” her first album in about 10 years, through … Continue reading →

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Norman Mailer’s writing skill on display in ‘The Fight’

Posted on November 10, 2007 by admin

By Ray Bennett The books of Norman Mailer, who died today at 84, proved of such little interest to filmmakers that he directed adaptations of some of them himself including “Maidstone” (1970) and “Tough Guys Don’t Dance” (1987). Lawrence Schiller … Continue reading →

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All about Alberto Iglesias in Almodovar’s film on stage

Posted on September 14, 2007 by admin

By Ray Bennett Kevin Spacey’s tenure as artistic director of London’s Old Vic continues apace with a marvelous stage version of “All About My Mother” running through Nov. 24. Not least of its many charms is the film’s beautiful original … Continue reading →

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‘The Larry Sanders Show’ is a big plus on Sky

Posted on September 13, 2007 by admin

By Ray Bennett A big thank you to Sky Plus and ITV4 for making it possible to have a dozen episodes of “The Larry Sanders Show” ready and waiting after a lengthy trip on the road. The show, which aired … Continue reading →

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Cannes hit ‘El Violin’ deserves another bow

Posted on July 29, 2007 by admin

By Ray Bennett Francisco Vargas’s finely crafted story of peasant rebellion, “El Violin,” which screened in London Sunday as part of BAFTA Goes to Mexico, warrants a full U.K and U.S. release for its rich texture and powerful filmmaking. The film … Continue reading →

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‘4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days’ deserves its Palme d’Or

Posted on May 27, 2007 by admin

By Ray Bennett CANNES — Romanian director Cristian Mungiu’s “4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days” won the Palme d’Or at the 60th Festival de Cannes tonight and for once the jury has made a terrific choice.

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Time for national treasure Kate Moss to help the workers

Posted on April 30, 2007 by admin

By Ray Bennett When Kate Moss was pilloried by the tabloids and began to lose contracts because of alleged drug use, CNN asked me on to talk about what she should do about it. There was a guy from People … Continue reading →

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‘Amazing Grace’ endures while slavery continues

Posted on April 8, 2007 by admin

By Ray Bennett Michael Apted’s “Amazing Grace,” which tells how the British Empire put an end to the slave trade that had helped it dominate the world, has grossed nearly $18.25 million in its first 38 days of U.S. theatrical … Continue reading →

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FILM REVIEW: ‘The Lives of Others’

Posted on March 29, 2007 by admin

By Ray Bennett The McGuffin in Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck’s vastly overrated film about state repression, “The Lives of Others,” which opens in the U.K. on April 13, is a manual typewriter with a red ribbon. Just the thing you … Continue reading →

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FILM REVIEW: Zack Snyder’s ‘300’

Posted on March 12, 2007 by admin

By Ray Bennett Federico Fellini famously made his glorious films with no sound and added voices and Foley in post-production. In his new comic-book film “300,” director Zack Snyder apparently has shot only the actors and added everything else in … Continue reading →

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