Monthly Archives: December 2014

My picks for the best in film in 2014

Posted on December 31, 2014 by admin

By Ray Bennett My Top 10 Films of 2014 Grand Budapest Hotel, Under the Skin, Birdman, Into the Woods, The Imitation Game, Big Eyes, Nightcrawler, Only Lovers Left Alive, The Theory of Everything, Pride.

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How Linwood G. Dunn blew up the Eiffel Tower

Posted on December 27, 2014 by admin

By Ray Bennett Linwood G. Dunn blew up the Eiffel Tower for $64, bombed Moscow and shot up ships and planes in both world wars, and got away with it. Dunn, whose birthday was 110 years ago today, was one … Continue reading →

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FILM REVIEW: Michael Keaton in ‘Birdman’

Posted on December 26, 2014 by admin

By Ray Bennett Alejandro González Iñárritu’s “Birdman (or The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)” is a scintillating evocation of artistic crisis. It’s a surrealistic black comedy about the creative fears of a movie star whose career in comic-book blockbusters has long … Continue reading →

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Upcoming movies: The winners

Posted on December 22, 2014 by admin

By Ray Bennett A snapshot preview of some of the movies to be released over the holiday period and into the New Year. These are the ones that work.

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Upcoming movies: The losers

Posted on December 18, 2014 by admin

By Ray Bennett A snapshot preview of some of the movies to be released over the holiday period and into the New Year. These are the ones that don’t work.

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How I helped keep Bill Murray subversive

Posted on December 5, 2014 by admin

By Ray Bennett I had a bone to pick with Bill Murray. It was 1990, and all the rebellious early comedians on “Saturday Night Live” appeared to have lost their way. From radical satire they’d moved to mainstream comedy and … Continue reading →

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When Ricardo Montalbán killed off Frito Bandito

Posted on December 4, 2014 by admin

By Ray Bennett Chris Rock’s question “Is Hollywood Mexican enough?” in his essay about race in the current edition of The Hollywood Reporter reminded me of what the late Ricardo Montalbán told me a long time ago about the image … Continue reading →

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FILM REVIEW: ‘American Sniper’ and ‘Unbroken’

Posted on December 3, 2014 by admin

By Ray Bennett Upcoming Hollywood war films “American Sniper” and “Unbroken” are long and grim with a great deal of violence and suffering and they just seem … empty. Directed by Clint Eastwood, “American Sniper” tells of Chris Kyle (Bradley … Continue reading →

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