Category: Movies

“Birdman”: The Unexpected Virtue of Psychosis
By Categories: Movies

 

by Herbert H. Stein

In the spirit of full disclosure, I must tell you that I may have a particularly subjective view of the film, Birdman, as I set about commenting on it to you. Obviously, all examinations of film have some subjectivity assumed, but in this case I seem to be outside the mainstream. I say it because I was totally baffled to learn that the film is widely considered to be a comedy. It is described as such in reviews and, as if to codify the point, it was nominated for a Golden Globe award for comedy.

I did not experience it as a comedy at all. I found myself in rapt attention in a continual state of tension, anxiety, anticipation, even worry over what would happen next. When it was over, I texted that I had just seen it and didn’t know if I loved it or hated it. Continue reading “Birdman”: The Unexpected Virtue of Psychosis

LEONARD NIMOY: 1931-2015 by Harvey Roy Greenberg
By Categories: Movies, Obituaries

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LEONARD NIMOY: 1931-2015

Leonard Nimoy had enjoyed reasonable success before taking on the role of Lieutenant Commander Spock, the Vulcan science officer of Star Trek’s USS Enterprise. Nimoy’s performance in the 1964 pilot was not particularly auspicious, chiefly because of inauspicious scripting.. He played a minor role, and few of Spock’s famous signatures were evident except for his oversized elfin ears. Continue reading LEONARD NIMOY: 1931-2015 by Harvey Roy Greenberg