Tag Archives: France

August 2023 Viewing Diary

Posted on September 3, 2023 by sheila

Oppenheimer (2023; d. Christopher Nolan) In general, I am not a Nolan fan (the only one of his I liked was Dunkirk), and I went into this hesitantly because I read an interview with him where he said the whole … Continue reading →

Posted in Monthly Viewing Diary, Movies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 30 Comments

Review: Ernest & Celestine: A Trip to Gibberitia (2023)

Posted on September 1, 2023 by sheila

I reviewed the sequel to the 2012 Oscar-nominated Ernest & Celestine for Ebert. It is really kid-friendly with very positive messages about friendship and support and sticking up for yourself, but there’s some stuff only adults will perceive: subtly done, … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Talking 1953 movies with Jason Bailey and Mike Hull: A Very Good Year podcast

Posted on August 13, 2023 by sheila

My pal Jason Bailey and his pal Mike Hull host a fascinating podcast called A Very Good Year, which they describe as: “Each week we invite a guest (filmmakers and actors, critics and historians, comedians and musicians) who loves movies, … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Review: Between Two Worlds (2023)

Posted on August 11, 2023 by sheila

Juliette Binoche is a perfect actress, she does everything right. Her instincts are so pure, they always have been. She’s wondrous. And she is in Between Two Worlds too, but the film has some big problems, mainly the story being … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

June 2023 Viewing Diary

Posted on July 2, 2023 by sheila

Succession (2018-2023) I finally watched, having somehow resisted the DEAFENING buzz over the last couple of years. I like Jeremy Strong, liked his small moment in Zero Dark Thirty, he totally stood out in The Big Short (directed by one … Continue reading →

Posted in Monthly Viewing Diary, Movies, Television | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 23 Comments

“But man has always succeeded in rising again.” — Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

Posted on June 29, 2023 by sheila

Today is the birthday of Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Here is an extraordinary excerpt from Wind, Sand and Stars – a book I last read in high school, when I was in my Richard Bach-airplane-writing-soulmate-search phase. Listen to this prose. And … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, On This Day, writers | Tagged , | 14 Comments

April/May 2023 Viewing Diary

Posted on June 9, 2023 by sheila

River of Grass (1994; d. Kelly Reichardt) Reichardt’s first film. Wendy and Lucy (2008; d. Kelly Reichardt) The start of Reichardt’s collaboration with Michelle Williams. Showing Up (2023; d. Kelly Reichardt) Reichardt’s latest. I reviewed for Ebert. It’s fine. Her … Continue reading →

Posted in Monthly Viewing Diary, Movies, Television | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

“In my films I always wanted to make people see deeply. I don’t want to show things, but to give people the desire to see.” — Agnès Varda

Posted on May 30, 2023 by sheila

It’s the birthday of Belgian filmmaker Agnès Varda, a pioneering force in the development of the French New Wave – she was French New Wave before it was even named “French New Wave.” When she died at the age of … Continue reading →

Posted in Directors, Movies, On This Day | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Reviews: The Night of the 12th (2023)

Posted on May 19, 2023 by sheila

I reviewed this extremely effective multiple-Cesar-winning crime/procedural film for Ebert.

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Review: Everything Went Fine (2023)

Posted on April 14, 2023 by sheila

I reviewed the latest by François Ozon.

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment