Tag Archives: Golshifteh Farahani

“If someone spends his life writing the truth without caring for the consequences, he inevitably becomes a political authority in a totalitarian regime.” — Václav Havel

Posted on October 5, 2025 by sheila

“Hope is definitely not the same thing as optimism. It is not the conviction that something will turn out well, but the certainty that something makes sense, regardless of how it turns out.” — Václav Havel Václav Havel, whose birthday … Continue reading →

Posted in On This Day, Theatre, writers | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

For International Women’s Day: Ladies I Love

Posted on March 8, 2025 by sheila

I post edited versions of this every year. I add names. I take names off if I feel like it. I enjoy compiling it. It’s not just about enjoyment. As women’s rights are up for grabs more than ever, like … Continue reading →

Posted in Actors, Art/Photography, Directors, Personal, writers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 106 Comments

“I will stand with the families of the prisoners and murdered and demand their rights.” — Taraneh Alidoosti

Posted on December 18, 2022 by sheila

Taraneh Alidoosti, one of the most famous actresses in Iran, has been arrested. Nobody knows where she is. [UPDATE: It’s been confirmed by her father that she’s in Evin Prison. Where they put “political” prisoners. Where they put Jafar Panahi. … Continue reading →

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R.I.P. Monica Vitti

Posted on February 2, 2022 by sheila

One of those rare actresses who could hold the screen just by standing there. Literally. She just stood there and you are afraid to move or avert your eyes because you don’t want to miss anything. Of her just standing … Continue reading →

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August 2021 Viewing Diary

Posted on September 3, 2021 by sheila

Pig (2021; d. Michael Sarnoski) I wish I could write at length about some of these. I just don’t have the time these days. I absolutely loved Pig, about an isolated woodsman-truffle-hunter (Nicolas Cage) whose beloved truffle pig is stolen. … Continue reading →

Posted in Monthly Viewing Diary, Movies, Television | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 44 Comments

I Hate Lists, But … The Best Movies of 2016

Posted on December 19, 2016 by sheila

The Roger Ebert contributors each submitted our own individual Top 10 Lists for 2016 – compiled here. As mentioned in the introduction, the NUMBER of titles – all total – that show up on this list is a testament to … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

For Rogerebert.com: The 10 Best Films of 2016

Posted on December 16, 2016 by sheila

The Ten Best Films of 2016. Each regular contributor sent in their own personal Top 10s (which will be posted today or tomorrow), and then those lists were put together and tallied up. I wrote the entry on Jim Jarmusch’s … Continue reading →

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Performances I Loved This Year

Posted on December 15, 2016 by sheila

I still haven’t seen a couple of big ones. Hence … it’s a work in progress, and I’m sure I’m forgetting people. But these stand out. Royalty Hightower, “The Fits” [My review] Matthias Schoenaerts, “A Bigger Splash” Cliff Curtis, “The … Continue reading →

Posted in Actors, Movies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 18 Comments

November 2016 Viewing Diary

Posted on December 2, 2016 by sheila

Elle (2016; d. Paul Verhoeven) I loved it. People HATE this movie. One lady on Twitter said that men should be banned from making films about rape. How you would enforce such a rule is beyond me. Also: No fucking … Continue reading →

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Review: About Elly (2009); directed by Asghar Farhadi

Posted on April 4, 2015 by sheila

If you give an answer to your viewer, your film will simply finish in the movie theatre. But when you pose questions, your film actually begins after people watch it. In fact, your film will continue inside the viewer. — … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , , , , | 7 Comments