Rianne Van Rompaey

ph: Inez van Lamsweerde and Vinoodh Matadin

Anastasia (1956)

An opportunistic Russian businessman tries to pass a mysterious impostor as the Grand Duchess Anastasia. But she is so convincing in her performance that even the biggest skeptics believe her.

Well-produced Hollywood entertainment, typically without any sense for historical accuracy, works due to its excellent cast, but does have some over-the-top melodramatic moments.

Halliwell**: "Slick, highly theatrical entertainment for the upper classes; it dazzles and satisfies without drawing any light on history."

Maltin****: "Inspired casting makes this film exceptional...High point: confrontation scene in which Hayes as grand duchess must determine if girl is her relative." 

Lottie Hayes

Today's Cat

Taylor Swift

A day in the life, Feb 11

A day in the life, Feb 11, wall art

Jessica Chastain

ph: Jan Welters

New Stuff: Moor Mother

Sofia Richie

Journey Into Fear (1943)

An American ballistics expert in Turkey finds himself targeted by Nazi agents. Safe passage home by ship is arranged for him, but he soon discovers that his pursuers are also on board.

Entertaining spy drama with a suspenseful plot full of twists shows some of Orson Welles style, but is obviously not fully his intended product.

Halliwell***: "Highly enjoyable impressionist melodrama supervised by Orson Welles and full of his touches and excesses."

Maltin***: "Often baffling WW2 spy drama...still exciting."

Elena Melnik

ph: David Burton

New Stuff: Sister Rosetta Tharpe

Lorena Rae

A Private War (2018)

One of the most celebrated war correspondents of our time, Marie Colvin is an utterly fearless and rebellious spirit, driven to the front-line of conflicts across the globe to give voice to the voiceless.

Well-observed biographical drama reveals the perils of front-line journalism, but also a single journalist's passion for her job, remarkably portrayed by Rosamund Pike.

Debbie Harry

New Stuff: Jehnny Beth

Who's That Girl?

Art: Biho Takashi

Bio:

https://www.artelino.com/forum/japanese_artists_show.asp?rp=11

Willow Smith

La Veuve Couderc (1971)

A thug who is on the run takes his refuge in a widow's farm.

Excellent Simenon adaptation is less crime thriller and rather a moving psychological drama with a tinge of romance.

Helena Christensen

ph: Celia Cuervo

Today's Cat

Mahany Pery

A day in the life, Feb 10

A day in the life, Feb 10, window display

Neus Bermejo

ph: Benjamin Becker

New York

Heather Marks

First Lines: China Miéville - Kraken

An everyday doomsayer in sandwich-board abruptly walked away from what over the last several days had been his pitch, by the gates of a museum.

Liu Wen

Planet of the Humans (2019)

Planet of the Humans takes a harsh look at how the environmental movement has lost the battle through well-meaning but disastrous choices, including the belief that solar panels and windmills would save us, and by giving in to the corporate interests of Wall Street.

Heavily biased and lopsided documentary targets clean ecology technologies and activists by utilizing outdated and incorrect data and even makes an argument for "population control"; although maybe well-meant, this film could very well serve as an ad for the fossil fuel industry.