Every year I attend an Oscar party with friends and we have a betting pool to pick the winners. Even though most of the pundits predicted “Roma,” “Roma,” “Roma,” I knew in my gut it would not win Best Picture. I checked off “Green Book,” because it was my favorite film of 2018. And I was right! It was the surprise winner that year. Don't ask me about the other … [Read more...]
Struggle: The Life and Lost Art of Szukalski – Netflix Documentary
In 2013, I wrote a blog post about a genius artist and sculptor I knew in the early 1980s. His name was Stanislav Szukalski. It caught the eye of the producers of a documentary film about his life called "Struggle: The Life and Lost Art of Szukalski." They asked me to do a filmed interview and I appear in the film for a few seconds. It was produced by George and … [Read more...]
BlacKkKlansman: Movie Review
The film BlacKkKlansman was directed by Spike Lee. I went to a screening and reception for it at TV Academy. Even though it takes place in the past, it is timely for what is happening now. You can watch the film on Amazon Prime here. I knew nothing about what the movie was about going in but I’m glad I saw it because, in my opinion, it was Spike Lee’s best work so … [Read more...]
In the Orchard: A Movie for Veterans | Review
Independent films are often tossed by the wayside and never see the light of day in movie theaters. With the advent of mass cable and streaming TV production, low-budget projects get shoved under the rug even more. While they may be done on the cheap, some turn out to be outstanding, moving, and timely. The latter is true of In the Orchard. It's a feature film directed by … [Read more...]
Norman Lloyd: Party Conversations with the Centenarian Actor
For several years, I attended an outdoor 4th of July gathering in Hollywood where we would eat BBQ and drink Sangria. The first time we went, I sat next to an elderly man who was regaling the other guests with stories of old Hollywood. He looked familiar but I couldn’t quite place him at first. Suddenly, I realized he was Norman Lloyd, and actor who had starred in the TV show … [Read more...]