Diary of a Mad Housewife (1970) ****

At the start it strikes you as an over the top satire of domestic relations but thanks to the sharp script and superb performances you come to realize it's merely being observational. Great film.

High Flying Bird (2019) **

Talky, mid-level Soderbergh with some terrific actors and some terrific camera or should that be phone work. The pictures look great even if the flick isn't.

Peter Tork of the Monkees Dies at 77 – Variety

“I have said this before — and now it seems even more apt: the reason we called it a band is because it was where we all went to play,” Nesmith continued. “A band no more, and yet the music plays on, an anthem to all who made the Monkees and the TV show our private — dare I say ‘secret’ — playground. As for Pete, I can only pray his songs reach the heights that can lift us and that our childhood lives forever — that special sparkle that was the Monkees. I will miss him — a brother in arms. Take flight my Brother.”

Shoplifters (2018) ***

Sort of a Japanese Oliver Twist with exceptional performances and the deft touch of a master filmmaker.

Emoji are showing up in court cases exponentially, and courts aren’t prepared - The Verge

The different depictions of emoji across platforms also poses a problem in judicial rulings. For example, depending on what type of phone you’re using, the “gritting teeth” emoji might look a lot different. Not only are emoji designed differently across smartphone platforms, but people interpret the same emoji differently. An earlier design of the grinning emoji on iOS, for example, was interpreted as being far more negative than the same emoji displayed on other platforms.

Despite the potential for emoji to be interpreted in a wide array of ways, emoji experts don’t really exist. “Emoji usually have dialects. They draw meaning from their context. You could absolutely talk about emoji as a phenomenon, but as for what a particular emoji means, you probably wouldn’t go to a linguist. You would probably go to someone who’s familiar with that community, just like they did with the sex trafficking case,” Goldman says.

At Eternity's Gate (2018) *

Maddeningly mis-directed biopic of Vincent van Gogh, painter of some of the loveliest works ever. Such a shame the movie is shot so dark and hazy, jumbled hand held camera work obscuring the fine performances.

Bruno Ganz Dead: Actor Who Played Hitler in ‘Downfall’ Actor Was 77 – Variety

In addition to delivering one of the definitive cinematic portrayals of Hitler, Ganz played an angel who gives up immortality to experience earthly pleasures in Wim Wenders’ classic film “Wings of Desire” (1987). He reprised that role in Wenders’ 1993 follow-up, “Faraway, So Close!”

His celestial performance was so memorable that Ganz once recounted how people ascribed special powers to him when they recognized him in public.

“People in planes said: ‘Ah, no need to be afraid, because with you here, nothing can happen. Now we are safe,'” Ganz told the Danish film journal P.O.V. “Or a mother said to her child: ‘Look, there’s your guardian angel.’ They weren’t joking.”

Walk on the Wild Side (1962) **

Entertaining southern soaper with some nice performances and a pretty good script. Could have used some cuts and the shot quality is uneven. Why on Earth would you soft focus Capucine?

Velvet Buzzsaw (2019) **

Slick slasher flick with some digs at the art world. A bit too long but visually sharp and Jake does a nice job.

Doctor Zhivago (1965) ***

Sturdy Lean epic shows off a luminous Ms. Christie and Omar playing yet another Russian. Superior soap opera with a bit of "history" thrown in.

Albert Finney Dead: ‘Tom Jones’ Star Dies at 82 – Variety

Rebellious even in his later years, Finney reportedly declined a CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in 1980 and a knighthood in 2000. “The Sir thing slightly perpetuates one of our diseases in England, which is snobbery,” he said.

Finney was married three times, the first time to British actress Jane Wenham, the second to French actress Anouk Aimee. Survivors include Finney’s third wife Pene Delmage, whom he married in 2006; son Simon Finney, a film technician from his marriage to Wenham; and son Declan from his relationship with Katherine Attson.

In a 1984 interview with the New York Times, Finney reflected on his role in “The Dresser.” He noted that performances, particularly those on stage, have an ephemeral quality, but he insisted that didn’t depress him.

“What a lot of people spend their lives doing may not add up to a hill of beans,” said Finney. “But their love, effort and devotion goes into doing it, and it becomes worthwhile.”

The Tamarind Seed (1974) **

Spys in love but the leads have zero chemistry and the script is no help. It looks pretty though and it's an interesting time capsule of early 70's life such as the near constant cigarettes! Still don't get why producers thought Omar could pass for a Russian.

Mother! (2017) ****

Searing, personal mythology from intense filmmaker Darren Aronofsky could have been a pretentious mess but it works thanks to a tight script, brisk pace and a top notch cast especially JLaw who is up to the daunting task. Unforgettable and Aronofsky really nails humanity to the wall here. Brilliant.

Mary Queen of Scots (2018) **

Well made period piece which emphasizes gender dynamics for contemporary relevancy (but doesn't belabor the point). The emphasis on cast diversity however is very distracting. This can work in a theatrical performance but film is not as forgiving unless the director makes it clear what the point is.

Downsizing (2017) **

Despite being a well put together film, featuring a breakout performance and the always interesting (and prolific!) Udo Kier, it's a little disappointing given the obvious effort and epic length.

Disobedience (2017) **

Strong leads in an interesting look at what freedom means in a closed (and very wealthy) religious community in London.

Why Shoot the Teacher? (1977) **

Bud Cort shines in this period piece from the Depression era Canadian hinterlands and how a fresh-faced city boy copes.

How to Lose Friends & Alienate People (2008) **

Thanks to the stellar cast this is an entertaining rom-com but the lead character is hard to root for and a lot of the jokes fall flat.

2018 In Review: Music

**** Essex Green, The - Hardly Electronic
*** Albert Hammond Jr. - Francis Trouble
*** Amy Rigby - The Old Guys
*** Beths, The - Future Me Hates Me
*** Bird Streets - Bird Streets
*** Brian Jonestown Massacre, The - Something Else
*** Charlatans, The - Totally Eclipsing
*** Chills, The - Snow Bound
*** Courtney Barnett - Tell Me How You Really Feel
*** Elvis Costello - Look Now
*** Gretchen's Wheel - Black Box Theory
*** KT Tunstall - Wax
*** Laura Veirs - The Lookout
*** Lemon Twigs, The - Go To School
*** Liminanas, The - Shadow People
*** Metric - Art Of Doubt
*** Pete Yorn & Scarlett Johansson - Apart
*** Richard Thompson - 13 Rivers
*** Tres Oui - Poised To Flourish
*** We Are Scientists - Megaplex
*** Wild Nothing - Indigo
*** Decemberists, The - Traveling On EP
*** Django Django - Winter's Beach EP
** Alex Chilton and Peter Holsapple -The Death Of Rock
** Antarctigo Vespucci - Love In The Time Of Email
** Beach House - 7
** Belle & Sebastian - How To Solve Our Human Problems
** Breeders, The - All Nerve
** Charlotte Gainsbourg - Take 2
** Frontperson - Frontrunner
** Great Lakes - Dreaming Too Close To The Edge
** Hinds - I Don't Run
** Inara George - Dearest Everybody
** Johnny Marr - Call The Comet
** Kate Nash - Yesterday Was Forever
** Kooks, The - Let's Go Sunshine
** Pavlov's Dog - Prodigal Dreamer
** Pinkshinyultrablast - Miserable Miracles
** Sam Phillips - World on Sticks
** Shins, The - The Worms Heart
** Superchunk - What a Time to Be Alive
** Eleanor Friedberger - Rebound
** Jeff Tweedy - Warm
** Neko Case - Hell-On
** Rays - You Can Get There From Here

2018 In Review: Movies

**** The Ballad Of Buster Scruggs
**** Roma
*** A Quiet Place
*** Annihilation
*** The Favourite
*** First Reformed
*** Isle Of Dogs
*** Mamma Mia! Her We Go Again
*** The Other Side Of The Wind
*** Unsane
*** Widows
** Crazy Rich Asians
** I Feel Pretty
** Incredibles 2
** Mowgli: Legend Of The Jungle
** The Spy Who Dumped Me
** You Were Never Really Here
* Bohemian Rhapsody
* Ready Player One
* The Nutcracker And The Four Realms
* The Old Man And The Gun