November 2010

Waiting for Superman

November 30, 2010

“Waiting for Superman” (2010). Davis Guggenheim, director. Paramount/Vantage, 102 minutes. Documentary. Reviewed by Jo Ann Skousen “Waiting for Superman” created a sensation at the Sundance Film Festival this year, and is creating an even greater sensation since its limited opening in a few major cities this week. Its premise is the failure of what Geoffrey [...]

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Mao’s Last Dancer

November 30, 2010

“Mao’s Last Dancer” (2009). Bruce Beresford, director. Great Scott Productions, 117 minutes. In English and Mandarin with English subtitles. “Mao’s Last Dancer” is a wonderful little film that balances the horrors of communist China against the joys of dancing. Based on Li Cunxin’s autobiography of the same name, the film tells the story of a [...]

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Conviction

November 30, 2010

Conviction, directed by Tony Goldwyn. Fox Searchlight, 2010, 106 minutes. Convict. Verb: to prove or find a person guilty. Noun: a person serving a prison sentence. Conviction: an unshakable belief in something without need for proof or evidence. The title of the film Conviction is perfectly ambiguous, focusing on both the guilty verdict of the [...]

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Secretariat

November 30, 2010

“Secretariat,” (2010). Randall Wallace, director. Disney Studios, 123 minutes. What is it about horseracing films that captures our attention? We already know the outcome, whether the movie is based on a true story like “Seabiscuit” (2003) or the current “Secretariat” (2010), or pure fiction, like “National Velvet” (1944) or “The Black Stallion (1979). We just [...]

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