My Russian Review of “Rush” for the Voice of America
Posted on October 18, 2013 at 3:59 pm
I was honored to be invited to talk about “Rush” for the Voice of America’s Russian channel!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4jwMn6ypsE
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Tribute: Movie Critic Stanley Kauffmann
Posted on October 10, 2013 at 2:50 pm
The masterful critic Stanley Kauffman, whose writing career stretched over eight decades, died this week at age 97. Adam Bernstein’s perceptive Kauffman obituary in the Washington Post noted: “He was one of the few critics who could watch a 1997 Broadway play featuring Christopher Plummer portraying the talented but troubled actor John Barrymore — and remember seeing Barrymore onstage shortly before his death in 1942.” He was surely the last person writing about film who was watching films when they were still silent. In his reviews for The New Republic and other publications and his books
Kauffmann was proudly literary in his tastes and in his own writing style. I’m proud to be quoted in the obit:
“He was passionately engaged with film’s highest aspirations as an art form and was at his most eloquent when films were most complex,” said Nell Minow, an author and movie critic. “He educated generations of film-watchers and filmmakers about how and what to watch.”
He will be missed, but his influence will shine forth from every review and every film that tries harder and reaches further.
Summer Movies 2013: The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly
Posted on August 25, 2013 at 3:59 pm
Many thanks once again to Betty Jo Tucker for inviting me on her Movie Addict Headquarters show. This time, the topic was the best and worst of 2013’s summer movie releases and I had a lot of fun sharing my thoughts with Betty Jo and Mack Bates.
Folklore is Still Embedded in Today’s Movies
Posted on August 4, 2013 at 8:00 am
I was very pleased to be included in a new article about the way folklore continues to be at the heart of 21st century storytelling.
Folklore is the mother of all stories – “every story told since stories began has its roots in ,” states Minow. “It was in folklore that the great themes of good and evil, fear and courage, ignorance and understanding, love and selfishness, heroes and villains, were first explored,” she explains.
The Brothers Grimm would recognize many of the themes in today’s movies about superheroes — and super-villains.
All in all, cinematographic portrayal of a folk tale is no boring history book – the audience loves a good story, even if retold for the umpteenth time. Just like tales don’t seem to bore little kids who ask to retell them every night, folk plots keep the audiences in cinema theatres engaged. Provided the screen is bursting with impressive graphics and charismatic actors, of course.
Are Today’s Kids’ Movies More Challenging?
Posted on July 27, 2013 at 8:00 am
I’m quoted in this story about films for children that have material that may be too complicated or adult for their level of maturity.
“I think the real issue is the quicker cuts and more explosive effects,” Minow told NBCNews.com. “Everything is more sped-up and colorful and loud — in part a reflection of the increased competition for decreased attention spans. So it feels like a lot more is coming at us.”
There is nothing wrong in making movies for kids appealing to adults. Sesame Street has been very open about its commitment to including jokes for parents to encourage family viewing and conversation instead of parking the children in front of the television. And I agree with Betsy Bozdech of Common Sense Media, also quoted:
Bozdech urges parents to do their homework before taking their children to a certain film, and also applauds the Miyazaki films and other gems that can be found on DVD or online. Her site offers movie reviews and information, and a special section dubbed “Watch Out!” warns about certain family films that have unexpected cursing, sexy, scary or traumatizing scenes.
But she also notes that parents shouldn’t overprotect their children from films that may present challenging issues, as long as they keep the lines of communication open.
“Some of the thrill of going to the movies as a kid is seeing something that opens your eyes a little bit or helps you get a perspective beyond your own,” she said. “Movies and TV shows can help kids deal with fears and concerns that they’re bound to have at some point; if you talk about them together and help defuse them before they happen in real life, kids will start to develop a solid foundation for coping with life’s inevitable ups and downs.”