Changing Your Mind (The Nature of Things): informative documentary on neural plasticity spoiled by breathless commercial presentation
Mike Sheerin, “Changing Your Mind (The Nature of Things)” (2010) Hosted by David Suzuki, “Changing
Category: North American Films
Reviews of films made in Canada and United States including all films made by Hollywood.
Family Plot: skilfully made comedy thriller that deconstructs familiar Hitchcock motifs and themes for laughs
Alfred Hitchcock, “Family Plot” (1976) Considering that the famous British director was in bad health
Nine Meals Away from Anarchy: home-made doco retreats into realm of individual self-reliance and cocooning
Jeremy Hopper, “Nine Meals Away from Anarchy” (2012) Uploaded to Youtube early in 2012, this
Jiro dreams of Sushi: a meditation on work, the quest for perfection and father / son relationships
David Gelb, “Jiro dreams of Sushi” (2011) Surely this documentary should have a great deal
Prophets of Science Fiction (Episode 1: H G Wells): well-presented if restricted portrait of influential SF writer
Declan Whitebloom, “Prophets of Science Fiction (Episode 1: H G Wells)” (2011) For some reason,
Prometheus: a mess of clichés with sick jokes, wooden characters, bad plotting and B-grade sci-fi tentacle bondage
Ridley Scott, “Prometheus” (2012) Originally conceived as a predecessor to “Alien” and its successor films,
Hollywood between Paranoia and Science Fiction: lightweight look at American phobias and anxieties through science fiction films
Clara and Julia Kuperberg, “Hollywood between Paranoia and Science Fiction” (2011) An entertaining and lightweight
The Birds (dir. Alfred Hitchcock): psychological study of sexual / cultural repression
Alfred Hitchcock, “The Birds” (1963) Based on a 1952 short story by English writer Daphne
Prophets of Science Fiction (Episode 6: Robert Heinlein): tame and timid treatment of controversial SF writer
Declan Whitebloom, “Prophets of Science Fiction (Episode 6: Robert Heinlein)” (2011) After a few episodes
The Dictator: comedy savages Western self-righteousness, ignorance and hypocrisy
Larry Charles, “The Dictator” (2012) I confess I saw this latest Sacha Baron Cohen film