Leviathan: a hollow and dishonest film insulting to ordinary people ground down by corruption
Andrey Zvyagintsev, “Leviathan” (2014) Often taken as reflective of the current socio-political situation in Russia,
Becoming a legend through humility and earning grace in “Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island”
Hiroshi Inagaki, “Samurai III: Duel at Ganryu Island” (1956) Inagaki’s third and last installment in
German and German-language Films | North American Films
Hollywood and The Pentagon: A Dangerous Liaison – where entertainment recruits cannon fodder for the military
Maria Pia Mascaro, “Hollywood and The Pentagon: A Dangerous Liaison / Marschbefehl für Hollywood” (2003)
North American Films | South African Films
Chappie: in need of a longer and better format to treat all its characters, narratives and themes
Neil Blomkamp, “Chappie” (2015) In amongst the ruined buildings, the body count, the junk metal
Invocation of My Demon Brother: not an essential film to see for Kenneth Anger fans
Kenneth Anger, “Invocation of My Demon Brother” (1969) If like me, you’ve already seen a
Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple – bridging two films capably with character and thematic developments
Hiroshi Inagaki, “Samurai II: Duel at Ichijoji Temple” (1955) Its predecessor in the Musashi Miyamoto
Citizenfour: a riveting fly-on-the-wall documentary thriller about media, government surveillance and pressures on whistle-blowers
Laura Poitras, “Citizenfour” (2014) As both fly-on-the-wall real-time documentary and historical thriller, “Citizenfour” is a
BBC versus President Bashar al Assad of Syria: an example of grace and restraint under pressure and prejudice
BBC News Interview with President Bashar al Assad (9 February 2015) For an example of
Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto – the early days of a famous swordsman celebrated with ambition and energy
Hiroshi Inagaki, “Samurai I: Musashi Miyamoto” (1954) One of the most famous people in Japanese
John David Ebert Lecture on Oswald Spengler: a detailed summary of “The Decline of the West”
John David Ebert, “Mythologies of the Evolution of Consciousness: Oswald Spengler” (Astrological Institute in Scottsdale,