Peter Murmann

The Descendants

Alexander Payne is one of my favorite living directors. I finally had a chance to see his new film, The Descendants. His early films all took place in his home state, Nebraska. In Sideways he ventured all the way to California. In the new film, Payne takes us to Hawaii, deploying the natural beauty of the island to a great effect. The Descendants is considerably darker and sadder than About Schmidt. But Payne uses the healing power of the beautiful Hawaiian landscape to tell another deep story about the human condition. This is art. Don’t miss it.

Movies, Drama

No Comments 2 February 2012

Friends with Benefit

Romantic comedies used to have few explicit sex scenes. In 1989 the film When Harry met Sally pushed the boundaries of the genre when Meg Ryan faked an orgasm in a restaurant (see the funny scene). Friends with Benefits focuses the first half on the bedroom and how to create comedy around the lovemaking act. Except for the last scene, which is very well done, I felt like I had seen the story a million times.

Movies, Comedy

No Comments 30 January 2012

Beyonce sings Etta James Classic Song “At Last”

Music, Pop

No Comments 21 January 2012

Steven Colbert may be running for president as a Republican

Diary

No Comments 16 January 2012

Five musicians playing one instrument

Music, Pop

No Comments 13 January 2012

A kind of marriage proposal that you have never seen before

Humor, People

No Comments 13 January 2012

Whale Story

Anyone who feels particularly strong affection for animals, Dolphin Tale will love this film. The movie starts out unpromising but then manages to tell a new chapter the human-animal relationships. Even those who feel that it is pathetic that many people seem to value pets more than other human will find Dolphin Tale at heart-warming story.