
Murder on the Orient Express
I do not fully remember whether I saw an earlier version of Murder on the Orient Express as a child. There seem to be traces of an old lady on a train traveling for days in my memory. Kenneth Brannah’s film imagines the Agatha Christie story very differently from the images I find the remote corners of my memory. Since I am quite fond of excellent detectives, I enjoyed this remake of Murder on the Orient. When the detective finally solves the murder mystery, I was stunned. The story is excellent and I highly recommend this film if you like detective stories

Once were Warriors
This film from New Zealand is quite heavy because of the domestic violence it portrays. But if you willing to stomach some disturbing scenes, it does a wonderful job of portraying the socio-economic conditions of Maori families in New Zealand. If you want to see a film about New Zealand that it a bit easier on the psyche, I recommend the wonderful Whale Rider or last year’s spectacular Hunt for the Wilderpeople.

Walt Whitman Poem - Who Learns My Lesson Complete
WHO learns my lesson complete? Boss and journeyman and apprentice? . . . . churchman and atheist? The stupid and the wise thinker . . . . parents and offspring . . . . merchant and clerk and porter and customer . . . . editor, author, artist and schoolboy? Draw nigh and commence, It is no lesson . . . . it lets down the bars to a good lesson, And that to another . . . . and every one to another still.

Uma tells her story
A couple of months ago, Uma Thurman gave a short interview on the red carpet in which she visible got angry when asked about Harvey Weinstein. She said in a very poised language. “I have learned not to speak my mind when I am angry. I. am not a child any more. I will speak when I am less angy.” Now she has spoken with Maureen Dowd of the NYT.

I am Heath Ledger
When Heath Ledger died at age 28, I was deeply sad. Very rarely has the death of someone who I did not even personally know affected me so deeply. The talent of Ledger was so extraordinary. When the news of his death traveled around the world, I felt we all had been cheated of a lifetime of spectacular performances that was still was lying ahead for Ledger.