Month: June 2020

Catch these affecting Frances McDormand supporting performances on her birthday

Jeff Mitchell

Happy Birthday, Frances McDormand! Yes, the woman who will be forever known as Marge Gunderson turns 63 years young on June 23. Frances won two Best Actress Oscars (“Fargo” (1996), “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017)), and she’s left her mark in tons of roles, both big and small.  Although she’s played the lead in several films, here are two key supporting performances that earned her Best Supporting Actress Oscar nominations. Mrs. Pell, “Mississippi Burning” (1988) – The FBI sends a team of agents, led by Alan Ward (Willem Dafoe)…

Watch this Werner Herzog double feature on World Rainforest Day

Jeff Mitchell

June 22 is World Rainforest Day!  In 2020, the rainforest are in trouble, so it’s a perfect time to recognize these vitally important Earth locales. Here are a couple ways: First, check out the World Rainforest Day website:  Link  (and please note that AHFW is not affiliated with the site.) Secondly, check out a fitting Werner Herzog double feature with his classics “Aguirre, the Wrath of God” (1972) and “Fitzcarraldo” (1982). Both historical movies are based in the Amazon, and Mr. Herzog loves a big challenge, so these pictures were…

Movie of the Week: ‘Mustang’

Jeff Mitchell

AHFW’S Movie of the Week takes a trip halfway around the world.  Turkey is the setting for director/co-writer Denize Gamze Erguven’s heartbreaking, Oscar-nominated drama about the perilous fate of five sisters in “Mustang”. “Mustang” (2015) – “Time misspent in youth is sometimes all the freedom one ever has” – Anita Brookner. For five, giggling, likable sisters – raised by their grandmother and ranging in ages between (about) 9 and 16 – they misspend their time like any group of schoolgirls.  On one fateful day, Selma (Tugba Sungur), Sonay (Ilayda Akdagun),…