Month: February 2022

‘Breaking Bread’: Leave your politics at home but bring your appetite to this warm, sincere documentary

Jeff Mitchell

“I don’t believe there is any room for politics in the kitchen.” – Dr. Nof Atamna-Ismaeel Dr. Nof Atamna-Ismaeel practices what she preaches.  In 2014, she – of Palestinian descent – became the first Muslim Arab to win Israel’s MasterChef.  Soon after, the good doctor founded the A-Sham Arabic Food Festival, an annual event in Haifa, Israel.  This isn’t an ordinary celebration because Jewish and Arab chefs must work together in individual restaurants and kitchenettes to prepare meals for the flocks of festival attendees. How about that?  Director Beth Elise…

‘I Want You Back’: Day and Slate are heartbroken troublemakers in this light, likable rom-com

Jeff Mitchell

“I Want You Back” (2022) – Have you ever been dumped?  Everyone has at one point.  Wait, everyone?  Okay, Gisele Bundchen probably has avoided that particular emotional turmoil, but for mere mortals, it’s an unfortunate “wrong” of passage for anyone putting themselves “out there” in the dating world.  Director Jason Orley’s rom-com “I Want You Back” squarely focuses on two specific dumpees, Emma (Jenny Slate) and Peter (Charlie Day).  About seven minutes into his film, Orley features a montage of our heroes with Jimmy Durante’s “The Glory of Love” playing…

‘Death on the Nile’ treads water

Jeff Mitchell

“Death on the Nile” (2022) – The Nile.  It’s the second-largest river in the world, trailing only The Amazon by 200 miles.  The Nile begins at Lake Victoria (located in Tanzania, Uganda, and Kenya), runs north, and then spills into the Mediterranean Sea.  The said waterway runs 4,130 miles, and to splash around some perspective, that’s as long as a drive from Seattle, Wash. to Miami, Fla. and then a plane ride to Jamaica.  Grab your passport. Yes, this natural water wonder stretches longer than Marvin Gaye’s “The Star-Spangled Banner”…