Year: 2022

‘A Hero’: Farhadi wraps this bold story with tangled nuance

Jeff Mitchell

“A Hero” (2021) – “A person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.” – the definition of a “hero” according to Google. Asghar Farhadi – who wrote and directed two Oscar-winning films, “A Separation” (2012) and “A Salesman” (2016) – is considered a cinematic hero, a master at wrapping the knottiest threads in the tightest, most claustrophobic spaces: ordinary family households.  “The Past” (2013) – set in Paris rather than Farhadi’s home country of Iran, starring Berenice Bejo, Ali Mosaffa, and Tahar Rahim – is…

Movie of the Week: ‘My Name is Pauli Murray’

Jeff Mitchell

“My Name is Pauli Murray” (2021): “I want to see America be what she says she is in the Declaration of Independence and Constitution.  America, be what you proclaim to be!” – Pauli Murray During the opening few minutes of the documentary “My Name is Paul Murray”, Karen Rouse Ross – who is Pauli Murray’s grand-niece and the executrix of her estate – explains, “Pauli did not share a lot about her life with me.  I knew she was a priest.  I knew she had been a lawyer, but she…

Collins Jr. takes ‘Jockey’ on an absorbing ride

Jeff Mitchell

“Jockey” – “It’s just wear and tear.” – Jackson Silva (Clifton Collins Jr.) Jackson is not referring to car brakes or a pair of jeans.  He races horses for a living, but he’s not speaking about a particular stallion or mare.   Jackson’s body is breaking down because he – in his 40s or 50s – has been a jockey for decades.  A veterinarian takes X-rays of Jackson, and after inspecting the troubling pictures, he recommends that this weathered athlete see a doctor.  Unfortunately, it’s not likely that Jackson has health…