Month: August 2023

‘Between Two Worlds’ doesn’t reach for the stars to document the ground-level hardships

Jeff Mitchell

“Between Two Worlds” (2021) – A housekeeper, chambermaid, maintenance technician, and maintenance agent.  They are all similar monikers for one vitality important job, a cleaning person, a position in great demand, but by and large, the role is arduous and thankless. Journalism – a laborious, underappreciated field – shares much in common with the cleaning industry, especially in recent years, and in director Emmanuel Carrere’s “Between Two Worlds”, Juliette Binoche plays Marianne Winckler, a woman who willingly accepts both jobs.  Marianne, a Parisian journalist, travels 250 km west to Caen…

‘Jules’: This small-town sci-fi flick has eccentric, arthouse choices, laughs, and plenty of heart

Jeff Mitchell

“Jules” (2023) – “E.T. phone home.” – E.T., “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” (1982) “I think that we ought to change our town slogan.  ‘A great place to call home’ is confusing.  I suggest, ‘A great place to refer to as home.’” – Milton Robinson (Ben Kingsley), “Jules” Milton’s home is Boonton, a modest Western Pennsylvania community, and this 78-year-old John Q. Citizen doesn’t travel very far – to the town council – to lend his suggestions for the municipality.  He lives a simple life, but early signs of Alzheimer’s complicates it…

‘Shortcomings’: Park’s relationship comedy is long on witty banter and engaging performances

Jeff Mitchell

“Shortcomings” (2023) – “A fault or failure to meet a certain standard, typically in a person’s character, a plan, or a system.” – the definition of a shortcoming, according to Google Meet Ben (Justin H. Min).  He has several shortcomings.  He’s irritable, cynical, apathetic, and a bit depressed.  Ben loves movies and studied film in college for a couple of years but didn’t graduate.  He’s not a filmmaker, but this pessimist spins his life story near his dearest passion by managing an independent Berkeley movie theatre. Unfortunately, he finds more…