Author: Jeff Mitchell

Celebrate the late Niki Lauda’s birthday with ‘Rush’

Jeff Mitchell

Niki Lauda would have been 72-years-young today (Feb. 22), but I am very thankful that Daniel Bruhl played the Formula-1 legend in director Ron Howard’s “Rush”.   “Rush” was my #2 film of 2013, and in my humble opinion, Bruhl deserved the Best Actor Oscar that year. Lauda was alive to see Howard’s film, although he didn’t like the rough cut.  Lauda was always a perfectionist (haha), but he gave his approval after seeing the premiere in a packed theatre, and as far as Bruhl’s portrayal of him:  “I think he…

Movie of the Week: ‘Blood Simple’

Jeff Mitchell

With Frances McDormand lighting up Hulu and theatres in Chloe Zhao’s heartbreaking take on 21st century America in “Nomadland“, AHFW’s Movie of the Week dials back to the 20th century, 1984 to be exact and Ms. McDormand’s feature film debut “Blood Simple”. “Blood Simple” – The Coen Brothers’ spectacular and sinister noir-offering takes big, bold steps in small-town Texas, a place where everyone knows your name, even if you wish that they didn’t. Well, Abby (Frances McDormand) wishes that she wasn’t married to Marty (Daniel Hedaya) any longer and has an…

‘Nomadland’: A haunting, heartbreaking, all-too-true American story

Jeff Mitchell

“Nomadland” – “I need work.  I like work.” – Fern (Frances McDormand) For years and years, Fern and her husband Bo worked at U.S. Gypsum in Empire, Nev.  In business for 88 years at that location, the company manufactured sheetrock, but due to demand shortfalls, U.S. Gypsum closed the Empire plant in 2011.  Since the corporation dominated employment opportunities in this tiny, western municipality (that sits about 100 miles north of Reno and 40 miles southwest of Black Rock City), it instantly became a ghost town.  In fact, these days…