Author: Jeff Mitchell

‘Railway Children’ is an ordinary and puzzling ride

Jeff Mitchell

“Railway Children” (2022) – During WWII, the German military relentlessly bombed British cities, as residents of all ages were forced to repeatedly dodge deadly projectiles. It was a part of their daily lives, like going to work or making supper.  Those nightmarish times could be especially cruel on the most vulnerable.  Therefore, the British government enacted Operation Pied Piper in 1939, which relocated about 3 million people during the movement’s first four days, according to an Oct. 22, 2021 DefenseMediaNetwork article written by Dwight Jon Zimmerman.  Most evacuees were children,…

‘See How They Run’ plods in place

Jeff Mitchell

“See How They Run” (2022) – “(If) you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all.” – Leo Kopernick (Adrien Brody) In Tom George’s first movie, he sends (fictional) Hollywood director Leo Kopernick to London to catch a play, Agatha Christie’s “The Mousetrap”, because the blunt-talking, on-screen filmmaker wants to turn the work into a motion picture. The year is 1953, and Mr. Kopernick is a fish out of water while staying across the pond.  This crafty, former New Yorker (judging by his accent) doesn’t exactly mesh with British socialites.  Soon after…

Movie of the Week: ‘Meeting Gorbachev’

Jeff Mitchell

Werner Herzog turns 80 years young on Sept. 5, so AHFW has to feature one of his movies this week.  With former Soviet Union President Mikhail Gorbachev just passing away on Aug. 30, ‘Meeting Gorbachev’ is our obvious choice. “Meeting Gorbachev” (2018) –  Nobel Peace Prize winner President Mikhail Gorbachev introduced democratic reforms that dissolved the Soviet Union and ended the Cold War in the late 80’s and early 90’s, but this vastly important figure of the 20th century has been largely overlooked in the 21st.  Not by directors Andre…