Movie Review: The Revenant – Revenge Is In The Hands Of The Creator

First appeared on Blogcritics.

Nominated for 12 Academy Awards, director Alejandro G. Iñấrritu’s The Revenant is a gruesome tale of pain and loss and yet remarkably also an inspiring tale of survival and the integrity of the human spirit.

The incredible (based on a true story) journey of frontiersman Hugh Glass (Oscar nominated Leonardo DiCaprio) begins with him and his son Hawk (Forrest Goodluck) as part of a group of trappers led by Captain Andrew Henry (Domhnall Gleeson). They are deep in what was known in 1820 as northern Louisiana Territory. Along on the trip is John Fitzgerald (Oscar nominated Tom Hardy) who has a hatred of Native Americans because they once tried to scalp him in the past.

After a violent attack by the Arikara tribe, many of the men in their group are slaughtered. Glass, Hawk, Henry, Fitzgerald, and some others do escape on a boat. Henry defers to Glass’s intimate knowledge of the area and decides to abandon the boat and cut through the rough country to get to Fort Kiowa. Fitzgerald opposes this move mostly because he resents Glass and his half Native American son.

During their difficult overland journey, Glass inadvertently disturbs a few grizzly bear cubs and incurs the wrath of their mother. In one of the most brutal scenes in the film, the bear gnaws away at Glass as he valiantly fights back. Glass eventually kills the bear but is gravely wounded. Henry and the others find him and tend to him as best as they can. For a time they even try carrying him but it proves too arduous over the difficult terrain.

Fitzgerald argues that Glass is not going to survive these injuries and is holding them back. Henry decides to leave Glass with Fitzgerald, Hawk, and young Bridger (Will Poulter) with the understanding that they will wait until Glass dies and give him a proper burial. 

Henry and the rest are not gone too long before Fitzgerald tries to suffocate Glass, but Hawk intervenes and they fight. Fitzgerald kills Hawk, drags away his body, and lies to Bridger that Hawk has been taken by the Arikara.

Although Bridger protests, Fitzgerald is soon digging a shallow grave, dragging Glass into it, and covering him with dirt. Fitzgerald takes Glass’s rifle and everything else from him, but Bridger leaves Glass a canteen. 

After they are gone Glass somehow manages to drag himself out of the grave and thus the figurative and literal revenant embarks on a grueling journey in which he will battle to survive in order to return to the fort and get justice for Hawk and himself.

To tell much more would really be spoiler territory, but the general focus during the rest of the film involves DiCaprio doing everything he can to overcome the elements and avoid the Arikara. His performance captures the struggle with broad and subtle nuances, and flashbacks remind us of the love he had for his Native American wife (Grace Dove) and how he lost her during an attack when Hawk was little.

At one point a starving Glass is assisted by Hikuc, a friendly Pawnee (Arthur Red Cloud). Glass and Hikuc exchange stories (both have lost their wives and children), and though Glass seeks revenge Hikuc does not. He tells Glass, “Revenge is in the hands of the creator.” Glass considers this but still also wants to make Fitzgerald pay for what he has done.

Iñấrritu’ manages to keep the film moving briskly, even though there are moments that slow down but do not diffuse the power of the action. The landscapes are breathtakingly beautiful, and the harsh environment is another character in a sense, an obstacle for Glass to overcome and a no less formidable antagonist than Fitzgerald.

In some ways the movie is really two films – one about Glass overcoming extraordinary circumstances and the other about the nature of colonization and the destruction of the Native American way of life. While the Arikara may seem brutal and murderous, they are not much different than the grizzly bear trying to save her cubs. The Arikara Chief (Anthony Starlight) is on a quest to rescue his daughter Powaqa (Melaw Nakehk'o) who has been kidnapped by trappers.

Thus the film is about families shattered and men trying to right wrongs done to them. Glass uses all his frontier knowledge to try to forge ahead and survive, while the Chief does the same to track those responsible for what happened to his daughter.

This is DiCaprio's best performance to date – he inhabits Glass and breathes life into what is a difficult role to pull-off. Hardy is excellent as the unapologetic killer and thief who sees the world as unfair and is determined to get his share.

The rest of the cast does a great job, and Emmanuel Lubezki’s cinematography is stunning. Add a resonant musical score by Ryuichi Sakamoto and Graeme Revell, and this nominee for Best Picture certainly makes a case for being worthy of 12 Oscar nominations.

This is a difficult movie to watch with no comic relief to break the tension. Still and all you will be enthralled by the scenery, repelled by the brutality, and captivated by the powerful performances that make The Revenant a must see film before watching the Oscars.

Photo Credits:   foxmovies.com

Movie Review: Creed – This Rocky Sequel Will Make You a Believer

First appeared on Blogcritics.

Director Ryan Coogler’s Creed is one of those films that surprises and delights you. Coogler, who also co-wrote the screenplay, stays true to the basic formula that made the previous films work (this is number 7 if you are counting), and Creed stands as the second best movie in the series after the original Rocky.

Of course, the ace up Coogler’s sleeve is the presence of Rocky himself – Sylvester Stallone, who slips into wearing that rumpled black fedora in an Oscar nominated performance. Stallone looks the part of an aging former boxer – slightly punch drunk, weary from years of abuse, and worn by the difficulties life has thrown at him. After being on top of the world as a champ, he knows what it is like to lose everything – now living modestly in his old house and running the restaurant named for his late wife Adrian (Talia Shire).

Still, at heart Rocky Balboa is a fighter, and thus when young Adonis Johnson (a terrific Michael B. Jordan) appears on the scene asking Rocky to train him, at first Rock wants no part of it. When Adonis reveals that he is the illegitimate son of Rocky’s former ring foe and friend Apollo Creed (Carl Weathers), Rocky comes around and agrees to help the kid out.

There is a back story for Adonis, who grows up not knowing who his father was until Creed’s widow Mary Anne (Phylicia Rashad) pays him a visit in a Los Angeles juvenile detention center, where he has already established a name for himself as a fighter. Mary Anne, despite the fact that Adonis is the son of a woman with whom her husband had an affair, takes the boy in and raises him as her own.

Now an adult, Adonis lives well in the Creed mansion, but he quits his job and has bigger plans for himself. Wanting to make it as a boxer but not in his father’s shadow, Adonis goes by the name Johnson when he fights. After leaving home and going to Philadelphia to meet Rocky, Adonis eventually trains and starts getting fights.

After one fight someone reveals Adonis’s true identity to the media – and this opens up internal and external conflicts for the young man and his trainer. While Adonis is worried about living up to his father’s legacy, Rocky is trying to do his best to train his old friend’s son but is mindful of the price the kid will have to pay now that his heritage is revealed.

There are side stories with Adonis having a relationship with Bianca (a radiant Tessa Thompson), a young singer who lives in an apartment below his. Rocky also has to deal with a medical diagnosis that could be life threatening, and the extended metaphor involved is old fighters don’t give up and they never will fade away either.

Great narrative touches bring closure to some Rocky story lines involving his wife Adrian, her brother Paulie, and Rocky’s son. All of these things feel right and become woven into the fabric of the tale about a grizzled old boxer helping to train a younger one, similar to the first Rocky when old Mickey (Burgess Meredith) trains Rocky.

At the center of the film is Jordan, a talented young actor who explodes on the screen as a dynamic and powerful presence. He makes Adonis strong yet vulnerable, smart but somewhat naïve, loving and yet hardened because of his past. All these things come through in an indelible performance that most definitely is Oscar worthy.

Of course, this wouldn’t be a Rocky film without the appearance of a tough, big bad opponent. In this case it is “Pretty” Ricky Conlan (Tony Bellew) as the light heavyweight champ whose manager Tommy Holiday (Graham McTavish) convinces him that a title bout against the son of Apollo Creed would be a big deal.

The boxing scenes are excellent – filled with blood, sweat, and an amazing choreography of punches and clutches and corner chats between Rocky and his protégé. Coogler manages to capture the essence of what made the first Rocky such a success, while paying homage to the previous films and the city of Philadelphia as well.

Along the way the strength of the film is the relationship that develops between Rocky and Adonis. Rocky becomes the father figure that Adonis never knew, and Adonis is the son that Rocky somehow let go away. In this way both men not only show respect for each other but the memory of Apollo, the father and friend they both have lost.

Creed is not just a great boxing movie but a fine film. Stallone should be credited for taking this role and doing it with grace and dignity, yet still pulling no punches as a former fighter with a heart of gold. He also wisely yields to Jordan as his successor in the ring and in the film series.

Go see Creed; I guarantee it will make you a believer!

Photo Credits: Warner Brothers

Trump Bows Out of Next Debate – The Art of the Steal

I have heard dozens of pundits and talking heads spewing venom over Donald Trump’s latest antic – bowing out of the next Republican presidential candidate debate in Des Moines, Iowa, on Thursday evening – and most of them have missed the whole point here. 

They have called Trump a spoiled brat, a “fraidy cat” scared of Fox News anchor Megyn Kelly, or a sore loser who doesn’t play by the rules. All of these descriptions are way off mark by a wide margin.

Trump is doing what he does best – he is playing his “trump card” if you will – by bowing out of the debate he is making it known that he is clearly not any part of the establishment. On the far end of the spectrum from Democratic hopeful Bernie Sanders (who also is way out of the establishment of the Democratic party) – Trump is saying that he is not going and the hell with the rules. This may annoy GOP loyalists and Fox News fans, but Trump is putting his foot down and looks like a maverick or some kind of hero to his supporters.

What clearly is happening here is that Trump is playing an excellent game of poker. Whether you want to call it a trump card or not, what he has done is make the debate itself a casualty, and by default an unmitigated disaster for Fox News. This is the master at work – by bowing out of the debate, he is putting a spin on the event straight out of his bestselling book The Art of the Deal, by creating his own fundraising event in Des Moines on the same evening.

By pulling himself out of the center of the mix at the debate, Trump has manifested what you could call “the art of the steal.” He has taken the thunder away from the network, and no doubt the ratings along with it. I for one would have never tuned into any of these Republican debates except for one thing: to see what crazy thing Trump was going to say next. Now it is going to be a bore fest, almost worse than having to watch Keeping Up With the Kardashians or The Bachelor (both of which I have never wasted time watching but have caught glimpses of as my family members tuned in).

On the Democratic side Bernie Sanders has also said he is skipping the next debate before the New Hampshire primary. No, he is not taking a page from Trump’s book but rather Sanders is doing this because he doesn’t want to run afoul of the Democratic National Committee when it has its next “sanctioned” debate.

Still it says something that both “outsiders” in this campaign will not appear at the last debates before the primary. Sanders and Trump are polar opposites, except for the fact that they are not considered insiders. I suppose that is their greatest appeal to their respective supporters.

Everyone who talks about Trump says that he lays out his whole philosophy in The Art of the Deal, so I went to the library and started reading some of it. While it’s not a great read, it is interesting to get into what makes Trump tick.

Besides telling all about his rise to power and wealth starting with simple real estate deals in Brooklyn, the most important aspect of the book is his 11-step guide to success. His number one tip – Think Big! Well, I guess he has followed his own advice with his candidacy for President of the United States.

The thing that the book made clear to me is that Trump wants to see life as a business deal – and no deal is a good one unless you come out of it a winner. Trump has gone much farther than anyone thought he would or could in this process, and soon votes will be cast and then we shall see if it is deal or no deal for the Donald.

As for Megyn Kelly, she has held her head high and also has spoken with great professionalism in regards to the situation. Trump may have said that he didn’t want to be at the debate because Kelly will be a moderator, and that doesn’t hurt Kelly but only helps her street cred among fellow journalists.

But make no mistake – Trump bowing out of this race has little or nothing to do with Kelly and everything to do with Trump having things go his way. To borrow a concept from Mad Men, Trump didn’t like what people were saying so he has changed the conversation.

The biggest question is will more people be talking about Donald Trump around the water coolers across the country on Friday morning than Megyn Kelly or any other candidate on that stage in Des Moines Thursday night? My bet is on Trump, and if that’s not “the art of the steal,” I don’t know what is.

Photo Credits: Fox News, NBC, CNN

Big Snow’s Coming – Should You Whine or Wine About It?

First appeared on Blogcritics.

The big storm is coming and everyone is going nuts, at least based on my observation of things happening today here in New York. Just the mention of the word “snow’ sends usually normal people into a frenzy, and everyone is whining about the impending deluge of white powder as if it were one of the seven plagues.

Judging from what I saw in my local supermarket, we are going to be trapped and isolated for the duration like those guys in the Kurt Russell movie The Thing. Here, instead of an alien killing machine, our opponent is the great blizzard of 2016. Man the battle stations!

People were loading up on multiple cases of water, gallons of milk, loaves of bread, vats of butter, and boxes of snacks and cookies. The line at the delicatessen counter wound around the store like the ones I see in Staples the week before school starts, and all the people in the store were complaining about the impending storm and had this look of despair on their faces as if the zombie apocalypse was upon us.

Realizing that I could not wait on those lines in that store, I went to several other stores only to find the same thing. I then raced over to my local CVS where I happily found the shelves still stocked with items on my list; however, in this venue a long line of people were waiting to purchase snow shovels, ice picks, and rock salt. I wondered, “What happened to their snow shovels from last year?” I bit the bullet and waited on line to get one loaf of bread, a gallon of milk, a dozen eggs, and a pound of butter, hoping all the other people are wrong about this one.

Next stop was the liquor store because in my vast past experience, nothing goes better with the view of falling snow outside the window than a nice glass of wine. Here too people were crowding the aisles pushing shopping carts filled with bottles of vodka, gin, bourbon, and wine. Once again I thought they were preparing for an extended event of some kind. I purchased of few bottles of wine, and mercifully this merchant has a separate line for people buying five bottles or less. Thank you, Mr. Choi.

Finally, I ended up at my local coffee shop to get one last cup of strong Joe before the storm hit. The usual suspects were sitting at the tables, including my old friend Manny. I always like to joke with him, so I asked if he was getting ready for the blizzard, but he was reading the newspaper and glanced up at me from under the brim of his Mets cap with a sly grin, “What blizzard?”

Okay, I know his game and I prod him. “Hey, I hear the Nationals are going to take Cespedes away from us.”

Manny’s face turns all serious and he groans, “You can either whine about the storm or wine about it” as he pointed to two bottles of Chablis in a bag next to his table.

“Yes,” I said nodding, “yes indeed.”

As I was about to leave he yelled, “And Cespedes ain’t going nowhere. He loves New York.”

Ah, Manny, I hope you’re right. Of course, last week he was predicting The Steelers would win the Super Bowl, but that’s another story.

I am happily home tonight with the wine ready and the fire blazing. The kids are talking about building a snowman tomorrow, and the wife is watching TV. All is well here until when duty calls and the shovel does too. 

Ah, my aching back!

As for everyone else, take advice from old Manny. You can either whine about the storm or sit back, enjoy it, and have a glass of wine. I am going for the latter, and I suggest you should too.

Happy shoveling!

Photo Credits: victor lana, news12 long island

Glenn Frey Dies – Joins Those Lost in a Thus Far Cruel 2016

First appeared on Blogcritics.

The year is only 19 days old, and we have already lost David Bowie (musical legend), Alan Rickman (Die Hard, Harry Potter), Dan Haggerty (Grizzily Adams), David Margulies (Ghostbusters), Jason Wingreen (Voice of Boba Fett), Pat Harrington Jr.(One Day at a Time), Michael Galeota (Disney star), Rene Angelil (Celine Dion’s husband), and now Glenn Frey (The Eagles). As incongruous as so many deaths this early in the year seems to be, this list no doubt will have names added to it as the year moves on; it has already been a difficult one for us to process so many losses happening so quickly.

Having discussed these losses with friends and family, each loss seems to have a particular resonance with at least one of us. I grew up watching Harrington play Schneider on One Day at a Time, so there is that connection to my youth. I also had been a fan of Bowie and The Eagles as a teenager, and their songs remind me of places and people, some of whom are no longer with us. As for Alan Rickman, I became a big fan as a young man when I saw Die Hard, and in later years a fan all over again watching the Harry Potter films with my kids.

Turning a page is always difficult in life, but having to flip through so many so quickly has created a sort of malaise that seems like a fog descending upon me. Certainly you can feel devastated by the loss of one person whom you admired and followed, and it usually takes time to get over that. With so many losses almost at once there is no luxury of time. It’s sort of like daily dose of a nightmarish reality show called Who Did We Lose Today?

I felt particularly sad when I heard the news about Bowie. His diverse music and intriguing style notwithstanding, I really enjoyed watching him as an actor. His films have a surreal quality to them, especially The Man Who Fell to Earth and The Hunger. I also will never forget watching him as a kid when he sang “Peace on Earth” with Bing Crosby; that indelible performance has always stayed with me.

Frey’s death was not as shocking or surprising as Bowie’s; I knew that he had not been well because The Eagles had to cancel a performance at the Kennedy Center Honors in December due to Frey’s health problems. Still, I had heard nothing since and I hoped that he had been on the mend.

Frey and The Eagles had been a big part of my teenage years, with many of their songs being anthems for this rock and roll loving youth; I would pop their tapes into my car stereo and drive around listening to them. Their songs like “Already Gone” of “Take It Easy” could jazz me up, while “Tequila Sunrise” and “Peaceful Easy Feeling” could calm me down. Of course, their most iconic song, “Hotel California,” took me out in that desert and left me thinking I heard that mission bell. Their music has stayed with me all these years, and turning the page for Frey has been the hardest of all this cruel January.

Perhaps losing these people with whom we first connected to in our youth shakes us more deeply. We recall those long days and nights of freedom before the reality of college, careers, and families changed our playing fields. Even all these years later when I would be driving the kids to school or soccer and one of The Eagles’ songs came on the radio, I would be taken back to my carefree days and get a smile on my face.

Now, listening to Q104.3 FM here in New York, they have been honoring Frey all day long. As I hear the songs playing, the nostalgia is there but listening to them is like looking at photos of lost relatives and getting upset. There is no going back now; I have always known this, but Frey’s death only irrevocably confirms that.

I don’t know what it all means in the big picture, but I know others like myself who feel shaken by so many losses happening so quickly. There is sadness and the sense of realization regarding our own mortality as we experience each person leaving us, but we can find some solace in the legacy each leaves behind, a trail to connect with them again and again even if it doesn’t feel the same knowing that they are gone.

I am hoping this is it for a while in terms of losing people that have had an impact on our lives. For now I will mourn the loss of Glenn Frey and all the others we have lost in this cruel month of January 2016. Rest in Peace, Glenn Frey.

Photo credits: abcnews, cnn, foxnews

Democratic Presidential Candidates' First Debate of 2016 – The Gloves Are Off

First appeared on Blogcritics.

During the Democratic Presidential Debate in Charleston, South Carolina, last night, the former elephant in the room in previous debates (no, not Republican candidate Donald Trump) now stumbled out front and center –William Jefferson Clinton, husband of candidate Hillary Clinton and 42^nd President of the United States.

When Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders was asked about a derogatory comment he had made regarding Mr. Clinton, Sanders at first became irate about being asked the question. He said that he wanted this to be a campaign about the “issues,” but then admitted Mr. Clinton’s behavior was “deplorable” in regard to his history with women other than his wife.

Why this seems important now has less to do with Mr. Clinton himself and more to do with Mrs. Clinton – who firmly admits that she plans to discuss job related things over the breakfast table with her husband before going to work as president. Mr. Clinton, who served two terms as Commander in Chief, would seem a perfect resource, right?

The thing that Sanders slyly insinuated but clearly wanted to be known is that Mrs. Clinton’s judgement shouldn’t be trusted. Why, you may ask? Because either she still trusts old Bill to be the loving and loyal husband that he always should have been or that she is so set on the prize of the highest office in the land that she continues to turn a blind eye to what most of the rest of America knows that he did.

So we can talk about the economy, healthcare, and guns – which all came up last night – but nothing seems as pertinent as Mrs. Clinton’s connection to Bill. If she wants to come off as a champion of women’s rights and issues, then she has to confront the Ghost of White House Past. If she continues to sweep Bill (and all his baggage) under the carpet, Mr. Sanders just may have a chance to upset the apple cart here.

One of the things that has stood out as different from the Republican debates up until this evening had been personal attacks. The Hateful 8 (well, now they are down to seven and counting) of Republicans seems to love to bash mostly Mrs. Clinton while also bombarding each other with personal assaults. The Republican debates have been actually good theater, especially with MC Trump front and center. The Democratic debates have been more about policy, about issues, and the three candidates (one must feel for former Maryland Governor Martin O’Malley who is most decidedly a third wheel here) have steered clear of personal attacks until now.

Unfortunately, moderator Andrea Mitchell did pose the question and, one must admit, this is fair game and needs to be addressed. While Sanders had great answers regarding his healthcare policy, rebutted Mrs. Clinton’s attack on him regarding guns (asking why does he have a D- rating from the NRA if  he is so pro-gun), and generally comes off as a solid candidate, he waffled too much regarding Mr. Clinton.

What should happen is that Mr. Sanders needs to distinguish himself as a champion of men and women’s rights, and to do this he must not waver again if the Bill Clinton issue comes up. It is a serious matter that Mr. Clinton appears to have been an abuser of women, perhaps not in the league of another guy named Bill, but certainly a serial one nonetheless. If Mrs. Clinton can turn a blind eye to Mr. Clinton’s transgressions because she has the other one focused on the prize of the Oval Office, what other things has she ignored for the sake of getting to the top?

The time to soon actually cast votes in primaries for this run for the White House is coming soon. Mr. Sanders, who hails from Brooklyn and sounds like someone you could have met at the old El Greco Diner in Sheepshead Bay, comes across as genuine and seems to be an honest guy. He lets people know that he has no strings attached to the big guns that back Mrs. Clinton (and other candidates). His attack on Mrs. Clinton regarding her speaking fees ($600,000 for Goldman Sachs alone last year) brings up a disturbing issue about the Clintons and their connections.

Mrs. Clinton is poised and polished but seems always on the script, and apparently does not like to veer off from what her expectations are regarding questions. She clearly did not score any knockout points, even when she tried to hammer Mr. Sanders on guns, so it seems delivering the coup de grace is not in her debating toolbox, at least not yet.

Overall we come away from last night’s debate with a clear picture of these three people: Mr. Sanders is the outsider; Mrs. Clinton the insider, and Mr. O’Malley the odd man out. With Mr. Sanders rising in the polls, we have to wonder whether history repeats itself, reminding us of how Barack Obama came out of nowhere and eclipsed Mrs. Clinton in 2008. We’ll have to see what happens in Iowa and New Hampshire, but it seems very much like it could be a case of déjà vu all over again for Mrs. Clinton if something doesn’t change soon.

Photo credits: aol, cnn, foxnews

Dr. King’s Dream – To Honor Him Americans Must Unite to Make It So

First appeared on Blogcritics.

One of the most beautiful and well written things that you will ever read is Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” address, delivered on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial on August 28, 1963. I have read it so many times and, having used it my writing classes over the years, I think it and Abraham Lincoln’s “Gettysburg Address” stand as the finest oratory in American history.

The problem is the “history” part in this equation because many people assume that the speech is over and, because we have Mr. Obama in the White House, that its mission was accomplished. The truth is that the speech is a living thing, one that is as pertinent in 2016 as it was in 1963. In fact, if you read it carefully, many of the points Dr. King makes could be seen as still needing to be addressed today.

Just last week Mr. Obama gave his final State of the Union address. The pundits tails were wagging afterwards – too short, too positive, too concerned with the president’s legacy rather than important policies and issues. But were they not being too critical of a man in his eighth and final year in office? One who has to look forward to his own inevitable departure as well as what will come after him?

My father always used to say this about presidents: “I may not have voted for him, but now he is my president.” The most important word in that sentence always seemed to be “my” when I heard him say it. What he was teaching me was that there is a process in this country, and when someone is elected then that partisan stuff should be subsumed by what is good for the nation. The way I see it today, nothing could be further from the truth.

Consider these words from Dr. King’s speech:

I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal."

Lest we forget Dr. King was a Baptist minister, his words invoke a fiery sermon as well as a call for political and social change. The fact that he uses the word “creed” to describe words from the Declaration of Independence clearly indicates how much he revered that document, sort of as a scripture that was a blueprint for the way America should be.

Sadly, America of 1963 was not a place for equity for all, and here in 2016 we must recognize that is still the case in many ways. Yes, our president is black, but he has had to endure criticism, denigration, and an onslaught of opposition from Congress that seems to be unprecedented. In my lifetime I have never seen a president treated so poorly by people who have obviously forgotten what Dr. King meant when he said:

I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character.

Mr. Obama has shown remarkable resiliency and grace under pressure, denoting the sturdy quality of his presidential timber. He has most definitely tried to take us out of war into peace, but the turmoil in the world, especially the emergence of ISIS, has made this almost impossible. Despite many things well out of his control, he is blamed for them anyway, especially by those who forget that George W. Bush got our country into two wars that Mr. Obama inherited.

We would all like to think that we are at that time and place from Dr. King’s dream, one where “content of character” would surely mean more than skin color; however, we still seem to be faced with discrimination in America, most notably now of Muslims and especially the refugees fleeing Syria’s brutal civil war.

To remind us of how far we yet have to go we need only to look at the recent Oscar nominations that clearly indicate how white and male Hollywood still must be. In a year when there were strong performances by black actors such as Idris Elba in Beasts of No Nation and Will Smith in Concussion, it is amazing that not one of them was nominated. Actress Jada Pinkett Smith (Will’s wife) has suggested black entertainers boycott this year’s Oscar ceremony as a way to protest the academy’s oversight. Obviously, she is taking a page from Dr. King’s book in knowing that such a boycott will have an impact.

Movies are such an integral part of American life – they reflect the times and realities of the country in which we live. American films also define the country for people all around the world, and millions of people watch the Oscars’ award ceremony, so it is powerful qualifier of where we stand in America of 2016. When the world sees and hears about no black actors or film securing a nomination, what does that tell people everywhere about America in 2016?

To prove this point even further, I took my kids to see the new Star Wars film, and they loved it, but while waiting to go inside we overheard some complaints about the actor John Boyega (who is black) being cast in a lead role. Does that sound more like 1963 than 2016 to you or not?

Every year we honor Dr. King’s birthday and legacy with a national holiday on the third Monday in January; however it has to be more than an opportunity for extended ski weekends or retail sales. To truly honor his memory and his years as a civil rights activist that caused a juggernaut of change in race relations in this country, we must continue to press for the things he fought so hard to achieve.

A black president will be leaving office and there is only one black candidate among all those who are seeking the nomination of their parties. The fact that Dr. Ben Carson has been ridiculed unmercifully and his candidacy, though once vibrant and popular, has been reduced to almost inconsequential, suggests that there were those who didn’t want him running for the highest office in the land. Some people will say that it is because of Dr. Carson’s own missteps, but if you believe that I have a few bridges over the East River I’d like to sell you.

Bottom line is that Dr. King left a vibrant legacy and his dream for equality and equity for all people is a significant part of that. We should all want that kind of America Dr. King envisioned – a truly shining beacon of light for all the world to see. Obviously, we are not there yet, and it is up to all Americans to get us there; otherwise, that “beautiful symphony of brotherhood” Dr. King imagined will end up being a dirge for us all.

Photo credits: foxnews, cnn

Ted Cruz Strikes Out Swinging at New York Values

First appeared on Blogcritics.

This is what it has come to – Ted Cruz, a Republican candidate for President of the United States, disparages an American city in hopes that it will endear him to his kind of voters. Who are these people he is hoping to entice into pulling the lever for him? It matters not really, but what does matter is what the man said, how he said it, and what it means in the big picture in the race for the White House.

Of course, Cruz was attacking fellow candidate Donald Trump when he spoke of the man’s “New York values,” as if it were a contagious disease needing a cure. Donald Trump is many things, but one thing is certain – he is as New York as a bagel with a schmear.

At heart Trump is a Queens’ boy and, growing up not far from where he did in Jamaica Estates, I have heard people talk as he does my whole life. Despite all the trappings of his wealth and living in that glitzy tower on Fifth Avenue, he still speaks like all the people I knew and he makes no pretense about it. His accent is New York, while Cruz sounds like what he is – a slick politician born in Canada and trying to pass himself off as American as apple pie and Chevy.

Looking at the Republican candidates on the stage in South Carolina last Thursday evening, we saw some desperation and some anger. There are guys like Dr. Ben Carson, Ohio Governor John Kasich, and former Florida governor Jeb Bush, who are clearly out of the race but hanging on by their fingernails.  Then there are Florida senator Marco Rubio and New Jersey governor Chris Christie, still in the hunt but coming to the point of no return, and there are Cruz and Trump – clearly the frontrunners.

So Cruz gets into his head – or someone close to him did – that he should go after the New York aspect of Trump. After all, isn’t New York envied and despised by most of the rest of the country? Especially those living in those red states? Cruz must have thought, "Won't they all love this attack and support me in the primaries?"

Unfortunately, Cruz miscalculated the trajectory of his attack. By attacking New York Cruz was not just trying to stick it to Trump, but he stabbed at the heart of the Big Apple. No matter all its faults – and I grew up here so I do know they are many – New York is America. We are the crossroads of the world with the Empire State Building and the new Freedom Tower as symbols that most of the world recognizes as not just New York City but America. And lest we forget, there is that beautiful lady in the harbor, holding a torch that has welcomed people to our shores for over a century. The Statue of Liberty is what America is all about, Mr. Cruz, and also what New York City represents.

Mr. Trump heard Cruz’s words and then went right back at him, like any New Yorker Trump's a fighter who then mopped the floor with Cruz. In what only exacerbated his apparent stupidity, Cruz stood there clapping as Mr. Trump knocked him out as he spoke of the titanic effort of everyone – not just New Yorkers but people from all over America – who came and sweat tears as they fought smoke and started rebuilding from day one after the attacks.

The New York Daily News featured a fitting response to Mr. Cruz on the day after the debate. This cover, criticized for some as going too far, is actually as New York as it gets. You rub us the wrong way or say something inherently stupid as Cruz did, and you’re going to get this reaction. The beautiful thing is that it’s not just New York flipping the bird here – Lady Liberty represents all of America telling Cruz to shut his trap and go back to Canada.

The day after the debate I was in my local coffee shop which is as much the crossroads of the world as Times Square in many ways. People were buzzing about Cruz and none of it was good. If anything, Cruz seems to have united New Yorkers of all stripes – black, white, Republican, Democrat, even Mets and Yankees fans – and they all spoke negatively about Cruz and positively about Trump’s reaction to him.

Old Manny, the former Brooklyn Dodger fan usually dressed in Mets gear, on this morning sat dressed resplendently head-to-toe in Pittsburgh Steelers everything. As a lifelong Jets fan, I have no idea how any New Yorker cannot be either a Jets or Giants fan, but nevertheless old Manny clearly loves his team and I joked with him about it. Still, Manny is a sage and often makes clever comments about everything from soup to nuts.

On this morning I asked Manny what he thought about what Ted Cruz had said about New York City values. Manny looked down at his coffee in the quintessential blue and white New York paper cup, stirred some sugar into it, and then looked up at me and said in an accent not too unlike Mr. Trump’s, “That Ted Cruz – he ain’t even worth anything you could buy in the 99 cents store.” Wow, Manny always hits the nail on its proverbial head!

Getting back to what Mr. Cruz said, he had an opportunity to apologize the next day, but just as in the debate he missed the chance to score any points. He gave what we New Yorkers would call a half-assed apology, which basically means nothing.

To borrow from old Bill Shakespeare, Cruz’s story is a tale told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, and signifying nothing. With a few weeks to go until the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary, Cruz may have time to repair the damage done, but probably will be treading water all the way.

As a New Yorker I don’t have to guess as to what Cruz was trying to say – I know exactly what he means. All New Yorkers from Governor Mario Cuomo to old Manny in the coffee shop know what he means, and his failed attempt to score points against Trump is nothing but despicable.

Sadly, Cruz knows nothing about the real New York City. The New York City I know, despite all its problems, has a heart as big as the town itself. All of my life I have known so many good New Yorkers – ones who ride the subways, go to work every day, and make this city what it is. It’s the construction workers, the firefighters, the police, the teachers, the sanitation workers, the EMTs, and all the blue collar and white collar people working long hours in office buildings. New York is Broadway, Lincoln Center, Central Park, and the United Nations – where representatives from all over the world meet. New York is that guy who gives up his seat on the subway to an old woman, the person who will take you by the arm and show you where to find a museum, and the kid who looks up at the skyline and is proud to call it home.

You don’t know New York, Ted Cruz. From the looks of things, you don’t seem to know much of anything. Where I come from, we would say, “Not for nothing, but you’re a jerk.” Goodbye, Ted Cruz, we hardly knew you, and on behalf of all New Yorkers, we want to keep it that way.

Photo credits: foxnews, ny daily news

Alan Rickman Dies – An Actor For All Ages

First appeared on Blogcritics.

When I heard of the passing of the great actor Alan Rickman at 69 from cancer, I thought of his excellent and memorable work in Die Hard, one of my favorite films. Rickman’s sly and slick performance as Hans Gruber in that film, a huge hit that made Bruce Willis an action hero, brought Rickman into the spotlight.

The game of cat and mouse played by terrorist leader Hans and New York City cop John McClane (Willis) is entertaining as they trade one-liners over handheld radio. Cop Willis is stuck in an LA office building the terrorists have seized to pull off a Christmas Eve heist. McLane’s wife (Bonnie Bedelia) is trapped on the 30^th floor with lots of other hostages. All that stands between the terrorists and these innocents is McClane. Let the games begin!

Rickman is a revelation as a German terrorist who has a sense of humor, albeit a deadly one. Who can forget the scene with company CEO Takagi (James Shigeta) where Hans is trying to get a passcode for the computer? “Nice suit,” he tells Takagi, “It would be a shame to have to ruin it.” McClane watches in horror as Hans executes the man (so do we).

While I have always associated Rickman with Hans, my children would know nothing about that. For them Rickman was and always will be Severus Snape, the slimy villain from the Harry Potter films.

Having watched all the films with my kids a few times over, I was impressed by Rickman’s indelible portrayal of Snape, whose every inflection is chilling and yet hilarious. It is not until the very end of those films that we understand some of Snape’s machinations, his hesitations, and reactions to Harry. In the end Snape dies a hero, something we could never say about Hans as McClane sends him to his death from the top of the office building.

One thing remains consistent in Rickman’s work – an extreme intelligence and dry wit that glows on the screen. Throughout Die Hard no matter how much you detest what Hans and his crew are doing, Hans remains remarkably likable. You can imagine going out and having a beer with the guy if not for the fact that he is a ruthless, cold-blooded killer.

That was Rickman’s gift. His delivery impeccable, his facial reactions astounding, the man was truly a gifted actor who inhabited a role as well as any actor of any generation.

One of Rickman’s performances that I loved perhaps most of all was that of Alexander Dane/Dr. Lazarus in the sci-fi comedy Galaxy Quest. Here we have the perfect part for the man – a serious thespian stuck in a role in a second rate TV series. When the cast of the show gets involved with actual aliens, Rickman’s actions and reactions shine. Even as his Lazarus makeup starts disintegrating, Dane sticks with the old theater adage that the show must go on.

His penchant for comedy – evident in all roles he played – really seeped through the cracks and made him always enjoyable to watch. While I know that he appeared in many other films and remained involved in the theater, I will forever remember him as Hans with his deadpan delivery, quick wit, and a pernicious eye on the ultimate prize.

The film and theater world has lost a truly gifted and talented actor, and fans of all ages will mourn his passing.

Rest in peace, Alan Rickman.

Photo credits: cnn, warner brothers, 20^th century fox, dreamworks

Powerball Madness – Perchance to Dream

First appeared on Blogcritics.

Okay, all of you out there holding Powerball tickets, I am one of you. Hoping to bid adieu to the financial cares of this world, we all embrace the mantra “You have to be in it to win it” and buy this little piece of paper. Madness some will say, but for others it’s the stuff of champagne wishes and caviar dreams as Robin Leach used to say on Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous.

Here in New York City the place has gone Powerball bonkers. Everyone is walking around with a little piece of possible heaven in her pocketbook or his wallet, going about business and thinking, “I win tonight; tomorrow I tell the boss what I really think.”

There is no rational explanation to anyone believing he or she can win. The odds of that little ticket in your pocket having winning numbers are 1 in 290 million. Yet, despite the staggeringly impossibility of it all, we live in hope that this is it – the big one that will change our lives.

So, like you, I have thought about what to do with all this dough. So on to some of the things I will think about doing with my big jackpot. Hey, remember, even with $1.5 billion dollars you can’t do everything listed here.

1. Buy the New York Mets

A long-time dream to steer the fate of my favorite team, becoming the owner would certainly guarantee that there would never be a travesty of trading a franchise player like Tom Seaver again. Oh, and I would get Daniel Murphy back on the first day.

2. Buy an Island

I would get some real estate off the coast of someplace exotic and warm all year round. I would build a small castle there and invite my family and friends for visits to my fantasy island. Oh, and I would wear a white jacket, sit in a wicker chair drinking colorful drinks, and hire some guy who sounds just like Herve Villechaiz to say “The plane, the plane” every time a flight came to bring my visitors.

3. Set Aside for the Kids

I would put a nice nest egg aside for my children. They will get it when they are 21 with strings attached – they must use the money to fulfill their dreams, live well, and try to do some good for this world.

4. Donate

I would give away a substantial chunk to some to my favorite charities, to my church, and to family members.

5. Open Vic’s Socratic School

Imagine a school with no tests, no final grades, and no report cards, devoted to learning and questioning and understanding. Open and free to any student applying, I would hire the best teachers who would prefer the exploration of each student’s potential without testing him or her to death (or boring them to it).

6. Trip to Outer Space

Here’s where I get to fulfill my Star Trek wishes and Star Wars dreams (yes, you can be a fan of both). I want to take a spin around the moon and trip the light fantastic on Mars. After I plant a flag on the Red Planet, I’ll head back home with a handful of red dust I’ll keep in a jar by the door. Who is it for? All the looney people like I am.

7. Lunch with the Surviving Beatles

I would pay what it takes to get to sit down with Paul and Ringo. Over some Arby’s sandwiches and curly fires, I’d like to get to know them and take a few selfies. Afterwards we will take a ride on my private jet to Liverpool, go to the Cavern Club, and sing a few ditties together there and have a pint or two.

8. Find a Cure

I would like to fund some doctors who are committed to curing what ails us all. There are too many illnesses to mention, and rather than supporting one issue I’d like to see if doctors could research why we are susceptible to coming down with something and find a way to eradicate it. There has to be one thing, one pernicious element that if eliminated could solve all our problems. At least I will pay these people to try to find it.

9. Run For President

Hey, if guys like Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump can do it, why couldn’t I? I would run on an alarmingly simple platform – I have no political party, no agenda, and no backers to be beholden too. I will promise to work for peace with all peoples and all nations, to explore every way to save the environment on the planet, and to make sure there is quality of life for all Americans. I will never win but at least I can say that I tried.

10. World Walkabout

Throwing all concerns to the wind, I would do old Crocodile Dundee one infinitely better and truly see the world by walking. I would walk as long and as far as I could, through all countries to meet people, to spread good cheer, and to learn about myself along the way. You never really know a place until you have walked through it, so I would start here in New York and make my way west, eventually over the Bering Strait (I suppose I’ll need a sturdy chunk of ice to get across) and keep going as far as I can go.

Ah, the stuff that dreams are made from – all made possible by that little Powerball ticket. I am sure you have some exciting ideas of your own for the big jackpot.  Please share them if you will in the comments.

I wish you all good luck as you wait for the numbers that will change someone’s life (maybe yours) forever. Most of us will probably be back where we are today tomorrow morning, but some lucky person or persons could be sleeping in late tomorrow.  Sweet dreams!

*Photos are of my tickets sans my “lucky” numbers.