Author Archive
Stand Up Guys
Stand Up Guys Stand Up Guys (2013) ** 1/2 Al Pacino as Valentine “Val” Christopher Walken as Doc Alan Arkin as Richard Hirsch Julianna Margulies as Nina Hirsch Mark Margolis as Claphands Katheryn Winnick as Oxana Vanessa Ferlito as Sylvia Addison Timlin as Alex Lucy Punch as Wendy A first time for Al Pacino, Christopher Walken, and Alan Arkin appearing in the same movie. At moments these three geezers muster some funny stuff but all-in-all “Stand Up Guys” is amateurish, in turn, lays at the feet of screenwriter Noah Haidle and perhaps at Director Fisher Stevens feet as well. The Viagra jokes are excessive and the repeats at the brothel are tedious. Val (Al Pacino) has just ended  28 year sentence in prison meeting long-time pal Doc (Christopher Walken) outside the prison gate. Val”'s been imprisoned for refusing to snitch on one of his criminal associates. [...]
Look Back Forward Beyond
By Peter Molenaar Amid the raging turbulence of the early 1970s, the dropped-out guru peddled his book: BE HERE NOW. The ancient mysticism did so readily combine with the chemistry of the period. We were happy to inhale the tear gas. However, this reliance upon sensory inputs proved to be inadequate. Luckily, as was later discovered, everything exists in motion owing to the interpenetration of opposing forces. To know the essence of a thing, one must reveal by analysis the main contradiction within it. Yes, APPEARANCES CAN BE DECEIVING, especially the appearance of permanence. One example: (more…)
