THE MESSENGER HAS ARRIVED. In the early 2000s, the AIDS epidemic had not been portrayed on TV and in movies in a fully satisfying way. There were respectable attempts, such as Philadelphia (1993) and the TV movie And the Band Played On (1993), but they also faced criticism for various reasons. It seemed as if … Continue reading Angels in America: Love and Suffering
THE GREATER THE LEGEND, THE GREATER THE FALL. In 2011, legendary university football coach Joe Paterno (Al Pacino) is engulfed by a sex abuse scandal creating national headlines; when exactly did he find out that one of his assistant coaches was abusing children? The Jerry Sandusky scandal is depicted through the fall of JoePa, one … Continue reading Paterno
Compiling a list of what you believe are the greatest films ever made is a daunting task. Every critic and movie buff has a more or less available list hidden somewhere in their minds (or plainly written down, carefully cultivated). I have resisted to do the latter for many years, even though my list really … Continue reading My 12 Favorite Films
WARNING: EXPOSING THE TRUTH MAY BE HAZARDOUS. I work for a major newspaper in Scandinavia. That means we are a powerful voice in the Swedish media landscape. But just like every other newspaper or network, we are owned by somebody, in this case a Norwegian corporation. The relationship between us and our owners is complicated, … Continue reading The Insider: Under Pressure
400 years have passed since William Shakespeare died on April 23rd, 1616. I recently finished Stephen Greenblatt’s amazing 2004 book “Will in the World”, which vividly brings the Bard to life in a way that feels down to earth. By using the historical facts and records of Shakespeare’s life that we have, and tying them … Continue reading The Best Shakespeare Films
IN 1978, THE U.S. GOVERNMENT WAGED A WAR AGAINST ORGANIZED CRIME. ONE MAN WAS LEFT BEHIND THE LINES. I was just listening to a political debate about Islamic terrorism. One of the participants talked about how intelligence agencies need to do more than just tap phones; they need to put ”boots on the ground” by … Continue reading Donnie Brasco: A Made(Up) Man
THE NEWEST ATTORNEY AT THE WORLD’S MOST POWERFUL LAW FIRM HAS NEVER LOST A CASE. BUT HE’S ABOUT TO LOSE HIS SOUL. Florida attorney Kevin Lomax (Keanu Reeves) is recruited by John Milton (Al Pacino), a senior partner at a powerful New York law firm, but Lomax and his wife (Charlize Theron) soon discover that their … Continue reading The Devil’s Advocate
COL. FRANK SLADE HAS A VERY SPECIAL PLAN FOR THE WEEKEND. IT INVOLVES TRAVEL, WOMEN, GOOD FOOD, FINE WINE, THE TANGO, CHAUFFEURED LIMOUSINES AND A LOADED FORTY-FIVE. AND HE’S BRINGING CHARLIE ALONG FOR THE RIDE. Charlie Simms (Chris O’Donnell), a New England prep school student, is hired by a blind, retired army officer (Al Pacino) … Continue reading Scent of a Woman
A LOS ANGELES CRIME SAGA. I remember watching this movie in a theater back in 1995. After about two hours, a woman asked someone sitting close to her, “Do you know how long this movie is?”. He did know, told her and the woman just left. Some people don’t have the stomach for a story … Continue reading Heat: Cops and Robbers
DECEPTION IS DANGEROUS. DESIRE IS DEADLY. In a novel attempt to catch a serial killer who shoots men after finding them in the newspaper singles column, New York city detective Frank Keller (Al Pacino) places his own ad in the paper… On first sight, this thriller doesn’t look like much; the final revelation of the … Continue reading Sea of Love
Former football player Brandon Lang (Matthew McConaughey), who has a knack at predicting winners in games, is hired by the charismatic head (Al Pacino) of a sports consulting firm – and his life changes. It’s a pleasure watching these three stars make their characters come alive – McConaughey as the cocky talent, Pacino as the … Continue reading Two for the Money
A NATION FORGED IN BLOOD. At the outbreak of the Revolutionary War, a fur trapper (Al Pacino) and his son are reluctantly drawn into it; an aristocratic daughter (Nastassja Kinski) has more idealistic reasons to help the colonists. The box-office bomb that was so poorly received that Pacino didn’t make another movie for four years … Continue reading Revolution
THEY DON’T MAKE ‘EM LIKE THEY USED TO. After doing time for murder, Val (Al Pacino) is released and reunited with his old friend and partner (Christopher Walken)… who has a secret, heartbreaking agenda. A film that goes all-in for old-school charm in a story about geriatric gangsters that still know how to strut their … Continue reading Stand Up Guys
