Westchester Herald

Ed Koch Movie Reviews: “The Extra Man” BY Edward I. Koch

Movie Review:  “The Extra Man” (-)

September 6, 2010   

This picture could have been a real romp and lots of fun.  Instead, I found it pretentious, overrated, and over the top.

The story is very simple and inane.  A young man from New Jersey, Louis Ives (Paul Dano), has lost his job at a prep school.  Louis is uncertain about his sexual orientation and occasionally engages in cross dressing.  He moves to Manhattan and rents a room in the apartment of Henry Harrison (Kevin Kline), a much older man.

Ed Koch Movie Reviews: “Daniel and Ana” BY Edward I. Koch

Movie Review:

“Daniel and Ana” (+)August 30, 2010         

The film’s script could have been taken from the notes of  Havelock Ellis, a psychiatrist whose books dealt with sexual episodes experienced by his patients.  When I was in high school so many years ago in Newark, New Jersey, his books were read by students looking for a sexual thrill.  They were often read in the school library rather than being checked out.  God forbid your teacher should find you reading one of them, or worse, your mother should find one of his books under your bed.  Also,  French postcards were regularly exchanged by the male students.           

This story, which takes place in Mexico City, involves a very upper-class family with two teenaged children:  Daniel (Dario Yazbek Bernal) who is 16 years old and Ana (Marimar Vega) a year or two older than her brother.  The siblings are very close and Daniel worries that Ana, who is engaged, will move to Spainafter she marries because her fiancé has been offered a job there.  

Ed Koch Movie Reviews: “A Film Unfinished” BY Edward I. Koch

Movie Review:  “A Film Unfinished” (+)

August 23, 2010

An unfinished Nazi propaganda movie titled “Das Ghetto” was filmed in the Warsaw Ghetto in 1942. The movie was found among other Nazi propaganda pictures in East Germany, but a soundtrack was never located.

Ed Koch Movie Reviews: “Cairo Time” BY Edward I. Koch

Movie Review:  “Cairo Time” (-)        

August 16, 2010

Most critics gave this picture a good review, which is why I went to see it.  In my opinion, their assessments were overstated.  The film is like a charlotte russe - mostly air and little substance.

The movie is a travelogue set in Cairo.  Juliette (Patricia Clarkson) is seeking to visit her husband, Mark (Tom McCamus), who is working in Gaza.  She is in Cairo awaiting his arrival.  When Mark is delayed in Gaza on business, his former assistant, Tareq (Alexander Siddig), offers to act as her escort. 

Ed Koch Movie Reviews: “The Disappearance of Alice Creed” BY Edward I. Koch

  Movie Review:  “The Disappearance of Alice Creed” (+)

August 16, 2010

This film is a good illustration of what is referred to as a “sleeper.”  It is fabulous, and although it opened about two weeks ago, I’ll bet nine out of ten moviegoers have never heard of it, and most of them never will.  When I saw it last Friday night at the Cinema Village East, there were only a dozen people in the audience.  If you like film noir, don’t miss this movie.

The cast consists of only three actors:  Alice (Gemma Arterton), the daughter of a wealthy businessman, Danny (Martin Compston), who appears to be in his 30’s, and Vic (Eddie Marsan), who is about 20 years older and surlier than Danny.  All the performances are excellent, especially that of Martin Compston, who could be Ed Norton’s twin. 

Ed Koch Movie Reviews: “Agora” BY Edward I. Koch

Movie Review:  “Agora” (-)

August 9, 2010

A.O. Scott’s New York Times review of this film last May was a treat to read.  He provides a history lesson on the moment in time when Rome dominated Egypt and, in particular, the city of Alexandria.  If you have access to the Internet, do retrieve his review.

Ed Koch Movie Reviews: “Life During Wartime” BY Edward I. Koch

Movie Review:  “Life During Wartime” (+)

August 9, 2010

This depressing film would have been more accurately described if it had been named “Despair.” Everyone in it suffers enormously.

The movie focuses on three sisters.     

Ed Koch Movie Reviews: “The Girl Who Played With Fire” BY EDWARD I. KOCH

 Movie Review: “The Girl Who Played With Fire”  (+)

July 19, 2010

This is the sequel to Stieg Larsson’s first novel, “The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo.”  If you haven’t read that book or seen the film, I urge you to do so before seeing this picture.  If you don’t, it will be difficult to follow the storyline, especially when the occasional flashbacks are shown. 

Ed Koch Movie Reviews: “The Kids Are All Right"; “Cyrus"; and “Restrepo BY EDWARD I. KOCH

Movie Review: "The Kids Are All Right" (+)

A good but not great film. Good because it mainstreams a gay-themed movie that will play and be well received everywhere. Not great, because it doesn’t give the viewers any significant insight into the lives of a lesbian couple or their teenage kids.

Ed Koch Movie Reviews: “I Am Love” - “The Killer Inside Me” BY EDWARD I. KOCH

“I Am Love” (+)

June 28, 2010

I rarely like slow-moving films that take their time setting the scene for more adventurous or violent moments to come.  But I was comfortable watching this movie that emphasized the lifestyle of wealthy Italians, especially beautiful women exhibiting their extraordinary clothes, homes and amenities.