A long time ago, in what might as well have been a galaxy far, far away, Donya (Anaita Wali Zada) was a translator for the U.S. Army in Afghanistan. Now, this young woman lives in the Bay Area town of Fremont, a stone’s throw from Silicon Valley and a dozen …
Read More »Netflix's 'One Piece' Is More Bloated Than Any Anime
Two years ago, Netflix debuted Cowboy Bebop, a live-action adaptation of the beloved Japanese anime about spacefaring bounty hunters in the 22nd century. I found this new version lively and thrilling, but I admittedly had never seen the original. For the most part, it seemed, the most interested audience for …
Read More »A Rare, Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Taliban — and Their U.S. Weapons
A Taliban air force commander walks into a big, empty gym with his men and hops onto a treadmill. He burns a few calories, cracks a couple of muted jokes, and steps off before lifting a couple of dumbbells. “This was fun,” he says without affect, and moves on to …
Read More »'Ferrari' Boasts an Oscar-Worthy Penélope Cruz and Some Very Sexy Cars
There is an unstoppable force at the center of Michael Mann’s Ferrari. It is fast, fierce, and wildly unpredictable. One moment it has you in the throes of ecstasy; the next, fearing for your life. And when you see it coming around the bend, it’s curtains. Don’t even bother putting …
Read More »'The Equalizer 3' Reminds You Why Denzel Washington Is a National Treasure
Nobody can threaten someone quietly better than Denzel Washington. Oh, our man can pump up the volume when he needs to, in terms of letting people know he’s bringing the pain — our ears are still ringing from his “King Kong ain’t got shit on me!” taunt from Training Day. …
Read More »The Japanese Kimono Salesman Dedicating His Life to Being Jimmy Page
Everyone knows the definition of a tribute band. But is there a difference between that and a “revival” band? Whatever one chooses to call it, when is such a project a money-making exercise in nostalgia — and when is it a sincere, concerted (pun intended) effort to recreate and sustain …
Read More »How Can You Live to 100? Netflix Explores the Secrets to Aging
To live to a ripe old age, it helps to laugh a lot, love a lot, engage with your community, and avoid stress. Walking regularly helps, especially uphill. Eat plant-based foods and avoid a sedentary lifestyle. Get out of your car and stay there. In other words, do a lot …
Read More »Maybe It's Time for Liam Neeson to Retire From the Action-Movie Game
Liam Neeson has played Jesuit priests, Jedi masters, Greek gods, German industrialists, revolutionary heroes (Irish and Scottish), iconic sexologists, and megalomaniacal supervillains. Make him play one man with a particular set of skills — skills that make him a nightmare for folks who want to harm his loved ones — …
Read More »Adam Sandler's Netflix 'Bat Mitzvah' Is a Sweet, Jewish Family Affair
When you’re 13 everything carries high stakes: friendships, romances, who you’re seen with, which parties you’re invited to. Nothing has an adequate frame of reference, because everything is so new, and you’re not sure if you’re supposed to handle it all like the kid you just were or the adult …
Read More »'BS High': A Fake Football School and the Slippery Conman Behind It
Maybe you remember reading about the Bishop Sycamore scandal. Originally known as the Christians of Faith Academy, the Ohio-based institution was trying to build a reputation around itself as the next big thing in high school football. Its target demo was, according to someone involved with the recruitment program, “[student] …
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