Story Archives of 'Film'

Movie fanatics unite- it's Oscar weekend. Editor and Film Critic for The Hippo Amy Diaz talks with Morning Edition Host Rick Ganley about Oscar parties and where to catch the nominated movies.

Well, Oscar weekend is upon us…the annual festival of office pools, weepy speeches, and glorified prom dresses. Oh, and excellence in achievements in acting and filmmaking. But enough excellence…

Thank goodness for the Golden Raspberry, or Razzie Awards, saluting the worst that Hollywood has to offer. The 30th Annual Razzies will be held in Hollywood on Saturday, getting a one-day jump on the Oscars, and it promises to be a banner year. In addition to the 2009 clunkers, awards go this year to worst film, actor and actress of the decade! Joining us to sort through the cinematic crud is John Wilson, founder and head raspberry of the Razzie Awards.

And for some local perspective on the low-brow is Amy Diaz executive editor and film critic for the Hippo Press and an eye on entertainment here at NHPR.

(Photo by Simon le nippon via Flickr/CreativeCommons)

Now we delve into some of the deeper philosophical and moral questions raised by the novel. And look at how lawyers view its hero, Atticus Finch, the character who, says former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, has inspired many to pursue a career in law.

Oh, to be an Atticus! What does that mean, exactly? As a human? A father? An attorney? As a rational being? Noelle Poremski is a senior at Saint Anselm’s College, majoring in philosophy. Noelle is also helping to organize events for the Big Read initiative at the New Hampshire State Library’s Center for the Book.

Jonathan Cohen is a criminal defense attorney of the firm Cohen & Winters in Concord.

Katherine Cooper is the executive director at the New Hampshire Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

The Wire NH: Presumptions of guilt

(Photo by zbili via Flickr/CreativeCommons)

America’s public schools are the incubators for the future, laying the foundations for a life of learning and participation. What they are learning, according to filmmaker Cevin Soling is to pop prescription drugs, walk through metal detectors, and dummy up while enduring strip searches. Soling makes the case that children surrender their rights every time they walk into the classroom.

In his new film The War on Kids, Soling argues that zero tolerance policies are doing more harm than good, demonizing kids for minor infractions and introducing kids into the legal system instead of the principal’s office. Cevin Soling joined us to talk about what he calls “the war on kids.”

For centuries, gypsies have been portrayed in stories, books, and film as a people who are not to be trusted. In films like Hot Blood, King of the Gypsies, and Traveller, gypsies are portrayed as lying thieves with low moral character. In reality, the gypsies, or Roma, have a rich history filled with family, culture, and storytelling.

There are about one million Rom, living in the United States. Filmmaker George Eli is one of them. He grew up in the Roma tradition and his parents didn’t send him to school, but he managed to become a father and accomplished filmmaker. In his new film Searching for the Fourth Nail, he asks academics and his Rom relatives what it means to be a gypsy.

This search for Roma culture isn’t just for him, it’s also for his young sons. His children do go to school and his son Alexander is the first in his entire family to graduate elementary school. But despite his mainstream education, Alex knows little of his Roma tradition. The films follows George’s journey to better understand his own culture, and explain it to his son.

The Fourth Nail

Dover Library Screening

GypsyTown.com - a resource for American Roma

(photo courtesy of George Eli)