A MOVIE LOVER

Stay tuned to HBO! Judd Apatow is in town and he’s shooting new comedy series “Crashing” for HBO in NYC (which he’s not only producing, but directing (unlike the Girls that he only produced) starring comedian Pete Holmes! The other day I not only witnessed them shoot in Soho, but also saw Judd Apatow in person, whose films I love, love, love...

If you choose to not believe in the magic, at least do not choose to do so during Christmas and New Year's Eve. These should be magical for any age and any gender - always and forever. Do believe in Santa as long as it's possible, it'd be than easier for you to tell and pass a holiday magic onto your kids later in life. Personally, I believe that if believing in magic - [and in love and romance] - is not present in one's life, this person is pretty much dead. He or she is not longer living fully and hope-fully. That's why I'm a strong advocate for the holiday movies, especially when the plot is all about love, dreams and hopes - even if it's a bit on a cheesy side - it's all good, it's all healthy. The whole premise of such movies is to become more hopeful and optimistic about the future, to forget problems at home and work and to start believing in good and bright again - even if it's just for two hours...

The film "Friends with Benefits" , or FWB as we've been casually abbreviating the "relationship" that became a prominent part of the 21st Century ,ended up to be too predictable. It's the kind of movie that everyone knows in the first 5 min how it's gonna end - because, as most of us - adults, know - friends with benefits either do NOT work or they DO work. Friends with benefits either become strangers or they become - a couple. There is no perfect "middle", as much as many of you out there hope it to be. This "relationship" has become to exist in our vocabulary not long ago - most likely at the same time as the slogan "Make love, not war" was created.

I finally saw it - the film "Beginners", just in time to beat the crowd that has been just finishing up seeing Woody Allen’s “Midnight in Paris” – the latest melodrama from the director who refuses to do any main stream blockbusters and staying true to the old school cinematography. (The show has been solidly sold out for the past two weeks in DC….)

When I walked in the E Street Cinema today to see a movie, I had two choices - to see The Trip or The Beginners, both movies received raving reviews from the American movie critics. So, when I have a choice of two, I usually get a second opinion - from the guys at the register, who, sometimes, see a movie before anyone else does in the city. This is what they said: "The Beginners is a good movie, very funny...and there is a talking dog in the movie..." "But The Trip is even better..." And that made up my mind and I went to see The Trip and.... I've made a great decision. First of all, I must admit, I'm a big fan of British movies. UK does not make many films - at least not like the Hollywood machine. They make just a few, and out of those few, only one or two make it across the border, and when they do - they impress the hell out of international audience... The Trip is a road-movie that combines some of the best elements of the British cinema - great...