Tag Archives: Frederick Wiseman

Review: City Hall

Posted on November 12, 2021 by philipbrasor

As Frederick Wiseman enters his 10th decade on the planet, his iconic fly-on-the-wall documentary methodology tends to focus more and more on the minutiae of civic discourse. City Hall, which spends a leisurely autumn hanging around the municipal government offices … Continue reading →

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Best Movies 2019

Posted on December 29, 2019 by philipbrasor

As it’s that time of year again, here are the movies I liked the most these past 12 months. As usual, in order to qualify a film has to have opened in at least one Japanese theater during the calendar … Continue reading →

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Review: Ex Libris, The New York Public Library

Posted on May 18, 2019 by philipbrasor

At one point at the beginning of Frederick Wiseman’s monumental documentary about the New York Public Library, someone basically calls it a holy place for secular people. That’s a fair description of any library, but New York’s is special in … Continue reading →

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Best Movies 2018

Posted on December 29, 2018 by philipbrasor

I lost my last paying gig as a movie reviewer this year, which means I now watch movies for free, in every sense of the term. I still get invited to press screenings, and attend one or two a week, … Continue reading →

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Review: In Jackson Heights

Posted on October 22, 2018 by philipbrasor

Jackson Heights, located in the western part of Queens and serviced by numerous subway and bus lines, has been called the most ethnically diverse neighborhood in the world. Add to this legend the fact that it was the first place … Continue reading →

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January 2015 movies

Posted on December 27, 2014 by philipbrasor

Here are the movie reviews I wrote for the January issue of EL Magazine, which was distributed in Tokyo on Christmas Day. Annie Though “Tomorrow” is ubiquitous on the cocktail circuit and “It’s the Hard Knock Life” almost equally widespread … Continue reading →

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July 2012 movies

Posted on June 27, 2012 by philipbrasor

Except for The Amazing Spider-Man, here are the movie reviews I wrote for the July issue of EL Magazine, which was distributed in Tokyo on Monday. The Amazing Spider-Man The gratuitousness of rebooting Marvel’s most indiosyncratic character will certainly be … Continue reading →

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