David Baldinger - Cartoonist & Photographer

Congratulations to Terry Gilliam, my hero of the imagination who is sadly overlooked by critics all too often. On Feb. 8th 2009, he was awarded the BAFTA Fellowship, the most prestigious prize given out by the British Academy of Film and Television. He joins the ranks of Chaplin, Hitchcock and Spielberg with the prize. Bafta's Finola Dwyer described Gilliam as "one of the most original, imaginative and innovative directors working in the industry today". I find it shameful that audiences haven’t embraced his films. Gilliam’s films sometimes have odd pacing which may put off the typical audience who want everything spoon-fed and simple. More on this subject can be found at the BBC and the Telegraph UK .

By Hiram Lee 15 December 2007 Originally p ublished on the World Socialist Web Site Email the author   Directed by Chris Weitz, screenplay by Weitz, based on the novel by Philip Pullman   The Golden Compass is the first in a planned trilogy of films based on a series of novels for young readers by Philip Pullman. Pullman’s novels Northern Lights (released in the US as The Golden Compass ), The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass , comprising a trilogy entitled His Dark Materials , have received numerous awards and have found a readership numbering well into the millions. Pullman, alternately described in the press as an atheist or agnostic, has invested in his books a critical attitude toward religion.   The film adaptation of Golden Compass has been attacked by right-wing Christian fundamentalist groups who claim the movie promotes atheism, deceitfulness, the occult, and even the killing of one’s parents. It almost goes without saying that such claims are ...

As posted on Alternet Official Film Site Official Dixie Chicks site Because we certainly don't want a Press that criticizes the government... "NBC is refusing to run the trailer for the Dixie Chicks documentary, Shut Up and Sing, because: 'it won't accept the spots... disparaging of President Bush." Harvey Weinstein, said in a statement that: "The idea that anyone should be penalized for criticizing the president is profoundly un-American." For the moment they've got YouTube and the other networks who are willing to air the ad." Another fine example of the hypocrisy that is the USA. Once again I feel the need to remind all the "patriotic" Republicans out there what President Teddy Roosevelt said about criticism of a president: "The President is merely the most important among a large number of public servants. He should be supported or opposed exactly to the degree which is warranted by his good conduct or bad conduct, his eff...

Director Gabriel Range defends his controversial decision to make a film about the fake assassination of George W. Bush. Official " Death Of A President " film site.

I discovered today that a film I have been waiting a long time for on DVD has finally appeared as a 2 disc 25th anniversary edition. Warren Beatty's "Reds" has been a favorite of mine since I first saw it many years ago. It is incredibly priced around $13 or $14 too! Amazon.com essential video Warren Beatty's lengthy 1981 drama about American Communist John Reed and his relationships with both the Russian Revolution and a writer named Louise Bryant (Diane Keaton) is a compelling piece of little-known history told in a uniquely personal way. Beatty plays Reed as he did the title gangster in Bugsy and Senator in Bulworth, as a visionary likely to die before anyone fully recognizes the progressiveness of the vision, including those who are supposed to be on the same page. Jack Nicholson has an interesting part as fellow intellectual Eugene O'Neill, and the late author Jerzy Kosinski--himself a refugee from then-Soviet-controlled Poland--makes a strong impression as R...

Seoul Train I am of the opinion that, just as law enforcement people should be held to a higher standard, so should governments claiming to be Communist. North Korea is a vile excuse for a people's state. This is not Socialism, Marxism or Communism. It is a disgusting dictatorship ruled by a megalomaniac who deserves to be strung up from the nearest tree. Let the suffering citizens of North Korea beat this pig until the flesh falls from his bones. If you have an opportunity to see the film "Seoul Train" do so. If not, I suggest joining the new independent film club, " Ironweed Flms ." It will be one of the DVD's offered in the coming months. I see that Frederic Back's "The Man Who Planted Trees" is to be offered soon also. This is a must have. I think it's one of the most beautiful animated films ever made. You can purchase the DVD directly from the Seoul Train web site . A Frederic Back collection can be purchased also

Good Night, And Good Luck http://pww.org/article/articleview/7956/1/291 A couple of months ago, when I first found out this film was coming to theaters, I was amazed that it ever got made. The very thought of how this will probably cause near epileptic spasms among the Right adds an extra dimension of anticipation for me. According to this review, only 20 percent of test audiences knew who Ed Murrow was. To me, that is horrifying. It certainly is an indication of why someone like Bush and his gang of thieves managed to roll into to absolute power the way they have. When a society lacks historical memory, they can be easily manipulated. I will expect Ann Coulter to scream the loudest over "the Left demonizing poor Joe McCarthy once again." She has tried to vindicate McCarthy's extra-Constitutional witch hunt tactics by proclaiming that he was right about the commies. Were there Communists in the US government? You bet. Were there any Soviet spies? That is certainly a fact...