Reviews

I saw "American Rhapsody," last night; it's the first film by a 50-ish Hungarian-born female filmmaker. It's features an amazing, personal, story of the early Cold War-era immigration to America of a Hungarian family, and it was really incredibly done. We love Scarlett Johansson ("Ghost World"), who plays the 15-year-old, but the girl who plays the lead character at age 6 is one of the most loveable child actresses ever, Nastassia Kinski as the mother is great, Tony Goldwyn, as the dad, is good, the pair who play the Hungarian rural couple (especially the man) are fantastic. Hungary and Budapest too play a key role. The movie will sicken you, somewhat, about the America-in-the-early-60s mentality (sicken you because you know how much a part of all of us it is). As one reviewer said, this is no State Department-backed immigration story. And it will make you fall in love with the Hungarian countryside. It's a terrific movie-going experience. I cried several times throughout.

Because of how little marketing and buzz the movie has generated, I fear it will come and go in a flash; that's why I issue this appeal.

By the way, don't go expecting great filmmaking techniques and perfect direction; it's her first movie and mistakes were made. But the experience, if you go in the right frame of mind, is great. It's in English.

A comedy about a Beverly Hills sorority president who goes to Harvard Law School to try to win back her old-money boyfriend who has dumped her because she is "too blonde" and he wants to run for the Senate. A lot of the gags are stale, but Reece is so fresh in them that it's hard not to laugh (or at least smile) throughout. Reece, wearing her signature pink, showing up at the commons in Harvard Yard in her Boxter with a moving van full of stuff, and the looks of the students wondering who is this Malibu Barbie, is worth the price of admission. A lot is predictable (but so was the great "10 Things I Hate About You") ... you'll get a kick out of it if you don't take yourself too seriously.