Gil Mansergh’s Cinema Toast New Releases 11/30/07 Awake (G)Jessica Alba, Hayden Christianson, Lena Olin, Terrrence Howard, Sigouney Weaver, Fisher Stevens Directed by: Joby HaroldThe filmmakers claim that once out of every 700 medical operations, failed anesthesia leaves the patient fully conscious but physically paralyzed during surgery. In this movie, the patient is able to overhear the doctors talk about how they are going to let him die on the table and collect … Read More »

The Naked Truth About Vikings Beowulf Reviewed byGil Mansergh Beowulf has gotten a bad rap. For at least half a century, high school students were forced to recite stanzas from the historic, epic poem in “Olde English.” The results were often embarrassing for both the hapless “volunteer” and the rest of the class. But at the dawn of this new millennium, Seamus Heaney (Irish author and winner of the Nobel Prize for literature), … Read More »

Gil Mansergh’s Cinema Toast New Releases 11/23/07 Enchanted (PG)Amy Adams, Patrick Dempsey, James Marsden Susan Sarandan, Timothy SpallDirected by: Robert ZemeckisEver since Lily Tomlin (dressed as Snow White) was joined by the Disneyesque forest creatures in “9 to 5,” animated characters have been inserted for laughs in Hollywood movies. But in “Enchanted” the Disney folks themselves get to play around and the story of Giselle, the “raised in the fairly tale … Read More »

Gil Mansergh’s Cinema Toast New Releases 11/16/07Beowulf (PG-13)The voices of Ray Winstone, Anthony Hopkins, John Malkovich, Robin Wright Penn, Crispin Glover, Alison Lohman, Angelina Jolie Directed by Robert ZemeckisWith the seas filled with monsters and pain-wracked giants ravaging the countryside, it was unwise of King Hrothgar to have all night parties fueled by barrels of mead. Unwise, because it made the … Read More »

ABOUT SEX, VIBRATORS, AND LOVE DOLLSby Gil Mansergh “We’re going to have an easy time selling this movie,” filmmaker Wendy Slick said about her documentary “Passion and Power: The History of the Orgasm.” “It’s about sex.” She then clarifies what she means: “it’s not really about sex but it has that as a cover… but what we did find out is that this country is really not ready for an … Read More »

Gil Mansergh’s Cinema Toast New Releases 11/09/07 Fred Claus (PG)Vince Vaughn, Paul Giamatti, Kathy Bates, Kevin Spacey, Rachel WeiszDirected by: David DobkinWith dialogue stolen from Hallmark cards, this misguided film still manages to end up on the “naughty” side of Santa’s list. The efficiency expert is draconian, and a miscast Vaughn lets his anger seep through.1 and 1/2 pieces of it’s never going to be a classic Lions for Lambs (R)Robert … Read More »

SEBASTOPOL DOCUMENTARY FILM FESTIVAL NOVEMBER 8-11by Gil Mansergh “Curated” is the word Eliza Hemenway uses to describe what makes the Sebastopol Documentary Film Festival so outstanding. “Our award-winning selection committee (Valerie Landis, Tommie Del Smith, Jason Perdue, Loring Vogel, Teresa Book Webster) screened nearly a hundred documentaries to find the ones which worked well together, had top notch local connections, and offered a fun exploration of film making,” Hemenway explains. … Read More »

Gil Mansergh’s Cinema Toast New Releases 11/02/07 American Gangster (R)Denzel Washington, Russell Crowe, Directed by Ridley ScottSet in Harlem in the 1970’s, it’s almost impossible not to call this a Black Godfather since that is exactly what it is.3 pieces of it’s too long toast Bee Movie (R)Voices of: Jerry Seinfeld, Renee Zelweger, Matthew Brodrick, Chris Rock Directed by: Simon … Read More »