Good Ol' Freda

The Beatles were together for 10 years. Freda Kelly worked for them for 11. President of the fan club and band secretary, Freda was there from the early days at the Cavern to the final breakup. This film documents her life and experiences as a part of the band never before told.

If you like music; if you love the Beatles; if you like the voice of reserved British women, you should catch this film.

Good Ol' Freda
2013, 86 minutes, directed by Ryan White

The Announcement

AIDS is the medical story of our generation. It appeared as a modern-day plague, became a death sentence, then evolved into a tragic yet chronic and manageable disease. And for all of that Earvin "Magic" Johnson was there. I didn't follow basketball and I knew about his announcement. November 7, 1991. Other than a lady who spoke at an assembly at my junior high, he was the only person I knew who had AIDS/HIV. And yet, over the years, he didn't...die. I saw this today to understand why.

What I got was so much more, focused on his uplifting spirit. At first I wasn't sure about having Magic narrate his own film, but ultimately as a story of optimism there's no better choice. And for the record, he takes the exact same cocktail as everyone else lucky enough to have insurance and treatment.

The Announcement
2012, 75 minutes, directed by Nelson George

Your Name Here

What the frak? People writing when high aren't as funny as they think they are.

Phillip K. Dick non-biography.

Your Name Here
2008, directed by Matthew Wilder

Persepolis

I won't call this a story of Iran. It is a story of life. Every society places controls on its members. Without them, it wouldn't be a society. Yet all too often we go too far. Those in charge of enforcing the controls become abusive, drunk on their power. I don't think the cycle will end.

Go see this film.

Persepolis
2007, 95 minutes, directed by Vincent Paronnaud and Marjane Satrapi