film

By Mahsa Alimardani | ( Global Voices) | – – News trickled out of a Paris hospital on the evening of 4 July that Iranian cinematic auteur Abbas Kiarostami lost his battle against cancer at the age of 76. Kiarostami had been admitted to Tehran's Arad Hospital in mid-June, where he had undergone an operation […]

Entertainment

Oscars: Chris Rock on lack of Diversity in Hollywood

contributors

Chris Rock | (ABC – Academy Awards) | Oscars 2016: Chris Rock’s Best Lines The host had Hollywood’s A-list laughing with jokes about the controversy over the lack of diversity at this year’s Academy Awards. ABC Breaking News | Latest News Videos —– Screenshot

Bill of Rights

Best Movie of 2016: Michael Moore skewers US Inequality in “Where to Invade Next”

contributors

By George Lakey | ( Waging Nonviolence ) | – – Many fields of endeavor have what they call “best practices,” and self-respecting workers look for those. I wouldn’t expect Michael Moore to focus there, since his films delight in blistering attacks on capitalism, the U.S. healthcare system and gun culture. That’s why I was […]

Entertainment

In ‘Spectre,’ James Bond becomes Edward Snowden

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – The latest entry in the Daniel Craig reboot of the James Bond film franchise, Spectre , turns Bond into more muscular version of Edward Snowden, as he takes down a vast 9-nation attempt at electronic surveillance and information-sharing that would also benefit a criminal cartel. Tooling […]

Culture

Andrew Garfield of Spiderman: Trump ‘has a lot,’ Unwelcoming of those with Little

contributors

Popsugar Entertainment | (Video Interview with Andrew Garfield) | – – “Andrew Garfield spent hours with families who’d lost their homes in the foreclosure crisis to prepare for his role as a single dad fighting to stay afloat in 99 Homes. While those stories may have faded from the daily news cycle, he says they’re […]

Culture

Omar Sharif didn’t have to Play a Terrorist

Juan Cole

By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | – – Omar Sharif is dead at 83. Born Michel Chalhoub in Alexandria to Lebanese Christian parents in 1932, he changed his name and converted to Islam in 1955 in order to marry his co-star Faten Hamama. The two were a power couple in the Cairo film world […]

Culture

New TV Show About Cairo’s Jewish Community draws Fans, Critics

contributors

Aj+ | (Video Report) | – – ““The Jewish Quarter” – a new series about Cairo’s once-thriving Jewish community – is angering both Egyptians and the Israeli Embassy in Egypt.” AJ+: “New Show About Cairo’s Jewish Community Angers Many”

Culture

How the Jurassic Park Franchise changed the real world of ancient DNA Research

contributors

By Elizabeth Jones | (The Conversation) | – – The park is almost open. Two decades on and Jurassic Park has morphed into Jurassic World, the one and only dinosaur theme park. Science has apparently evolved too: the genetically-engineered dinosaurs are to take a secondary role to a new star of the show, a genetically-engineered […]

Culture

Jon Stewart on Iran, Israel and Directing Rosewater: “It Turns out the Middle East is Somewhat of a Hotbed”

contributors

By Alexander Bisley | (Lumiere Reader) | – – N.B. Rosewater is now streaming at Amazon Instant Video and will be available on Netflix beginning June 10 It’s slightly surreal interviewing Jon Stewart, The Daily Show interviewer. His debut film Rosewater tells the story of Maziar Bahari (played by Gael García Bernal), imprisoned in solitary […]