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Marjorie Baumgarten

Stories by Marjorie

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Pinot Road Trip

College roommates take a wine-soaked, pre-wedding romp in

College roommates take a wine-soaked, pre-wedding romp in

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Musical Icon

Ray Charles lives on through Jamie Foxx’s rockin’ performance in

Ray Charles lives on through Jamie Foxx’s rockin’ performance in

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Life Mirrors Film

<i>Tarnation</i>, a shocking and delightful autobiography, evolves from pain to hope.

&lt;i&gt;Tarnation&lt;/i&gt;, a shocking and delightful autobiography, evolves from pain to hope.

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Political Gold Dust

Rich vein in <I>Silver City</i> falls short of the big nugget.

Rich vein in &lt;I&gt;Silver City&lt;/i&gt; falls short of the big nugget.

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Dark Mystery

Mike Hodges’ film noir may lose its audience in murky, tangled storylines.

Mike Hodges’ film noir may lose its audience in murky, tangled storylines.

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Politics of the Times

Jonathan Demme’s <i>Manchurian Candidate</i> remake revitalizes political thriller genre.

Jonathan Demme&#8217;s &lt;i&gt;Manchurian Candidate&lt;/i&gt; remake revitalizes political thriller genre.

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An Affair Continued

Thoughtful and charming sequel gives depth to ‘one night stand.’

Thoughtful and charming sequel gives depth to ‘one night stand.’

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Spinners of News

Arab news vs. US news creates a wide gap of truth and misinformation.

Arab news vs. US news creates a wide gap of truth and misinformation.

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Humanity’s Pain

Dogville may make audiences think, and squirm.

Dogville may make audiences think, and squirm.

Old Friends Reunited

This French-Canadian film received the award for Best Foreign Film at the recent Oscars ceremony.

This French-Canadian film received the award for Best Foreign Film at the recent Oscars ceremony.

At The Summit

Life-threatening mountain climb re-enacted and narrated by the British survivors.

Life-threatening mountain climb re-enacted and narrated by the British survivors.

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Cinematic Art

Girl With a Pearl Earring is beautifully shot but has a slow plot.

Girl With a Pearl Earring is beautifully shot but has a slow plot.

Pretty Dirty Things

Stephen Frears' understated thriller shows illegal London workers discovering dirty little secrets while trying to stay one step ahead of immigration officials.

Stephen Frears' understated thriller shows illegal London workers discovering dirty little secrets while trying to stay one step ahead of immigration officials.

Open Range

Kevin Costner and Robert Duvall ride again in the admirable Open Range.

Kevin Costner and Robert Duvall ride again in the admirable Open Range.

Northfork

Atmosphere plays a big role in Northfork.

Atmosphere plays a big role in Northfork.

Anger Management

Adam Sandler returns to comedy and misses the mark with this feeble, strangely dissatisfying attempt at humor.

Adam Sandler returns to comedy and misses the mark with this feeble, strangely dissatisfying attempt at humor.

Phone Booth

Phone Booth is a suspenseful and original (if lightweight) film.

Phone Booth is a suspenseful and original (if lightweight) film.

Bringing Down The House

Performances by talented comedic actors manage to keep this film afloat.

Performances by talented comedic actors manage to keep this film afloat.

The Quiet American

Michael Caine's jaded Vietnam-era journalist puts The Quiet American into serious Oscar running.

Michael Caine's jaded Vietnam-era journalist puts The Quiet American into serious Oscar running.

The Recruit 020603

The Recruit is a fun, if flawed, film starring two great leading men.

The Recruit is a fun, if flawed, film starring two great leading men.

El Crimen Del Padre Amaro

It's raising hackles in Mexico, but this tale of a sexually active priest loses its punch up North.

It's raising hackles in Mexico, but this tale of a sexually active priest loses its punch up North.

Jack's Back

Jack Nicholson finally acts his age, and it works out well for everyone.

Jack Nicholson finally acts his age, and it works out well for everyone.

Gangs Of New York

Gangs of New York is a movie worth watching, if you've got the time.

Gangs of New York is a movie worth watching, if you've got the time.

The Emperor's Club

The classic tale of prep-school rebellion has been done one too many times.

The classic tale of prep-school rebellion has been done one too many times.

Far From Heaven 11/27/2002

Todd Haynes's Far From Heaven masterfully recounts the unravelling of a 1950s society woman.

Todd Haynes's Far From Heaven masterfully recounts the unravelling of a 1950s society woman.

Bowling For Columbine

The director of Roger&Me doesn't hit the mark quite as well as he used to with this new documentary about gun violence.

The director of Roger&Me doesn't hit the mark quite as well as he used to with this new documentary about gun violence.

Small Town Escapee

The Good Girl follows a woman's effort to leave her life behind.

The Good Girl follows a woman's effort to leave her life behind.

True To Type

Blood Work is no The Unforgiven, but it still has babes, good characters and Clint Eastwood.

Blood Work is no The Unforgiven, but it still has babes, good characters and Clint Eastwood.

Murdered Sleep

The director of Memento shows a deft hand with the psychological thriller in Insomnia.

The director of Memento shows a deft hand with the psychological thriller in Insomnia.

Truth And Consequences

Todd Solondz' Storytelling messes with movieland ideas about reality.

Todd Solondz' Storytelling messes with movieland ideas about reality.

Dawgs In Their Day

Home-movie documentary chronicles relationship between Jerry Garcia and David Grisman.

Home-movie documentary chronicles relationship between Jerry Garcia and David Grisman.

Plot Holes

Despite solid performances, Riding in Cars with Boys' uneven script makes for rough driving.

Despite solid performances, Riding in Cars with Boys' uneven script makes for rough driving.

Eating Their Hearts Out

Maria Ripoll's heartwarming <i>Tortilla Soup</i> is a movie about food--and much, much more.

Maria Ripoll's heartwarming &lt;i&gt;Tortilla Soup&lt;/i&gt; is a movie about food--and much, much more.

Shotgun Comedy

Jerry Zucker's <I>Rat Race</i> scatters such a broad pattern of jokes that at least a few are destined to hit their target.

Jerry Zucker's &lt;I&gt;Rat Race&lt;/i&gt; scatters such a broad pattern of jokes that at least a few are destined to hit their target.

Scratching The Surface

Director Ken Loach turns his camera on the invisible Latino workforce in Los Angeles but barely brings them into focus.

Director Ken Loach turns his camera on the invisible Latino workforce in Los Angeles but barely brings them into focus.

Make That A Double

<I>One Night at McCool's</I> needs more than one more for the road.

&lt;I&gt;One Night at McCool's&lt;/I&gt; needs more than one more for the road.

Not Kidding Around

Action movie maestro Robert Rodriguez whips up a tasty adventure for young and old filmgoers.

Action movie maestro Robert Rodriguez whips up a tasty adventure for young and old filmgoers.

Uninspired Horseplay

All the Pretty Horses is just a pretty-good movie.

All the Pretty Horses is just a pretty-good movie.

Boxing-with A Twist

It's easy to see why Girlfight has risen to the top of the heap.

It's easy to see why Girlfight has risen to the top of the heap.

Almost Perfect

Cameron Crowe's Almost Famous is a tribute to rock 'n' roll and the '70s.

Cameron Crowe's Almost Famous is a tribute to rock 'n' roll and the '70s.

Real Survivor's Tale

The Eyes of Tammy Faye documents the real life story of a (heavily) made-up survivor.

The Eyes of Tammy Faye documents the real life story of a (heavily) made-up survivor.

& %s;viva La Sinema!

John Waters' Cecil B. Demented is a radical manifesto aimed at overturning mediocrity in moviemaking.

John Waters' Cecil B. Demented is a radical manifesto aimed at overturning mediocrity in moviemaking.

With Friends Like This...

Chuck & Buck is a strangely likable movie about unlikely friends, played by unlikely actors, shot in an unlikely style.

Chuck &amp; Buck is a strangely likable movie about unlikely friends, played by unlikely actors, shot in an unlikely style.

Junkie's Quest

Alison Maclean's Jesus' Son follows an addict's trek to find the healing qualities of pain.

Alison Maclean's Jesus' Son follows an addict's trek to find the healing qualities of pain.

Joyless Sensualism

Peter Greenaway's 8 1/2 Women is another weird journey into the mind of an iconoclast.

Peter Greenaway's 8 1/2 Women is another weird journey into the mind of an iconoclast.

Hitting The Small Time

Woody Allen's Small Time Crooks is a fluff-ball return to the director's earlier style.

Woody Allen's Small Time Crooks is a fluff-ball return to the director's earlier style.

Shades Of Gray

James Toback's Black and White plays fast and loose with reality while exploring New York culture.

James Toback's Black and White plays fast and loose with reality while exploring New York culture.

Pass The Soup

The Third Miracle's overwhelming quietness leaves one yearning for something a little splashier.

The Third Miracle's overwhelming quietness leaves one yearning for something a little splashier.

Fleeting Pleasures

Curtis Hanson's Wonder Boys, his follow-up to L.A. Confidential, marks a 180-degree turn.

Curtis Hanson's Wonder Boys, his follow-up to L.A. Confidential, marks a 180-degree turn.

Tarzan

The Ape Man swings in Disney's best-looking animated feature in years.

The Ape Man swings in Disney's best-looking animated feature in years.