johnmaull

I saw this documentary about the German painter Anselm Keiffer at Doc Stories in San Francisco, This was a long, directionless documentary that shed little light about the painter. The best part of the doc was to see Keifer's studios and how he creates art, but other than that, it yields little information.

Wim Wender had incredible access to the Keifer yet squandered it. There are very few clips of Keifer actually speaking. I assume that Wender has a trove of interviews and footage with Keifer. It would be great if he could turn it over to another documentary filmmaker so that they could share this info with the public and prepare a robust documentary about this incredible painter.

Julian Fellowes has done it again! This sequel to the first movie is a pleasure to watch. (I was fortunate to see a special screening of this joyful film in San Francisco.) The two plots-- one in Downton and the other in France-- unfold naturally and keep the viewer on the edge of the seat. Humor is interspersed throughout, and the audience roars at Violet and others' lines. The tender moments tug at the heart. Overall, the movie transports you to an earlier era and removes you from the angst of our current period.

This is a well-written, and well-acted movie that is beautifully shot. The plot, set in Budapest right before WWII, is an intriguing crime story that unfolds over the course of the movie and keeps you engaged. I loved seeing the re-enactment of Budapest in the 1930's.