Rich Monetti
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I am, I write.
Stories (710/0)
Free Will Gets A Chance In The Adjustment Bureau With Matt Damon
There is no power of prayer. Given the Holocaust, the Belgium Congo and Walmart, God obviously stands by to see whether you pass the entry test. On the other hand, I believe if the world reaches an unmanageable sea change, he reluctantly sends in an Einstein or an Oppenheimer. But according to The Adjustment Bureau, a 2011 adaptation of another Philip K. Dick novel, the course of world events is closely monitored and manipulated – leaving nothing to chance in the face of free will.
By Rich Monetti7 years ago in Futurism
Mad Max Racks Up the Mileage but Isn’t Much of a Journey to the End of the World
Mad Max returned in 2015 and got itself an Oscars 2015 Nomination for Best Picture. The film’s sheer presentation for Hollywood’s latest dystopian future definitely deserves its due. But once past the innovative visuals and high octane action, the lack of a story relegates Fury Road to nothing more than a high speed tractor pull to the end of the world
By Rich Monetti7 years ago in Futurism
In The Big Short, 2008 Economic Crisis Had Winners Who Didn’t Break the Law
The 2008 economic crisis is long behind us. So why not go back and take a look at a number of people who saw it coming and made loads of money as a result? How about we stick them in the cell with Bernie Madoff instead and have them rig the market to reimburse the losses for the rest of us. Nah, that’s not the spirit of The Big Short, and you’ll have no problem juxtaposing what could be considered a bunch of misery merchants for farsighted heroes in this revealing Adam McKay film.
By Rich Monetti7 years ago in Geeks
Star Wars Rogue One Delivers Original Story But Disconnected Characters Keeps You From Caring
For the first time in the five Star Wars prequels and sequels that followed the original Trilogy, the franchise has not completely embarrassed itself. Unfortunately, Star Wars Rogue One still falls a little short, and the twelve dollars I shoveled over feels like yet another drop in a money pit that has no foreseeable bottom.
By Rich Monetti7 years ago in Futurism
Filmmaker Finds New York Vacation Getaway of a Bygone Era
Every summer, as the sizzle perspires from the cement, urban thoughts of running streams, flowing grass and cool mountain breezes inherently materialize around every New Yorker and only subside with the arrival of fall. But few would consider the very nearby setting today that many Italian families once made an affordable respite and desired vacation getaway. A sentiment reflecting the desolation this upstate destination of a bygone era now suffers. Nonetheless, a holdout remains and is the subject of The Last Resort.
By Rich Monetti7 years ago in Geeks
Audrey Hepburn Succumbs to Charade as the Age of Cary Grants' Movies Come to an End
In 2017, as Netflix or your DVD aligns its digits to the opening of "Charade," the 1963 film gives off a sense that the world is in the midst of an identity crisis that ties to the end of an era for Cary Grant Movies. Stuck between the social restrictions of the past and the tsunami of changes that are coming, Hollywood seems unsure of how to define "cool" in its presentation of this romantic comedy thriller. Lucky for them, Cary Grant transcends such considerations, and while he didn’t necessarily provide a bridge to the future, the past had to fade away because he was the only one left to – well – carry it.
By Rich Monetti7 years ago in Geeks
Woody Allen Finds Himself and the Roaring 20s in Zelig
Who else but Woody Allen himself could insert himself into Nazi archival footage, cause a ruckus to get the attention of a girl he loves and then get a laugh while Adolf Hitler rants on world domination and Aryan purity. The film is Zeliq – a 1983 roaring 20s mockumentary, starring the eclectic filmmaker and his then girlfriend, Mia Farrow.
By Rich Monetti7 years ago in Geeks
'Matthews' Sheds Light on English Football Star's Coaching during Apartheid in South Africa
Babe Ruth swung for the fences in the 1920s, and America crowned him the Sultan of Swat. In England, Stanley Matthews compares at the same cultural magnitude, and one upped the Bambino’s royalty by becoming the only active footballer to receive a Knighthood. Their off-the-field activity also made them both larger than life. But just because Sir Stanley was slight and his exploits far harder to spot amongst Ruth’s girth and gregariousness, doesn’t mean the English legend got his proper due in the history books. Finally, he is the subject of an upcoming sports documentary called, Matthews.
By Rich Monetti7 years ago in Geeks
“Tapestry” Provides a 'Star Trek: The Next Generation' Lesson on Misperceived Failures
I have a friend who is well placed in the corporate world and pulls down more money than any of my classmates from Plattsburgh. But as he runs in his circles among the well born and highly situated, he dreads revealing the base origins of his higher education. Given the chance, I think he’d rectify this untidy part of his life and pull this loose thread on an otherwise successful portfolio. But he might just undo the tapestry of his life as Jean-Luc Picard learned in one of my favorite episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
By Rich Monetti7 years ago in Futurism
Abondanza Is a Bronx Tale of a Disappearing Neighborhood
If you really want to add authenticity to your Sunday serving of macaroni, meatballs and gravy, a trip to Arthur Avenue in the Bronx will yield as many homemade Italian shopping opportunities as it always has. On the other hand, finding the old Italian-American community among those businesses is more difficult, so Katonah filmmaker Dante Liberatore decided to document it in Abondanza before it disappears and the Bronx Tale is no more.
By Rich Monetti7 years ago in Geeks
Dave’s Place Elevates All with Down to Earth NYC Townies
I went to college in Plattsburgh, New York – the North Country. Every weekend the downtown bars were mobbed with college students drinking one dollar beers and doing what they do. Scattered along side, "townies" tried to pass themselves off as us. It was always an uneasy piece, as it probably is in many places across the country. But if you really wanted to get a taste and put aside this youthful air of undeserved superiority that we haughtily wore among our community hosts – "The Royal" was the place to go. That said, we from our pretentious suburban, urban and middle class perches have all given these places a go. And while we hope our arrogance is forgiven, we are all the better for rising to the level of the down to earth people that are always encountered. I recently found a bar such as this in the unlikeliest place – West 42nd and 9th avenue in Manhattan.
By Rich Monetti7 years ago in Wander