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Pleasure Palace: A review of the documentary Queen of Versailles

The Queen of Versailles The 2008 financial crisis was the worst since the infamous Great Depression of 1929, the one that ended both fortunes and lives. Florida billionaires David and Jackie Siegel found themselves impacted by the most recent as they began construction on their massive 90,000 square foot home. If completed, it would be the largest private residence in the United States. It is titled, appropriately enough, “ Versailles.” The ironies in this tale are just beginning. Documentarian Lauren Greenfield was given free access to chronicle the lives of the Siegel’s at the apex of their wealth. She incidentally caught them at the near total collapse of it. In what could be the perfect storm for a film maker, Greenfields timing provides a fascinating view of the lives of the super rich, and it is not a particularly appealing one. It all begins like a fable. It all turns out like the American Dream pumped on steroids. David Siegel became a billi

Sticks & Stones Dave Chappelle's Stand Up Special on Netflix

Dave Chappelle Still Funny, and Still Controversial Dave Chappelle still occupies the upper echelon of contemporary comics. Sticks & Stones, his latest comic special on Netflix, works as a condensed, even tight, presentation of what he does best. It also shows his comic weakness. “Edginess” the willingness to take risks and avoid playing it safe, has been the barometer of humor for decades. The days of the non-controversial humor have been over, unless you aim to be a third or fifth rate comic. The problematic political correctness of the present has presented significant road blocks for comics in particular. There is a point where you can go, and a point where you cannot, and the line that defines what is acceptable is shifting with random reckless abandon. Being a comic has never been more dangerous. You can become too provocative without offending anyone. Loath him or love him, Chappelle is actually funny. The problem I have always had with

A review of H.B.O.'s Documentary on The Michelle Carter Case

I Love You, Now Die: The Commonwealth v. Michelle Carter An H.B.O. Documentary H.B.O.'s Haunting Documentary Director Erin Lee Carr Quick Assessment: This is must see viewing. A review by Kurt von Behrmann On July 2014, 18-year-old Conrad Roy completed suicide. It took placed in his truck. The vehicle was parked at a Kmart parking lot in Fairhaven, Mass. What happened afterwards would have sweeping ramifications. What transformed this tragedy into a media feeding frenzy was a series of text messages exchanged between Conrad Roy and his girlfriend Michelle Carter. In a series of feverish, even hectoring, text messages, she was imploring him to kill himself. Two lives forever changed when thy met and began a constant stream of text messages. Director Erin Lee Carr has constructed a documentary that delves into the critical details were missed in the wide spread media coverage. The narrative that was disseminated failed to

The Democratic Debates 2019

What have we learned from this "Food Fight" Part P.T. Barnum and Baily to several parts serious political discourse, one thing did come from all of this. Past the novelty of having too many candidates with far too little to say on one stage, a star was born. A few also happened to burn out, one in comic glory, of a sort. The first night of debates lacked any drama at all, good or bad. The clear and undisputed winner was Elizabeth Warren. While many see her elect-ability factor as a down side, she was the only person on the stage that left an impression. She had a clear idea of what she was going to do and how to do it. Everyone else, sadly, was one great big snooze fest. There was no energy, no electricity. There was no “ah” moment that made you feel strongly about anyone. It was simply dry. No one seemed to grasp the idea that political life is part entertainment. The only one who seemed to get that point was Warren. There is a strict rule in

Madonna: The Problems with Growing Older

Madonna's Dilemma What to do with being around for a long time Madam X, she is still using sex as a muse. When I discovered Madonna was incensed over a recent article about her in New York Times Magazine, I immediately recalled what another writer had to say about her. It was illuminating. Lisa Robinson, author of “There Goes Gravity: A Life in Rock and Roll,” wrote, “We talked for almost two hours. I recently listened back to that tape, and my impression remains the same now as it was then: to me, she seemed humorless, a determined woman who decided music was the way to go. It would help her rule the world. Madonna was the only one in the thousands of interviews that I did over four decades who gave me absolutely nothing. She talked for a long time. She told me her story. But it all sounded like a boilerplate." This is far from the impression I am sure she wanted to leave. Vanessa Grigoriadis, author of “Madonna at Sixty” for the New York Times Magazine,

When Boring Becomes Electric

The New Mac Pro and the Luxury Stand They actually showed this contraption off. The crowd was not too happy. When a base computer costs $ 5,999.00 and a monitor $ 5,999, we are looking at stratospheric pricing. In the highest echelons of machines, this could be the norm. However, there is no world where a stand for a monitor costing $ 999.00 is. The new Imac Professional Coming Soon. This is it, front view. The long awaited and much anticipated new Mac Professional made a memorable debut. It was for an outrageously expensive monitor stand, and an appearance that looked inspired by a cheese grater that drew the most attention. Incidentally, the pricing also made something of a splash. Could a common kitchen device be the style inspiration? Many on the web say, yes. Apple has been heralded for their design aesthetic for years. Yet, there was no way to escape the fact this computer resem