Clint Eastwood is still directing at the age of 80 — which should make him feel pretty lucky. His latest film, “Hereafter,” starring Matt Damon, Cecile De France, Jay Mohr and twin newcomers George and Frankie McLaren, deals with the afterlife, specifically near-death experiences and communicating with those who’ve passed, all wrapped up in the larger issue of fate. Written by “The Queen” scribe Peter Morgan, “Hereafter” incorporates real-world events into its fictional story, including Eastwood’s biggest filming challenge: The Indian Ocean tsunami of 2004. Read more

What do the movies tell us about what the hereafter looks like? Read more>>

Just because you’re no longer on active duty with the CIA doesn’t mean you’re not a target of a nefarious scheme involving murder. That’s what four ‘older’ agents discover, becoming designated as RED: Retired Extremely Dangerous. Read more

On the occasion of John Lennon’s 70th birthday (and months before the 30th anniversary of his death), come two new John Lennon films: Read more>>

On October 9th, John Lennon would have celebrated his 70th birthday. So perhaps it’s fitting to take a look at his turbulent youth and how his formative teenage years in Liverpool shaped the creative man and passionate musician he was to become. Read more

The British Film Institute recently polled film critics and historians about the essential films books. Here’s its list — and also mine: Read more>>

This romantic dramedy about two unlikely parents begins with a dreadful blind date when Alison (“Mad Men’s” Christina Hendricks) and her husband Peter Novak (Hayes MacArthur) fix up their respective best friends, Holly Berenson (Katherine Heigl) and Eric Messer (Josh Duhamel). Read more

Each year, the Hamptons International Film Festival (HIFF), the 18th edition of which takes place from October 7 to 11, 2010, recognizes breakthrough performers in its Rising Stars and Shooting Stars programs, and this year all six of the honorees are women. Read more

The possible “openness” of Facebook here hinges on the definitive closed system embodied by this fictional Mark Zuckerberg. Read more>>

Microsoft visionary Bill Gates once said, “As we look ahead into the next century, leaders will be those who empower others.” And that’s why this astute tale about brilliant Facebook co-founder/CEO Mark Zuckerberg is so fascinating. Read more