Carmen’s Picks – Page 5 – Not Ready for Granny Panties

Of Life and Pirates

Life. Keith RichardsReviewed by Carmen Ferreiro-EstebanThe things we do for our children. Like listen to 20 CDs of Keith Richards memoir (http://www.amazon.com/Life-Audiobook-Unabridged-Audio-CD/dp/B004CMB1UA/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1300905423&sr=1-2) so I could talk with my son like a pro. It didn't work, of course, but that was my intention when I ordered the audio book.This is how it happened.Before I was a writer, I was a reader. In fact I think I started writing when I realized nobody had yet [...]

Mary Fran Bontempo2018-10-30T09:56:20-04:00March 25th, 2011|2 Comments

Bones

by Carmen Ferreiro-EstebanIf there were a show on TV where I would like to live, it would be Bones (Fox Network, 2005-to present Thursdays at 9 PM/8PM central).And it is not only, as you may be thinking, because David Boreanaz (formerly Angel in Buffy the Vampire Slayer) is one of the main leads. Rather, it's because it portrays strong female characters.The world depicted in Bones is a world where women are allowed to [...]

Mary Fran Bontempo2018-10-30T09:56:21-04:00March 18th, 2011|2 Comments

Bizet’s Carmen

reviewed by Carmen Ferreiro-EstebanI love opera. And before you say you don't, and quit reading, please, click here and listen to Carmen's Overture, a gorgeous piece of music that I'm sure, will change your mind.As I was saying, I love opera and so when Saturday morning I read in the Philadelphia Inquirer that one of my local theaters was playing Carmen recorded during a performance by The Covent Garden Theater in London, I [...]

Mary Fran Bontempo2018-10-30T09:56:22-04:00March 11th, 2011|3 Comments

2001 Oscars Nominated Shorts

by Carmen Ferreiro-EstebanLast week I had the rare treat of watching on the big screen the five 2011 Oscar nominated animated shorts, plus two of the short-listed nominees in one feature-length program, and I was surprised by how much I enjoyed them.Usually I prefer longer films because they allow me to lose myself completely in the story. But seeing several shorts together creates a neat contrast of styles and storytelling techniques that reinforces [...]

Mary Fran Bontempo2018-10-30T09:56:23-04:00February 25th, 2011|1 Comment

Any Human Heart. Masterpiece Classic

reviewed by Carmen Ferreiro EstebanUsually, in this blog, I review movies or TV shows I like. But this time I'll make an exception because the series I watched and didn't like happened to be a Masterpiece Classic production. Two weeks ago, I raved about three of Masterpiece's recent series and highly recommended my readers to watch them. So I feel a moral obligation to review Any Human Heart, the new series that will [...]

Mary Fran Bontempo2018-10-30T09:56:25-04:00February 18th, 2011|0 Comments

Paris, je t’aime

reviewed by Carmen Ferreiro-EstebanParis, the city of love, is probably high on your list of places you would like to visit on Valentine's Day. Alas, Paris is far away and for most of us the trip won't happen just yet. But fear not, you can still visit the French capital without leaving your home by watching the quirky and enchanting ensemble 2006 movie Paris, je t'aime (I love you, Paris). Paris, je t'aime [...]

Mary Fran Bontempo2018-10-30T09:56:26-04:00February 11th, 2011|1 Comment

Masterpiece Theater in PBS

by Carmen Ferreiro-EstebanOver the last few months I have returned to one of my first loves in television, PBS Masterpiece Theater. I used to watch it all the time, but then in 2004 came Desperate Housewives (ABC) also at 9 PM on Sundays and, alas!, I fell for the crazy women of Wisteria Lane and their convolutedly crazy lives. Fear not, I have not deserted them, but now, thanks to my savvy new [...]

Mary Fran Bontempo2018-10-30T09:56:26-04:00February 4th, 2011|0 Comments