Adina Bernstein

Every writer or director has his or her own signature style. Quentin Tarantino’s signature films contain violence, humor, a slightly out-there narrative, and many callbacks to the films ans shows that he loved growing up. His 2009 film, Inglourious Basterds, added a new dimension to his storytelling style: a historical film that is not exactly historically accurate, but still entertaining.
Most films that focus on World War II and The Holocaust are usually and rightly dark and dramatic. There...

When it comes to gangster films, female characters usually fall into one of two categories. If they have any sort of prominence within the narrative, they usually fall within the romantic or familial label: wife/girlfriend/mistress/love interest or the sister/mother/ daughter/grandmother. If they are not prominent within the narrative, they are a nameless and faceless background character. In The Kitchen, the women are front and center. It’s too bad that The Kitchen isn’t a good example of th...

The best stories are the ones that speak to all of us. Regardless of the time, place and/or culture that the story is set in, there is a humanity to the characters and narrative that is universal.
Director Lulu Wang’s new film, The Farewell, is based on a true story from her own life. When her grandmother was diagnosed with terminal cancer, the family made a decision to hide the truth of the diagnosis from her. To disguise what they think is their final goodbyes, Wang’s family decides that a ...

When your young, sex is enticing, mysterious and confusing. You want to appear confident, mature and wise, but the reality is often very different than the image.
This year is the twentieth anniversary of American Pie. My generation’s answer to Animal House, American Pie is the story of four young men who are about to graduate high school and want to lose their virginity before graduation. What starts out as a simple goal becomes complicated.
Female Characters are Finally Given an Equal Share...

Among every fandom, there is bound to be disagreements as to preferred actors, characters and narratives when it comes to film adaptations. In the Janeite community (those who are fans of Jane Austen and her novels), the 1995 adaptation of Persuasion is almost universally adored and appreciated.
Persuasion is the story of love, loss and second chances. Anne Elliot (Amanda Root) is the middle daughter of a baronet. Still single and in her late twenties, Anne is looked down upon by her family. ...

Hollywood is addicted to sequels, prequels, reboots and remakes. The question that I, as the average audience member has to ask, is this is sequel, prequel, reboot or remake any different than its predecessor? Or is it the same narrative with a different cast and better technology?
In 1999, The Mummy hit theaters. 1999 was not the first year that The Mummy was in theaters. Previous films were released in 1932 and 1959. The 1999 film, which mirrors the narrative of the 1932 film stars Brendan ...

I love Old Hollywood movies and television shows. There is a class, elegance, a distinct type of storytelling that is usually not seen in today’s movies. While most of the iconic actresses from the era were blonde or brunette, there were a few redheads who stood out.
1. Maureen O’Hara
The late Maureen O’Hara was the physical embodiment of the redhead. Irish, feisty, intelligent and with a very sharp tongue, she was one of the few actresses of the era to successfully break into the boys club a...

In 1999, Star Wars fans around the world queued up at their local box office, eager to step once more into the world of Star Wars. It had been 16 years since Return of the Jedi and fans were ready to return to the movies to watch another Star Wars film on the big screen. Entitled Star Wars: The Phantom Menace, the film takes place a generation before Leia (the late and very missed Carrie Fisher), Luke (Mark Hamill) and Han (Harrison Ford) wage war against the Empire.
The buildup to Phantom Me...

On November 26th, 2008, the eyes of the world were on Mumbai. Terrorists were openly and brazenly killing innocent civilians. Among the nearly 200 dead and more than 300 wounded were staff and guests at the Taj Palace and Tower. Their story is told in the new movie, Hotel Mumbai.
The following review will be spoiler free.
Synopsis
Directed by: Anthony Maras
Written by: Anthony Maras and John Collee
Starring: Dev Patel, Armie Hammer, Nazanin Boniadi, Tilda Cobham-Hervey, Anupam Kher, and Jason...

It’s never easy to start a solo career after spending years in a popular band. Last year, former Yellowcard front man William Ryan Key released two solo albums, Thirteen and Virtue and, on March 1, 2019, he played at Baby’s All Right in Williamsburg.
Joining Key on stage was his former Yellowcard bandmate Josh Portman, actor/musician Patrick Heusinger and Selfish Things drummer Jordan Trask. Playing mostly songs from Virtue and Thirteen ,with a handful of old Yellowcard favorites, Key harkene...

War has a way of changing everything, relationships included. The new movie, The Aftermath, based on the book by Rhidian Brook, dives into this idea, looking into the aftermath of war and the repercussions that such atrocities have on an individual.
The following review will be spoiler free.
Synopsis
Directed By: James Kent
Written By: Joe Shrapnel (screenplay), Anna Waterhouse (screenplay) and Rhidian Brook (novel)
Starring: Keira Knightley, Jason Clarke, Flora Thiemann, Alexander Skarsgård,...

When I was growing up in the 1980’s and 1990’s, the on-screen redheads that my former child self could look to as an icon were limited. There was Anne Shirley, but her story was limited to the small screen. Then The Little Mermaid premiered in 1989.
I Will Always Have an Affinity for Ariel
There is nothing like going to the movies and seeing yourself reflected on screen. Not only did I look like Ariel (voiced by Jodi Benson), but I understood her as well. She was and always will be to a certa...

Every genre has it’s expected clichés. The romantic comedy genre is no exception. The new movie, Isn’t It Romantic, both revels in the clichés and mocks them in gleeful fashion.
The following review will be spoiler free.
Synopsis
Directed By: Todd Strauss-Schulson
Written By: Erin Cardillo, Dana Fox and Kate Silberman
Starring: Rebel Wilson, Adam Devine, Liam Hemsworth, Priyanka Chopra, Alex Kis, Brandon Scott Jones and Jennifer Saunders
The film starts in the early 90’s. Young Natalie (Alex ...

For everyone who dreams of making it in Hollywood, only a small handful will see their dreams become reality. Among that small handful, an ever-smaller group of performers become icons. Glenn Close is one of those performers who has become an icon in Hollywood.
Her most recent movie, The Wife, hit theaters last fall. Based on the novel by Meg Wolitzer, Close and the film have already received multiple nominations and awards this season. The list of nominations includes a best actress Oscar no...

The mere act of walking into a bookstore gives any book lover a high. The mere act of walking through the Brooklyn Book Festival multiplies that high times 100. It is an experience that cannot be explained, only felt.
Held this year on September 16th in Downtown Brooklyn, the festival hosted publishing houses, magazines, undergraduate/graduate programs, and a booth presided over by JASNA-NY. Volunteers did more than sell books, DVDs, and recruit new members to the region. They brought Austen ...