About CB Wismar

CB Wismar has fashioned a career out of being a storyteller. From his early days as a writer and producer of television shows and short films in Hollywood, where he managed to get three EMMY nominations and was twice a finalist in the Short Subjects competition for an “Oscar,” to his years of creating corporate videos for Fortune 500 companies and producing large form events and concerts, his goal has always been to create experiences.

FILM REVIEW – EMMA

There are moments at the beginning of Autumn de Wilde’s rendition of Jane Austen’s “Emma” when those who have gathered for their latest “Austen fix” may rightly wonder if the engine will ever start … if the whip will ever be cracked and the carriage begin to move.  For reasons best known to the first […]

By |2021-07-29T11:29:58-04:00March 8th, 2020|Movie Reviews|

FILM REVIEW – SEBERG

Seberg” is that volatile film combination of fact and fiction that must be taken at face value and enjoyed (or not) for what it is.  Yes, the FBI did terrorize actress Jean Seberg for her connections with the Black Panthers, among other radical groups.  Yes, she did have an emotionally charged life that led to […]

By |2020-03-03T08:41:45-05:00March 2nd, 2020|Movie Reviews|

FILM REVIEW – Parasite

If you missed the winner of the OSCAR for not only Best Picture, but Best Director and Best International Film (the old “Foreign Language” category), then your chance is back.  “Parasite” is playing in wide release, a victory lap of sorts for the richly awarded film by Korean auteur Bong Joon-ho.

Now’s your opportunity to see […]

By |2020-02-16T17:11:13-05:00February 16th, 2020|Movie Reviews|

FILM REVIEW – THE GENTLEMEN

This could be one of those moments when we celebrate the fine line between criticism and review.  There have been some self-important critics who have maligned “The Gentlemen,” Guy Ritchie’s latest action/intrigue/comedy offering for a variety of reasons, most of which seem to miss the point.

Matthew McConaughey stars in this British intrigue, stepping out of […]

By |2020-02-03T16:05:52-05:00February 2nd, 2020|Movie Reviews|

ELEGANCE ON CANVAS – ALLEN BLAGDEN

Allen Blagden’s career as an internationally celebrated artist is embodied in a story arc that begins, lifts and soars, then settles into a comfortable sense of accomplishment and enduring promise. His talent has been widely celebrated, recognized with awards and – perhaps most importantly – included in private and public collections of great note. And, […]

By |2020-02-01T23:31:42-05:00February 1st, 2020|Featured Artist|

A NIGHT AT THE OSCARS

“And the OSCAR goes to …”

But, hold on. Before we start handing out eight-and-a-half-pound statues, let’s begin with how we get there.

The OSCARS … the Academy Awards … are presented every year

by Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). That esteemed body is made up of 8,469 […]

By |2020-02-01T19:49:28-05:00February 1st, 2020|Featured Article|

FILM REVIEW – DOOLITTLE

If there is a formula for the film “Doolittle,” it may well be the following:

Huge budget ($117Million) + Big Name Stars (Robert Downey, Jr., Emma Thompson, Antonio Banderas, Octavia Spencer, Ralph Fiennes, Selena Gomez, etc.) + Exotic computer generated images set into sweeping film footage +  Talented director (Stephen Gaghan who wrote and directed “Syriana” […]

By |2020-01-28T14:09:40-05:00January 26th, 2020|Movie Reviews|

AUTHOR/FILMMAKER JOHN SAYLES APPEARING AT OBLONG BOOKSTORE IN RHINEBECK ON FEBRUARY 3

John Sayles is internationally recognized as a fiercely independent filmmaker.  After appearing on the radar of the film establishment with his first feature “Return of the Secaucus 7,” he built a career and a string of celebrated feature films by doing it, as the old Frank Sinatra song proclaims, “my way.”

There were scripts to write […]

By |2020-01-28T14:10:47-05:00January 17th, 2020|Author Profiles & Bookish Things|

FILM REVIEW – LITTLE WOMEN

“Little Women” is not a little film.  In fact, it is quite large – in production scope, in reception and in the concentration of creative genius it crams into 2 hours and 15 minutes. And, one more.  It is quite large in heart.

Greta Gerwig, who rocketed to fame and recognition with “Lady Bird” has crafted a script based […]

By |2020-01-28T14:11:14-05:00January 16th, 2020|Movie Reviews|

FILM REVIEW – 1917

There is some emotional relief in “1917,” the latest, exceptional film by director Sam Mendes.  The emotional relief lasts for about 3 minutes before the audience realizes that they are on a day, night and morning furtive journey … a foot race to halt a brutal ambush of British troops in World War I.

Once the […]

By |2020-01-28T14:13:18-05:00January 12th, 2020|Movie Reviews|
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