I finally found a film about an artist that doesn't insult me.

By John DeSando, WCBE's "It's Movie Time"

I finally found a film about an artist that doesn't insult me. I want to see the artistic process unfold, feel the artist's need for inspiration, and see him struggle with making paints and finding light. All this occurs in director Peter Webber's "Girl with a Pearl Earring," the best I have seen about an artist.

Perfect for an agnostic.

By John DeSando, WCBE's "It's Movie Time"

Two superlatives apply to writer/director Patty Jenkins' "Monster": best actress and grimmest film of 2003.

By John DeSando, WCBE's "It's Movie Time"

We use our little symbolic toys to look at the films of 2003.

By John DeSando and Clay Lowe

In 2003 actors dreamed about being politicians and politicians dreamed about being film stars. Filmmakers had a jolly time playing with reality, but then that is the stuff of which their dreams are made.

As we attempt to pull together significant films from 2003, we needed to decide what form of reality we should take: film critics? historians? or just our plain old grumpy selves?

You may be ready to understand your parents better than you thought possible.

By John DeSando, WCBE's "It's Movie Time"

Here is modern tragedy like no other in 2003.

By John DeSando, WCBE's "It's Movie Time"

Here is modern tragedy like no other in 2003. While A.O. Scott in the "New York Times" reminded us of "Antigone's" "two rights adding up to a monstrous wrong," I will take one further step to say debut director Vadim Perelman's "House of Sand and Fog" has many of the tragic elements found in most Greek dramas centuries ago.

"21 Grams" is the most existential film of 2003

By John DeSando, WCBE's "It's Movie Time"

"In America" may be the best immigrant movie ever made in the English language.

By John DeSando, WCBE's "It's Movie Time"

The director has succeeded in returning our Western culture, especially America, to myths and legends of camaraderie.

By John DeSando, WCBE's "It's Movie Time