Hello again! There's still been enough free time to write a pair of reviews for a pair of exceptional films. The turkeys have been scarcer than usual lately - both of these pictures are gems:

Facets Video's It All Starts Today was so good I watched it twice in two days. Philipe Torreton stars as a pre-school teacher in Northern France, and the result is the best film about the reality of teaching since Stand and Deliver. The whole concept of dedication to society is evaporating in the world, leaving a whole desperate subclass of educated teachers to raise our children without funds or support ... and this excellent drama by Bertrand Tavernier shows the truth while leaving us with a message of hope. Highly recommended.

Columbia TriStar's Shampoo is Hal Ashby's sly comedy about the beautiful people of Beverly Hills, and how all of them somehow want to sleep with Warren Beatty. Julie Christie, Lee Grant and Goldie Hawn shine in this almost perfect satire, that's too true to be a satire.

Some nice reader rebuttal and clarification letters came in for a couple of older reviews. Revisit The Mystery of Picasso and you'll find it augmented with an explanation of the painting/filming technique; and a real sportscaster rakes Savant over the coals for my criticism of The Harder They Fall. Good reading, and Savant doesn't have to eat too much crow, either. I'm saving up the many Metropolis response letters I've been getting, and will post them when the disc hits on February 18. Thanks! Glenn Erickson