John Anderson

Terrence Malick's latest masterpiece is alarmingly relevant. Living by your principles when almost everyone around you has none. A film for our Trumped up times.

As one who invented the software used to fund and launch a startup near the beginning of the Internet revolution, I jumped too quickly to agree to terms with three wrong partners, all weak and incompetent attorneys. Three years later, they stole the company from me. StartUp is an honest, accurate, well written and well played portrayal of my experience. The acting, direction, writing, and production values are first rate. Thumbs up.

Although I don't believe for a minute that lobbyists are nearly as bright as Jessica Chastain's Liz Sloane, some may be as obsessive; but I doubt that as well. Jessica Chastain makes something believable and watchable out of a ludicrous script. Surrounded by ambitious and deceitful opponents and colleagues who jump ships, Miss Sloane is the only chess master in the bunch. She looks right at us and says, "“Lobbying is about foresight. Anticipating your opponent’s moves and devising counter-measures. I was hired to win.” Exactly. If only the real life American gun control movement was populated with such smart, ruthless talent. Now, how do we finally force killers to buy their AR15s on the black market? Better yet, how do we legislate tough background checks, put the NRA into bankruptcy, and make owning a gun as difficult as earning a graduate degree? Ask Miss Sloane.