Ed Rampell

Ed Rampell is an LA-based film historian and critic, author of "Progressive Hollywood: A People’s Film History of the United States," and co-author of "The Hawaii Movie and Television Book." He has written for Variety, Television Quarterly, Cineaste, New Times L.A., and other publications. Rampell lived in Tahiti, Samoa, Hawaii, and Micronesia, reporting on the nuclear-free and independent Pacific and Hawaiian Sovereignty movements.

LATEST ARTICLES BY Ed Rampell

Arts

“Billy Elliot”: Broadway musical meets proletarian drama
January 23, 2015 By Ed Rampell
Combines a commercial, crowd-pleasing form of expression that also roots the characters and plot firmly in class conflict and consciousness.
Read more
Arts

“Blackhat”: The thinker’s thriller
January 16, 2015 By Ed Rampell
Director Mann has made the tried and true thriller genre timely and cutting edge, as well as sitting-on-the-edge-of-your-seat exciting.
Read more
Arts

Hello to Godard’s latest film, “Goodbye to Language”
January 15, 2015 By Ed Rampell
To paraphrase TV's 1960s sci-fi series "The Outer Limits," there is nothing wrong with your screen. Do not attempt to adjust the picture.
Read more
Arts

From neo-realism to neo-liberalism: “Two Days, One Night”
January 8, 2015 By Ed Rampell
The word "depression" indicates a downturn, and can refer to psychological or economic dimensions.
Read more
Arts

“Train to Zakopané” is a hard hitting play about bigotry
December 2, 2014 By Ed Rampell
The plight of Jews in 1928 Poland, with the rise of the Nazis lurking and looming in the background, is strong stuff.
Read more
Arts

Heart of lightness: “Florencia en el Amazonas”
December 1, 2014 By Ed Rampell
Who says the operatic art form is dead? Simply put, Florencia en el Amazonas is among the finest operas this reviewer has ever seen.
Read more
Arts

“Once Upon a Time, Veronica”
November 25, 2014 By Ed Rampell
What's engrossing about this film is that it takes viewers behind the scenes into the psyche and soul of its protagonist, Veronica da Silva Fernandes (Hermila Guedes).
Read more
Arts

Hollywood Left turns out to support Howard Zinn’s new book
November 24, 2014 By Ed Rampell
Rocker Tom Morello brought the house down at an event celebrating the publication of the anniversary edition of "Voices of a People's History of the United States."
Read more