Category Archives: Movies

Review: The Last Rodeo (2025)

Not to be confused with The Last Showgirl … I reviewed The Last Rodeo for Ebert.

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“It’s an absolute miracle that I’m still around.” — Dennis Hopper

It’s his birthday today. I’m so glad I used one of my columns at Film Comment -now on hiatus – to sing the praises of Dennis Hopper’s wild and nihilistic Out of the Blue, starring Linda Manz and Hopper. Of … Continue reading

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For Joseph Cotten’s birthday: Gaslight: His Listening Is Active

Except for a couple of brief encounters in public settings, Joseph Cotten’s Brian Cameron and Ingrid Bergman’s Paula Asquist never meet until the final scene of Gaslight. Cameron is obsessed with the unsolved murder of Paula Asquist’s aunt, and is … Continue reading

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April 2025 Viewing Diary, Supernatural Season 6, working backwards

Backwards rewatch continued: Supernatural, Season 6, episode 1 “Exile on Main St.” Written by Sera Gamble Directed by Phil Sgriccia Mainly recalling my first response to this episode. I was just riveted and had NO idea where it was going. … Continue reading

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“That’s the way I work: I try to imagine what I would like to see.” — Sofia Coppola

It’s her birthday today. Doing these posts is a way to pull up things from my gigantic archives. I might as well find ways to share them. But it’s also a reminder of how much I haven’t written. Topics I … Continue reading

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“I’m very concerned that we don’t make movies that are original anymore.” — Robert Zemeckis

It’s his birthday today. While Robert Zemeckis has gone on to be a bazillionaire and one of the most successful producers in Hollywood of fairly middle-brow movies, he started off small and rowdy – with two films I love: first, … Continue reading

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Available for pre-order: Frankenstein!

Now that it’s “out there” for pre-order, I think it’s okay to mention what I have been working on for the past year and change: a book on Guillermo del Toro’s upcoming film adaptation of Frankenstein. I had to sign … Continue reading

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“I don’t care how afraid I may be inside — I do what I think I should.” — Katharine Hepburn

Barbara Walters: “Kate, you always wear pants. Do you even own a skirt?” Katharine Hepburn: “I have one, Miss Walters. I’ll wear it to your funeral.” Dan and I discussed her, in my interview with him about his new book. … Continue reading

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“I think a fear of portraying something negatively ends up creating more stereotypes.” — Sophia Takal

It’s Sophia Takal’s birthday today. “You probably can’t tell this from “Green,” but I actually think that art should have a sense of humor about itself. Art is very important and it can change lives, but it doesn’t actually save … Continue reading

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Review: Sew Torn (2025)

It’s stylish and creative. Maybe a bit too much of a good thing but worth seeing. I reviewed Sew Torn for Ebert.

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