Author Archives: sheila

“When I aim at praise, they say I bite.” — Alexander Pope

Posted on May 21, 2025 by sheila

How happy is the blameless vestal’s lot! The world forgetting, by the world forgot. Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind! -— Alexander Pope, from “Eloisa to Abelard” Alexander Pope was born on this day in 1688. He was so huge … Continue reading →

Posted in On This Day, writers | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

“Boredom is very important in life. It helps you feel when something is wrong.” — John Strasberg

Posted on May 20, 2025 by sheila

It’s John Strasberg’s birthday today. I told this story before on here years ago, when I used to write like this on here, on occasion. Figured I’d re-post it. He is very very important to me. Back in the late … Continue reading →

Posted in Actors, Directors, On This Day, Personal, Theatre | Tagged , , , , , , | 14 Comments

“There’s nobody as good as the Ramones, never will be.” — Joey Ramone

Posted on May 19, 2025 by sheila

“To me, John Lennon and Elvis Presley were punks, because they made music that evoked those emotions in people.” — Joey Ramone It’s Joey Ramone’s birthday today. Nothing I can say will top my brother Brendan’s essay on seeing The … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, On This Day | 4 Comments

April 2025 Viewing Diary, Supernatural Season 5, working backwards

Posted on May 18, 2025 by sheila

If you’re following along: Season 6 viewing diary Season 7 Season 8 Season 9 Season 10 Season 11 Season 12-15 Supernatural, Season 5, episode 1 “Sympathy for the Devil” Written by Eric Kripke Directed by Robert Singer It’s good to … Continue reading →

Posted in Monthly Viewing Diary, Television | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Happy birthday, Big Joe Turner, “Boss of the Blues”

Posted on May 18, 2025 by sheila

Before the advent of microphones, if you were a singer, you needed to be heard. “Blues shouters” were powerful figures known for shouting above the music. Big Joe Turner was a blues shouter from Kansas City, and also one of … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, On This Day | Leave a comment

R.I.P. Paul Durcan

Posted on May 17, 2025 by sheila

I just heard the news that acclaimed poet Paul Durcan has died at the age of 80. The couple of obits I’ve read have been fairly obligatory although I am sure there will be more in-depth pieces as the news … Continue reading →

Posted in RIP, writers | Tagged | 1 Comment

The DMV of Love

Posted on May 17, 2025 by sheila

In 2008, Keith and Dan had me out to their place in Brooklyn for dinner. They were new people to me, and I was just starting to “circulate” in the New York film critic community, through writing for Matt Seitz’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Personal | Tagged | 6 Comments

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

Posted on May 17, 2025 by sheila

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 →

Posted in Actors, Art/Photography, Directors, Movies, On This Day | Tagged , , , , | 2 Comments

“I live life in the margins of society, and the rules of normal society don‘t apply to those who live on the fringe.” — Tamara de Lempicka

Posted on May 16, 2025 by sheila

Spoken like a true exile of Jewish descent. For her birthday today: “Self Portrait in the green Bugatti” Fascinating woman, to say the least. Just a snippet from her teen years, okay? In 1912, her parents divorced and Maria went … Continue reading →

Posted in Art/Photography, On This Day | Tagged , | 10 Comments

Chat GDT

Posted on May 15, 2025 by sheila

From March. This has been my life for the last year. You actually can talk about Mary Shelley for a year and feel like you’ve just scratched the surface. Frankenstein book available October 14, and available for pre-order now.

Posted in Directors, Personal | Tagged , | 7 Comments