Tag Archives: short films

June 2021 Viewing Diary

La Notte (1961; d. Michelangelo Antonioni) Pauline Kael included La Notte in her infamous essay titled “The Come-Dressed-As-the-Sick-Soul-of-Europe Parties”. Now you can debate her on this opinion – and I think she’s off (although I think it’s a hilarious title). … Continue reading

Posted in Monthly Viewing Diary, Movies, Television | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

May 2021 Viewing Diary

The Waterman (2021; d. David Oyelowo) I really loved this. Reviewed for Ebert. Des (2020; d. Lewis Arnold) Here’s what I jotted down on Instagram: David Tennant is eerily good in DES. He never does anything wrong, never makes an … Continue reading

Posted in Monthly Viewing Diary, Movies, Television | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 21 Comments

April 2021 Viewing Diary

Jewel Robbery (1932; d. William Dieterle) This glittering pre-Code, starring William Powell as a jewel thief, and Kay Francis as a married woman in love with her jewels, is such a subversive delight. Powell is devastatingly charming and Francis is … Continue reading

Posted in Monthly Viewing Diary, Movies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

January/February/March 2021 Viewing Diary

Better late than never. I moved at the end of January – a big interstate move – so I’ve been a bit, how you say, busy. Not too busy to keep up my viewing schedule but too busy to put … Continue reading

Posted in Monthly Viewing Diary, Movies, Television | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 23 Comments

NYFCC Awards 2020

Today the members of the NYFCC (New York Film Critics Circle) voted on this year’s best. We did it over Zoom. We normally meet in person. They are anonymous ballots, and it’s an involved system – you need a certain … Continue reading

Posted in Actors, Directors, Movies | Tagged , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

“I’ve been thinking about this guy on the ocean floor for like 4 years, maybe even longer.” – Kristen Stewart

Kristen Stewart’s 17-minute short film, Come Swim, is a collage piece, filled with strange and powerful images that reverberate and echo, all accompanied by repetitive whispers, giggles, gurgles, the sound of water. Lapping waves, a pouring downpour, gurgles, roaring, rushing. … Continue reading

Posted in Actors, Directors, Movies | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Nostalgia For a Sick Sick Book Marketed to Tweens

Two screengrabs from Sofia Coppola’s first film, a short called Lick the Star. This is exactly what my 6th grade experience looked like. At any given moment this was going on all over the classroom.

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

Ebertfest 2017: Review of July and Half of August

A lovely review by Peter Sobczynski of July and Half of August over on Rogerebert.com, in the dispatch for Day 3. It was a hell of a day.

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Ebertfest Snapshots

Introducing “July and Half of August” before the screening — Chatting with Hugh Dancy before the panel we both participated in. That was the panel where I said, in regards to rom-coms, “I would LOVE to be chased by Cary … Continue reading

Posted in Movies, Personal | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

Ebertfest: Day 1

It’s wonderful to be here in Champaign-Urbana. This is my 4th year coming to Ebertfest. My mother and one of my sisters both flew in for Ebertfest and for the screening of my film July and Half of August, which … Continue reading

Posted in Movies | Tagged , | 9 Comments