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Tag Archives: drama
Gena Rowlands in Opening Night
“So please. Tell me. Tell me what this play doesn’t express.” “Hope.” I had a great time talking with Peter Labuza for his Cinephiliacs podcast, and the final 25 minutes we spend talking about Cassavetes’ Opening Night. You can download … Continue reading
Posted in Actors, Movies
Tagged drama, Gena Rowlands, John Cassavetes, Opening Night
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My Favorite Roger: Ebert’s Review of Michael Gilio’s Kwik Stop
We were all asked to write our “favorite Roger”, piece of writing, blog-post, commentary track, whatever. I chose Roger Ebert’s review of Kwik Stop, directed by my old friend and fellow Badlands enthusiast, Michael Gilio. Roger didn’t just review this … Continue reading
Seen Recently: Paradise Now (2005), Museum Hours (2012)
I recently reviewed director Hany Abu-Assad’s latest film, Omar for Roger Ebert. Omar was about a young Palestinian guy, who had a secret girlfriend, and a job, but also was drawn into the cycle of violence of the larger conflict, … Continue reading
Review: Maladies (2014)
Maladies was filmed in 2010, and is just coming out now, which is normally a pretty bad sign. Also a bad sign: look at that god-awful poster. It’s not really a good movie, but I have to say: David Strathairn … Continue reading
Review: U Want Me 2 Kill Him? (2014)
Based on a stranger-than-fiction true story. Right in my wheelhouse of interest, but misses the mark somehow. Not without interest. My review is now up at Roger Ebert.
Review: Bethlehem (2014)
Bethlehem, co-written by an Israeli and an Arab, tells the story of an Israeli secret service agent and his teenage Palestinian informant. What does it mean to play both sides in a conflict? Can that situation EVER go over well? … Continue reading
“Leave the gun. Take the cannoli.”
My second piece for Epicurious on food and film, this one on The Godfather.
Posted in Movies
Tagged Al Pacino, drama, Francis Ford Coppola, Marlon Brando, reviews
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A Master at Work: Claude Rains Orders Dinner in Deception
A couple months ago, a conversation ensued amongst a couple of film people on Facebook about Deception (1946). I’d seen it but the conversation was so fascinating I pulled it out to watch again. (Check out Glenn Kenny’s analysis of … Continue reading
Dinner at chez Coppola: food in The Godfather
This piece on the food in The Godfather was originally published in Epicurious, February 2014. The Coppola family is a show business dynasty, with three generations of Oscar winners in its ranks: Francis Ford Coppola’s five Oscar wins (for screenwriting … Continue reading
Review: Omar (2014); directed by Hany Abu-Assad
The latest from director Hany Abu-Assad, and his first Palestinian feature since Paradise Now, Omar is pretty great. Upsetting, exciting, romantic, energetically filmed, great characters and scene-work. Also, best of all, it doesn’t present solutions to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict in … Continue reading