Tag Archives: drama

King of Herrings (2013)

Four guys hang out in a diner in New Orleans. They meet up there every day. They have been doing so for years. Maybe even decades. These guys feel like childhood friends. They hang out without even remembering why they … Continue reading

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Death of a Salesman (1951)

If you’ve read Arthur Miller’s Timebends then you know he was not happy with the 1951 film version of Death of a Salesman, with most of the original Broadway cast (Mildred Dunnock, Kevin McCarthy, Cameron Mitchell), and Fredric March in … Continue reading

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The River (1951); Directed by Jean Renoir

Martin Scorsese ranks The River up with The Red Shoes as the most beautiful color film of all time. Scorsese also says that he watches it about three or four times a year. (He first saw it when he was … Continue reading

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Review: Concussion (2013)

A new film by first-time writer/director Stacie Passon. With a hell of a lead performance by Robin Wiegert, as well as a powerhouse ensemble of actresses around her. My review at Roger Ebert.

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Phone Call From a Stranger (1952), The Old Maid (1939)

Phone Call From a Stranger Directed by Jean Negulesco Bette Davis looms large in all of the promotional material for this film but she is only in it for about ten minutes. You find yourself waiting for her to show … Continue reading

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Ikiru (1952); directed by Akira Kurosawa

Ikiru Directed by Akira Kurosawa How does the knowledge of death change how we live? It is the problem of human existence, the essential problem, that we have a hard time acknowledging the reality of death, and living accordingly. We … Continue reading

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Apology for Murder (1945), Kitty Foyle (1940)

Apology for Murder Directed by Sam Newfield Ann Savage made 5 movies in 1945, including the unforgettable Detour. Apology for Murder is a low-rent Postman Always Rings Twice. Only 67 minutes long, it wastes no time in … well, anything. … Continue reading

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Movie Notes: The Snake Pit (1947), The Panic in Needle Park (1971), Jezebel (1938), I Could Never Be Your Woman (2007)

The Snake Pit Directed by Anatole Litvak Olivia de Havilland was nominated for an Oscar for her role in The Snake Pit. She plays Virginia, a troubled woman who has a mental crack-up three days after getting married, and is … Continue reading

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The Long Night (1947), Lee Daniels’ The Butler (2013), The Fugitive Kind (1959)

The Long Night Directed by Anatole Litvak I saw this movie for the first time during my wintry month out on Block Island. I watched it in the teeth of one of the biggest storms I have ever experienced up … Continue reading

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Review: Una Noche (2013)

Una Noche, which has been raking in the awards on the festival circuit for a year now, gets a release (albeit limited) starting today. It’s worth it. Very very strong film. My review of Una Noche for Rogerebert.com.

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