Categories
Archives
-
-
-
-
Recent Posts
- 2026 Shakespeare Reading Project: Twelfth Night: or, What You Will
- “Literature is the written expression of revolt against expected things.” Happy Birthday to the least happy man ever, Thomas Hardy
- “I’m not interested in money. I just want to be wonderful.” – Marilyn Monroe
- “[My ambition is to] give something to our literature which will be our own.” — Walt Whitman
- “I don’t want to show things, but to give people the desire to see.” — Agnès Varda
- “I never made a message picture, and I hope I never do.” — Howard Hawks
- “If I am going to be a poet at all, I am going to be POET and not NEGRO POET.” — poet Countee Cullen
- Reviews: Currents (2026)
- Reviews: Forge (2026)
- “Only the bad directors tell you how to read a line, how to define your character. The good ones let you do your job.” — Carroll Baker
Recent Comments
- Maddy on “I’m not interested in money. I just want to be wonderful.” – Marilyn Monroe
- Mike Molloy on 2026 Shakespeare Reading Project: Much Ado About Nothing
- sheila on “I never made a message picture, and I hope I never do.” — Howard Hawks
- Bryan Summers on “I never made a message picture, and I hope I never do.” — Howard Hawks
- Lyrie on “I just love telling stories. That’s what we do and it’s a good business to be in, especially if you know you have talent.” –Jensen Ackles
- Kendra Williams on Josh White, singer of “the fighting blues”
- sheila on “I dont want to just do just country type stuff the rest of my life. I want to do some different things.” — Charlie Rich
- sheila on The Books: “Awake and Sing” (Clifford Odets)
- Jincy Willett on “There’s nobody as good as the Ramones, never will be.” — Joey Ramone
- Bill Wolfe on “I dont want to just do just country type stuff the rest of my life. I want to do some different things.” — Charlie Rich
- Donn Harris on The Books: “Awake and Sing” (Clifford Odets)
- sheila on “Listen, I never meant to make money. I never wanted it. I’m a singer, man.” — Gene Vincent
- Pat on “Listen, I never meant to make money. I never wanted it. I’m a singer, man.” — Gene Vincent
- sheila on “There’s nobody as good as the Ramones, never will be.” — Joey Ramone
- Jincy Willett on “There’s nobody as good as the Ramones, never will be.” — Joey Ramone
- sheila on 2026 Shakespeare Reading Project: Hamlet
- Biff Dorsey on 2026 Shakespeare Reading Project: Hamlet
- sheila on 2026 Shakespeare Reading Project: Hamlet
- Dave on Review: The Chronology of Water (2025)
- Biff Dorsey on 2026 Shakespeare Reading Project: Hamlet
-
Tag Archives: reviews
The Foxy Merkins (2014); directed by Madeleine Olnek
Lots of funny stuff in The Foxy Merkins, but not enough to warrant the feature-length. It feels like a comedy sketch that goes on too long. Their former film (director Olnek, Lisa Haas, and Jackie Monahan) was 2011’s Codependent Lesbian … Continue reading
Venetian Blinds and Gleaming Silver Pistols: On Sudden Fear
Illustration of Joan Crawford in 1952’s “Sudden Fear” by Brianna Ashby This article on Sudden Fear originally appeared in Bright Wall/Dark Room‘s Noir issue. Today is Joan Crawford Day on TCM. Venetian Blinds and Gleaming Silver Pistols: On Sudden Fear … Continue reading
On Sudden Fear (1952)
Here’s an excerpt from the essay I wrote on Sudden Fear for Bright Wall/Dark Room‘s Noir issue. The rest is behind a pay-wall, but here’s a taste. Starring Joan Crawford, Jack Palance and Gloria Grahame, Sudden Fear is a gorgeous … Continue reading
A Girl Walks Home Alone at Night (2014); an Iranian vampire movie
I’ve seen it twice now. The first impression held. I’m basically in love with it. A vampire stalking an Iranian town. A vampire in a full chador. It’s an incredible first feature, written and directed by Ana Lily Amirpour. My … Continue reading
Bad Hair (2014); written and directed by Mariana Rondón
A new movie from Venezuelan writer/director Mariana Rondón about a little boy who wants to straighten his “bad hair,” and how that desire has a ripple effect in his life. Painful, truthful. Highly recommend it. My review of Bad Hair … Continue reading
Beyond the Lights (2014); directed by Gina Prince-Bythewood
Go read my friend Odie’s rave review of Beyond the Lights over at Rogerebert.com. All I can say is: WHAT HE SAID. I read his review nodding to myself the whole time, vigorously, in agreement. YES. It is that good! … Continue reading
The Homesman (2014); directed by Tommy Lee Jones
The Homesman really got to me. A feminist Western. Disturbing, emotional, messy, strange. My review of The Homesman is now up at Rogerebert.com.
Venetian Blinds and Gleaming Silver Pistols: Sudden Fear (1952)
Illustration by the talented Brianna Ashby, who did illustrations for the entire November issue I wrote an essay on Sudden Fear, starring Joan Crawford, Jack Palance and Gloria Grahame, for the November Noir issue of Bright Wall/Dark Room. A noir/women’s … Continue reading
Review: Beside Still Waters (2014); Directed/written by Chris Lowell
My review of Beside Still Waters, which opens tomorrow, over at The Dissolve.
Review: The Tower (2014)
The Tower, a German mini-series based on a best-selling award-winning book of the same name, is a panoramic multi-character look at the last decade of Communist rule in East Germany (GDR). It takes place from 1982 to 1989. Directed by … Continue reading