Tag Archives: Ellen Burstyn

“It’s been awhile. My Oscar is getting kind of tarnished. I looked at it a couple of years ago and thought I really needed a new one.” — Ellen Burstyn

It’s her birthday today. In less than a decade, Ellen Burstyn was nominated 5 times for an Oscar (for The Last Picture Show, The Exorcist, Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, Same Time Next Year and Resurrection) and won one Oscar … Continue reading

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March 2019 Viewing Diary

Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World (2017; d. Catherine Bainbridge) Mum came and visited me and we watched this amazing documentary about the contributions Native Americans have made to music. It starts with Link Wray. I loved this documentary … Continue reading

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“Masters of the Acting Art”: An Interview with Author Dan Callahan

Dan Callahan is one of our best writers on the craft of acting. Not only does he describe why a performance is good, he digs into the much thornier issue of how it is good. This is where most critics … Continue reading

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May 2015 Viewing Diary

The X-Files, Season 2 Episode 20 “Humbug” (1995; d. Kim Manners). Mulder and Scully investigate murders among circus-folk. Laugh-out-loud funny, especially Mulder in the fun-house, sliding out of the wall, gun drawn. The X-Files, Season 2 Episode 22 “The Calusari” … Continue reading

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The King of Marvin Gardens (1972)

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Great Mad Women in Cinema

Some of these women probably would not qualify for a diagnosis from the psychiatric profession. And perhaps their madness is actually a heightened level of sanity, as is often the case. Nevertheless, they are mad. Wonderfully mad.

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The Books: “Lessons In Becoming Myself” (Ellen Burstyn)

Daily Book Excerpt: Entertainment Biography/Memoir: Lessons in Becoming Myself, by Ellen Burstyn In less than a decade, Ellen Burstyn was nominated 5 times for an Oscar (for The Last Picture Show, The Exorcist (speaking of The Exorcist …), Alice Doesn’t … Continue reading

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Requiem For a Dream: “Let it all go”

Excerpt from Lessons in Becoming Myself, by Ellen Burstyn. About Requiem For A Dream: The most difficult scene was one in which my son realizes I’m on speed. It was a nine-page scene, but the last three pages were my … Continue reading

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