Tag Archives: Hal Ashby

“Reach out, take a chance, get hurt even, play as well as you can.” — Hal Ashby

It’s his birthday today. One of the leading lights of the New Hollywood, bringing fresh energy into a landscape that was busy cracking-apart, and holding on tightly to old stable familiar forms. He believed in the crack-up. He helped the … Continue reading

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Year in Review: Shooting My Mouth Off in 2018

Thanks, everyone, who hangs out here, who likes what I do, whether you’re an Elvis fan, a Supernatural fan, a general cinephile, a book-lover, or just someone who’s been checking in periodically for almost 16 years – WHAT? – I … Continue reading

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For Sight & Sound magazine: The final shot of Shampoo

For the “Endings” column in the October issue of Sight & Sound magazine, I wrote about the final shot in Hal Ashby’s Shampoo. It’s one of my favorite final shots in cinema. (I pitched the piece before Criterion made its … Continue reading

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August 2018 Viewing Diary

Ballerina (2009; d. Bertrand Normand) I tripped over this documentary on FilmStruck (I love dance documentaries), and it’s really really good. Not only do you get to know a bunch of different dancers, but it’s a portrait of what ballet … Continue reading

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July 2018 Viewing Diary

Supernatural, Season 4, episode 5 “Monster Movie” (2008; d. Robert Singer) A movie-mad feast. Plus, my favorite one-night-stand-girl. (Piper is a close tie.) Supernatural, Season 4, episode 6 “Yellow Fever” (2008; d. Philip Sgriccia) An example of what the show … Continue reading

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April 2017 Viewing Diary

I just dash these off. Superficial bullet-point analysis for the most part. It’s a good way to keep track of what I’ve seen, for year-end lists, of course, but also for future reference. I also always love the discussions on … Continue reading

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December 2015 Viewing Diary

Christmas, Again (2015; d. Charles Poekel) So good. I reviewed for Rogerebert.com. Back Street (1932; John M. Stahl) Back Street is the story of a woman who allows herself to be a “back street” woman: a long-time mistress to a … Continue reading

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“I firmly believe in trying out your supposed opposite not only because (as they say) ‘opposites attract,’ but because you never know if you’ve actually found your twin.”

In honor of Bud Cort’s birthday, Kim Morgan has a beautiful piece up celebrating Harold and Maude. I came to Harold and Maude late (compared to other fans): I was in my mid-20s, although I do remember hearing my parents … Continue reading

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Movie Poster: Shampoo

Here’s an example where I really like the “closeups of movie stars” concept for a poster, otherwise known as “big floating heads”. I like it because, unlike so many “big floating heads” posters of today – it actually does seem … Continue reading

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Music Box Theatre

… a big old movie theatre on Southport that was such a huge part of my life when I lived here. For a year, I lived a block away from it, and went almost every week to see whatever was … Continue reading

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