Tag Archives: Marlon Brando

“Acting is like letting your pants down; you’re exposed.” — Paul Newman

Posted on January 26, 2026 by sheila

It’s his birthday today. I am so glad I grew up in a time when Paul Newman was still a leading man (and he was a leading man up until the end). So I got to experience the pleasure of … Continue reading →

Posted in Actors, Movies, On This Day | Tagged , , , , , | 26 Comments

“For a long time, I was a caretaker — until finally I wised up.” — Patricia Bosworth

Posted on April 24, 2025 by sheila

“One must know a bad performance to know a good one. You can’t be middle-of-the-road about it, just as you can’t be middle-of-the-road about life. I mean, you can’t say about Hitler, I can take him or leave him. Well, … Continue reading →

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“The only thing an actor owes his public is not to bore them.” — Marlon Brando

Posted on April 3, 2025 by sheila

“Sending Marlon Brando to acting class was like sending a tiger to jungle school.” – Stella Adler It’s his birthday today. Let’s start off with this, a piece I had long wanted to write: Revelations about Marlon Brando in about … Continue reading →

Posted in Actors, Movies, On This Day | Tagged , , | 38 Comments

“Make voyages! — Attempt them! — there’s nothing else …” — Tennessee Williams

Posted on March 26, 2025 by sheila

Tennessee Williams (Thomas Lanier Williams) was born on this day in Columbus, Mississippi in 1911. Will you do a total stranger the kindness of reading his verse? Thank you! Thomas Lanier Williams — Tennessee Williams, letter to editor Harriet Monroe, … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, On This Day, Theatre, writers | Tagged , , , , , , | 23 Comments

Review: Being Maria (2025)

Posted on March 21, 2025 by sheila

This angry mournful movie tells the story of teenage Maria Schneider, plucked out of obscurity to play opposite Marlon Brando in Bernardo Bertolucci’s Last Tango in Paris. It’s mostly about the trauma she endured during filming – which she tried … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , | 22 Comments

“Everything I’ve ever let go of has claw marks on it.” — David Foster Wallace

Posted on February 22, 2025 by sheila

“Really good fiction could have as dark a worldview as it wished, but it’d find a way both to depict this world and to illuminate the possibilities for being alive and human in it.” — David Foster Wallace It’s his … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, On This Day, writers | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

January 2025 Viewing Diary

Posted on February 2, 2025 by sheila

Glengarry Glen Ross (1992; d. James Foley) I saw this one in the theatre back in the day. There’s a revival coming up on Broadway and Bill Burr is going to be in it. It’s kind of perfect! He’ll be … Continue reading →

Posted in Monthly Viewing Diary, Movies, Television | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 14 Comments

My new column at Liberties magazine: First up: acting and film criticism and how the twain meet

Posted on April 10, 2024 by sheila

I have some exciting (to me) news. I’ll be writing a regular column for Liberties – the website for the quarterly magazine – host to a daunting lineup of writers! I launched my column with a piece about being a … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Personal, Theatre | Tagged , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Talking 1953 movies with Jason Bailey and Mike Hull: A Very Good Year podcast

Posted on August 13, 2023 by sheila

My pal Jason Bailey and his pal Mike Hull host a fascinating podcast called A Very Good Year, which they describe as: “Each week we invite a guest (filmmakers and actors, critics and historians, comedians and musicians) who loves movies, … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 Comments

June 2023 Viewing Diary

Posted on July 2, 2023 by sheila

Succession (2018-2023) I finally watched, having somehow resisted the DEAFENING buzz over the last couple of years. I like Jeremy Strong, liked his small moment in Zero Dark Thirty, he totally stood out in The Big Short (directed by one … Continue reading →

Posted in Monthly Viewing Diary, Movies, Television | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 23 Comments