Tag Archives: Orson Welles

Film Comment Countdown and Live Talk

Last night, I participated in a Film Comment live talk at Lincoln Center, hosted/moderated by Film Comment editor-in-chief Nic Rapold, which involved “unveiling” Film Comment‘s Top 10 of 2018. The other critics there were Michael Koresky, Nick Pinkerton and Molly … Continue reading

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2018 Top 10 Movies

To cut off people who want to say “But what about …” or “You forgot …”, let me just say: No. I did not. I did not forget. There will be another list to follow of all of the films … Continue reading

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Stuff I’ve Been Reading

— Farran Smith Nehme (a friend) has written a gigantic essay called “Bluebeard at the Movies,” about movies where women marry men who turn out to be BONKERS. So many references, so many films! — Farran, again, with a gorgeous … Continue reading

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November 2018 Viewing Diary

Mr. Soul! (2018; d. Melissa Haizlip) The opening night film of Indie Memphis, which already feels like it was 20 years ago. I wrote about it briefly in my recap of the festival for Ebert. It’s a gorgeous film. Supernatural, … Continue reading

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On This Day: October 30, 1938 – “Radio Play Terrifies Nation”

Conversation between Peter Bogdanovich and Orson Welles in This Is Orson Welles: PB: I’ve often wondered if you had any idea, before you did it, that War of the Worlds was going to get that kind of response. OW. The … Continue reading

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“You might say that Falstaff was the great-great-grandfather of all the flower children. He was a bohemian and he was a bum. A beautiful bum.”

I wrote about this clip a long time ago, of Orson Welles transforming himself into Falstaff at a makeup mirror, talking about Falstaff, and then turning INTO Falstaff – a “bit” that appeared on The Dean Martin Show. Then the … Continue reading

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Dynamic Duo #5

Orson Welles and Anthony Perkins

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March 2017 Viewing Diary

The Goddess (1958; d. John Cromwell) Written by Paddy Chayevsky. Starring Kim Stanley and Lloyd Bridges. Stanley plays a character clearly based on Marilyn Monroe, rather extraordinary when you consider Monroe was still alive. It’s a brutal movie about stardom … Continue reading

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November 2016 Viewing Diary

Elle (2016; d. Paul Verhoeven) I loved it. People HATE this movie. One lady on Twitter said that men should be banned from making films about rape. How you would enforce such a rule is beyond me. Also: No fucking … Continue reading

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July 2016 Viewing Diary

The Great Gatsby (2013; d. Baz Luhrmann) Watched 3 times. Never written about it before. I think there’s a genius in it. The Great Gatsby (1974; d. Jack Clayton) Never written about it before. I DON’T think there’s a genius … Continue reading

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