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- “Ballet taught me to stay close to style and tone. Literature taught me to be concerned about the moral life.” — Joan Acocella
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Tag Archives: Present Tense
My final column at Film Comment: on Jonathan Demme’s Citizens Band
As some of you may be aware, Film Comment is going on an “indefinite” hiatus during this uncertain time. There have been a lot of layoffs at the Film Society of Lincoln Center, and Lincoln Center itself is struggling. While … Continue reading
Present Tense: on Jean Arthur
For my next Present Tense column at Film Comment (because life goes on and I am very grateful that all of my work is web-based and can continue in this climate): I wrote about one of my favorite actresses, whom … Continue reading
Posted in Actors, Movies
Tagged Frank Capra, Jean Arthur, Only Angels Have Wings, Present Tense
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Present Tense: on director Martha Coolidge
For my next column at Film Comment, I wrote about director Martha Coolidge, who directed Valley Girl, Real Genius, and Rambling Rose (and much more).
Present Tense: on Miracle (2004) and the “miracle on ice” – which turns 40 this week
If you’ve been round these here parts, you know my obsession with the miracle on ice. Many thanks to the editors at Film Comment, for taking my pitch to write a piece on the 1980 Winter Olympics, as seen through … Continue reading
Present Tense: on Nick Nolte
My next column at Film Comment is on Nick Nolte. I’ve been percolating with this one for a while. I did a full re-watch (or close enough) of his entire filmography in 2019, just for the hell of it. I … Continue reading
Present Tense: on Daughters of the Sun (2000)
I wrote about Maryam Shahriar’s 2000 film Daughters of the Sun for my next Present Tense column on Film Comment.
Posted in Movies
Tagged drama, Iran, Iranian film, Present Tense, reviews, women directors
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Year in Review: Running my mouth in 2019
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 17 years – WHAT? – I appreciate … Continue reading
Posted in Actors, James Joyce, Movies, Television
Tagged Agnes Varda, animation, Anna Karina, backting, Badlands, Belfast, Bibi Andersson, Bob Dylan, Bong Joon-Ho, Canada, Charlotte Rampling, comedy, Dennis Hopper, documentary, Doris Day, drama, Dubliners, Elvis Presley, Emily Dickinson, Frank O'Hara, friends, Gaspar Noe, George Stevens, Gold Diggers of 1933, horror, Ireland, Jean Arthur, Joanna Hogg, Joe Berlinger, Joel McCrea, John Ford, Kristen Stewart, Leonardo DiCaprio, Linda Manz, Marlon Brando, Martin Scorsese, Mary Oliver, Matthias Schoenaerts, Myrna Loy, Nick Nolte, Nick Tosches, Nicolas Roeg, Out of the Blue, Paraguay, Paul Thomas Anderson, poetry, Poland, Present Tense, Robert Evans, Sandrine Bonnaire, sci-fi, Sophia Takal, Sucker Punch, Supernatural, Sylvia Plath, Terrence Malick, Tom Noonan, What Happened Was, William Powell, Willie Nelson, women directors, year in writing, Zac Efron
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Present Tense: On director Sophia Takal
I had wanted to write something on Takal’s first two films, Green and Always Shine, long before I had even heard of her Black Christmas remake. I was turned onto her work when I was assigned to review Always Shine … Continue reading
Posted in Directors, Movies
Tagged drama, horror, Kate Lyn Sheil, Present Tense, Sophia Takal, women directors
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For Film Comment: On Kristen Stewart
As long as she keeps working, I’ll keep wanting to write about her. For my latest column over at Film Comment.
Present Tense: Audience vs. Alone
My new column is up, this about the special thing that happens sometimes (rarely) when an audience of strangers merges into one being. I still go see movies in the theatre (although certainly not like I used to back in … Continue reading
Posted in Movies
Tagged Chantal Akerman, Leonardo DiCaprio, Martin Scorsese, Notorious, Present Tense, Spike Lee, Waiting for Lefty
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