Tag Archives: Robert De Niro

2023 films I loved, in no particular order

On my Substack, open to all: my Top whatever Films of 2023. Unranked. An eccentric sampling, featuring some of the usual suspects but, more importantly, pointing towards some lesser-known films which – for whatever reason – got lost in the … Continue reading

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September/October 2023 Viewing Diary

I moved in late September. Again. I found a little cozy apartment, the second floor of a little house, with slanted ceilings, little cubbyhole-eaves everywhere, and a big yard. It’s a 10 minute walk to the beach. I found it … Continue reading

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“It’s important not to indicate. People don’t try to show their feelings, they try to hide them.” — Robert De Niro

I haven’t written about the majority of his roles – not for lack of admiration (and in some cases, awestruck wonder) – but here is what I have written: I included his “you talkin’ to me” scene in my gigantic … Continue reading

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2022 Books Read

Some re-reads this year, but a lot of new-to-me authors as well. New novels written by faves. Been a year of upheaval and transitions. I’ve managed to keep up my regular reading schedule. I just don’t feel right if I’m … Continue reading

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“So give me a stage where this bull here can rage”: Two essays on Raging Bull

Yesterday was the release-day of Criterion’s 4K edition of Raging Bull, for which I contributed a video-essay. There are two essays included in the booklet (also online), and I just read them both and must share them: First: Raging Bull: … Continue reading

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Criterion’s Raging Bull: available now!

Raging Bull has entered the Criterion Collection and is available for purchase, at Criterion or elsewhere, Amazon, Barnes & Noble whatever. (Also, by the way, David Lean’s Summertime also entered the collection, simultaneously, with an essay by my friend Stephanie … Continue reading

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Things done and seen in Chicago

I haven’t flown in three years, maybe more. There’s still a lot of stress in going out into the world and mingling with the populace. Plane tickets are insanely expensive right now too. But I was determined to take a … Continue reading

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Criterion’s Raging Bull: official release date 7/12

Looks like the release date is mainly for ordering from the Criterion site, because it’s available now as part of the Barnes & Noble Criterion sale. At any rate: hot on the heels of the Worst Person in the World … Continue reading

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June 2022 Viewing Diary

Watcher (2022; d. Chloe Okuno) I was super impressed – and totally freaked out – by this thriller, psychological and otherwise. The mood is HEAVY with omnipresent DREAD. I reviewed for Ebert. Russian Doll (Season 1 and 2, 2019-2022) I’m … Continue reading

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Sidney Lumet: Excerpts from Making Movies

It’s Sidney Lumet’s birthday. Here are many excerpts from his classic and invaluable film-making handbook Making Movies: In Murder on the Orient Express, I wanted Ingrid Bergman to play the Russian Princess Dragomiroff. She wanted to play the retarded Swedish … Continue reading

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