Tag Archives: Robert Duvall

“Paper, tobacco, food, and a little whiskey.” — William Faulkner on his writing requirements

“The writer’s only responsibility is to his art. He will be completely ruthless if he is a good one. He has a dream. It anguishes him so much he must get rid of it. He has no peace until then. … Continue reading

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“I knew [I was a director] from the beginning. It was just a matter of proving it.” — Martha Coolidge

It’s the birthday of director Martha Coolidge. I have always loved her work – cherished it, really – and finally got to pay tribute to her in my Film Comment column. And it’s funny how things work out. Mitchell and … Continue reading

Posted in Directors, Movies, On This Day | Tagged , | 2 Comments

April 2022 Viewing Diary

When I first got the Raging Bull gig, I began a re-watch of all the Scorsese-De Niro movies – at least the ones clustered around that period. I grew up on these films. These movies were huge to me as … Continue reading

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February 2020 Viewing Diary

Ted Bundy: Falling For a Killer (2020; d. Trish Wood) I can’t help it. I’ve been reading about Ted Bundy since I read Ann Rule’s book in high school. I hate him so much, but I can’t quit him. I … Continue reading

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“Masters of the Acting Art”: An Interview with Author Dan Callahan

Dan Callahan is one of our best writers on the craft of acting. Not only does he describe why a performance is good, he digs into the much thornier issue of how it is good. This is where most critics … Continue reading

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April 2018 Viewing Diary

Elvis Presley: The Searcher (2018; d. Thom Zimny) New 2-part HBO doc about Elvis. Grateful it exists now. Long overdue artistic redress. I reviewed for Ebert. Morvern Callar (2002; d. Lynne Ramsay) Re-watched in preparation for her latest, You Were … Continue reading

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Ebertfest Day 4: Rambling Rose, with director Martha Coolidge

The screening of Rambling Rose requires a longer essay, which I will write when I am not so busy. Martha Coolidge was at the Fest to present her film, a movie Mitchell and I saw in its first release in … Continue reading

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Year in Review: Shooting My Mouth Off in 2017

It’s been a God-awful year in so many unprecedented ways. It’s also been a great year for me professionally (which has brought with it its own set of challenges.) Here are some of the things I’ve written this year. Reviews, … Continue reading

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For Film Comment: On Faulkner’s Tomorrow (1972), starring Robert Duvall

I wrote about the 1972 film Tomorrow, a Horton Foote adaptation of a William Faulkner story, starring Robert Duvall (same year as The Godfather) for Film Comment. It’s screening on TCM this month. Years ago, I remember my father talking … Continue reading

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December 2016 Viewing Diary

Supernatural, Season 7, Episode 22, “There Will Be Blood” (2012; d. Guy Norman Bee) I had started a re-watch of Season 7 in November, so I finished it out this month. Season 7 was one of my least favorites, when … Continue reading

Posted in Monthly Viewing Diary, Movies, Television | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 148 Comments