Tag Archives: westerns

“I never made a message picture, and I hope I never do.” — Howard Hawks

Posted on May 30, 2025 by sheila

It’s his birthday today. My favorite director. I’ve written so much about his movies, here and elsewhere, it’d be too much to link to all of it. I’ve seen it all. Only Angels Have Wings is my favorite movie ever … Continue reading →

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“I think I’m a pretty good storyteller.” — John Sturges

Posted on January 3, 2025 by sheila

It’s the birthday today of great and weirdly under-rated American director, John Sturges. One of the best parts about writing about the Criterion essay for the release of The Great Escape was getting to do a deep dive into the … Continue reading →

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August 2023 Viewing Diary

Posted on September 3, 2023 by sheila

Oppenheimer (2023; d. Christopher Nolan) In general, I am not a Nolan fan (the only one of his I liked was Dunkirk), and I went into this hesitantly because I read an interview with him where he said the whole … Continue reading →

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September 2022 Viewing Diary

Posted on October 1, 2022 by sheila

The Deep End (2022; d. Jon Kasbe) I’m into cults but I actively avoid woo-woo, so somehow Teal Swan escaped my radar. Well, she’s on my radar NOW. This Netflix doc is extraordinary because Teal Swan participated in it, she … Continue reading →

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“If you’re going to make a gesture, make it.” — John Wayne

Posted on May 26, 2022 by sheila

For his birthday: One of my favorite quotes about acting comes from John Wayne. It’s included in Peter Bogdanovich’s Who the Hell’s in It: Conversations with Hollywood’s Legendary Actors: Peter Bogdanovich: Your gestures in pictures are often daring — large … Continue reading →

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February 2022 Viewing Diary

Posted on March 2, 2022 by sheila

Working really really hard on a couple of big things right now. This takes up so much brain space. It’s mentally exhausting. Not complaining, just stating facts. During times like this, I lean towards true crime docuseries, or re-watches. Or … Continue reading →

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Happy Birthday, John Ford: Doorways in The Searchers

Posted on February 1, 2022 by sheila

Are you going in or are you staying out? In the world of John Ford’s The Searchers you must choose. You can’t have both. The Searchers takes place on the threshold of that choice, in the abyss of the borderlands, … Continue reading →

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For Film Comment: Shane & Everybody Wants Some!!

Posted on September 7, 2021 by sheila

There’s a new column on Film Comment called “Seeing Double”, where writers explore connections between different movies, potential double bills. So I wrote about Shane and Everybody Wants Some!!, a piece I’d been wanting to write for a couple of … Continue reading →

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For John Wayne’s Birthday: Hondo (1953) at MoMA: John Wayne in 3D

Posted on May 26, 2021 by sheila

In real life John Wayne was huge, 6’3″, with broad shoulders, a lean waist, and long ambling legs. He towered over everybody. And yet, he was always graceful. His athleticism is extraordinary, his physicality smooth and controlled. So he was … Continue reading →

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April 2021 Viewing Diary

Posted on May 2, 2021 by sheila

Jewel Robbery (1932; d. William Dieterle) This glittering pre-Code, starring William Powell as a jewel thief, and Kay Francis as a married woman in love with her jewels, is such a subversive delight. Powell is devastatingly charming and Francis is … Continue reading →

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