#1 — Mason Gamble as Dirk Calloway in Rushmore (Wes Anderson, 1998) Around the time of Rushmore‘s release, Bill Murray went onto Charlie Rose’s PBS program to discuss the film. The interview covered a broad range of Murray’s career, and … Continue reading Greatish Performances #1
This begins, as many of my stories involving formative experiences do, when I was in college (despite the chronology that’s supposed to be followed, I truly grew up during my years pursuing my undergraduate degree). As I’ve noted before, and … Continue reading Greatish Performances — An Introduction
#42 — Eyes Wide Shut (Stanley Kubrick, 1999) There are a few things that inform my viewing of Stanley Kubrick’s final film, and enhance my appreciate of it. Among these is surprising nugget that Kubrick loved the wonderfully goofy, willfully … Continue reading Top Fifty Films of the 90s — Number Forty-Two
Roman Holiday (William Wyler, 1953). It would take some dedicated hunting through Hollywood history to find another star turn that justifies hanging an entire film upon it as much as the one at the center of this lovely wisp of a romantic comedy. It’s really all about Audrey Hepburn and her swoon-inducing performance as a pampered princess who steals away from her privileged, cloistered world to indulge in a burst of freedom across the streets of Rome. She’s utterly charming in a guileless way, but it’s the levels of personality that she injects into the performance that really sell the … Continue reading Demme, Hitchcock, Ramis, Scott, Wyler
My recent absence from our humble home for about a week necessitated a certain amount of ceremony in my last weekend, a weekend also notable for an uncommon lack of work. There were several enticing options, but few with as … Continue reading Bad Movie Night — 2012/Knowing
#43 — American Dream (Barbara Kopple, 1990) Most modern documentaries have an intractable point of view. A filmmaker begins with a thesis and proceeds to gather evidence that bolsters the presented opinion, with divergent views pulled in only to be decisively … Continue reading Top Fifty Films of the 90s — Number Forty-Three
I am very short on time for reasons I will address more directly tomorrow. For now, let me just divert your attention with a placeholder post that also preserves a piece I’d like to remember. I don’t agree with everything New York Times film writer Mahnola Dargis says, but I sure admire the intellectual perspective that she brings to her arguments, including a recent defense–which probably shouldn’t have been necessary–of Kathryn Bigelow. From that piece: Unless they star Meryl Streep, movies about women are routinely dismissed because they’re about women, as the patronizing term “chick flick” affirms every time it’s … Continue reading Want to worship at the church of women, breathe ’em in until my head goes spinning around
The Night of the Hunter (Charles Laughton, 1955). This tale of nefarious preacher with LOVE and HATE tattooed across his knuckles is often cited as of the finest films ever directed by an actor, at least someone far more noted for their acting. I wouldn’t make that claim, but it sure is a wild, offbeat ride. In particular, it’s unbelievably dark given that copyright date, putting the film’s children in constant, gloomy danger as it send them fleeing from the money-lusting villain. The film has a grand theatrical sense, pulling off impactful bits involving distant silhouettes and stark lighting effects … Continue reading Friedkin, Jeffs, Kopple, Laughton, Pollock
As per the tradition around this digital space, the day the long, arduous Oscar season draws to a close is also the day that I type up my version of an actors branch Academy Awards ballot, ranked in accordance with the nominating rules. Were I given the privilege of filling out such a ballot, and if it did it with the utmost honestly–even where tempted to fill in the name of some favorite performer whose work I didn’t necessarily love (or even see) just because I felt they deserved some Academy love for an esteemed career–this is what it would … Continue reading Maybe tonight you’re aching for someone you’re dreaming of
My favorite movie character of the year is Ellie Fredericksen. Ellie doesn’t get much screen time in Up. She’s seen as a little girl, playing pretend in an old house, talking about the world and all its potential wonders with … Continue reading Top Ten Movies of 2009 — Number One
Coffee for Two 