Ok, so I didn’t love “Love Simon”, but I did like it a lot. Let’s focus on the positive first. I’m broke as a joke from now until December 1st when I pray NYSUT makes good on my 30 years as a teacher. That said, my kind generous friend Carrie treated me to the movie… Continue reading “Love Simon” or at the very least Very Much Liked
Month: March 2018
Ode to Grandma and Photographer Sebastiano Salgado
Today is my Grandmother’s 95th birthday. It’s also the day I finished Wim Wenders 2014 Oscar nominated documentary and free Selby Library loaner “The Salt of the Earth”. What could these two things possibly have in common? First, my grandmother, Florence Baker, has endured countless deaths and tragedies. From her parents passing, to four siblings,… Continue reading Ode to Grandma and Photographer Sebastiano Salgado
Concert Review: Making America Abbreviated Again
America played at Van Wezel Hall in Sarasota last night and if America, the country, was analogous to the band’s performance, we’d be short about 10 states. I think it’s a cop out and money grab to play 90 minutes (exactly) when as a band they’ve complied 40+ years of music. At the very least,… Continue reading Concert Review: Making America Abbreviated Again
Paris, Texas a PPLL Extravaganza
Well, my main complaint about Paris, Texas was going to be the length (2 and a half hours), but as I type, I’m watching and listening to director Wim Wenders‘ commentary on deleted scenes and I am transfixed with hypnotic awe. Except for the older vehicles, Pars, Texas (circa 1984) could be shown today. It’s… Continue reading Paris, Texas a PPLL Extravaganza
Filling the Voight Void: Coming Home
After adoring Midnight Cowboy, I realized I needed to fill more of the Voight void, never having seen Coming Home (written by Waldo Scott and Robert C. Jones). Waldo Scott, won the Oscar for best screenplay for this film, as well as for Midnight Cowboy. Robert C. Jones also wrote Bullworth, one of my favorite… Continue reading Filling the Voight Void: Coming Home
First Post Oscars Film: “The Party”, New Term ‘Bittershort’
Has anyone else taken stock of the people around them, people you encounter in a store or on a street, and realized they’re tense and sour? I’m not saying everyone, but I can confidently say, MANY. My arm chair psychologist theory is that we’ve entered a period where well off people have lost meaningful purpose… Continue reading First Post Oscars Film: “The Party”, New Term ‘Bittershort’
Annihilation of My Cynical Ways
People, am I getting soft on my film criticism? From enjoying Greatest Showman to giving Killing of a Sacred Deer a positive review, here I go again with Annihilation, written (from a Jeff VanderMeer novel) and directed by Alex Garland. During the flick, in the multiple sweater wrapped comfort of the refrigerator known as Siesta… Continue reading Annihilation of My Cynical Ways