This is possibly the slowest movie season in all of history which has to do with post Covid, cancel culture, and just the normal pre-autmumnal desert. Here’s my picks for the movie season thus far (not in any order): 1. Top Gun Maverick: say what you will about it being Tom Cruise schlock, dog gone… Continue reading I’m no Rihanna, but here’s my Movie Season Half-Time Show
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Under the Learn Something New Everyday Column: Vernon, Florida
Researching for the film enthusiasm class I’ll be leading through OLLI (via Ringling School of Art) in January entitled Flamboyant Florida Films, I decided to choose a couple of docs. An older one a work colleague suggested is Vernon, Florida from director Errol Morris. Well, have I learned something new! First, Morris is an Academy… Continue reading Under the Learn Something New Everyday Column: Vernon, Florida
Moonage Daydream, An Afternoon Acid Trip
On the cusp of Hurricane Ian, I took in Moonage Daydream last Saturday @Sarasotafilmsociety whuch was written and directed by Brett Morgen who magnificently rendered the producer Robert Evan’s life in The Kid Stays in the Picture. Not hip to Morgen’s organization at first (was that him or me? Granted I had run 4 miles,… Continue reading Moonage Daydream, An Afternoon Acid Trip
Back to Back Classics in SRQ: Two Johns and a Jimmy
What a gift to live in Sarasota! Thursday I saw Grease (Kleiser, 1978) on the big screen at the charming Burns Court Theater (Sarasota Film Society) where joy was expressed in the gyrating seat dances and applause after each song. Truly a blessing to listen to audience members share their love for Olivia Newton-JOHN and… Continue reading Back to Back Classics in SRQ: Two Johns and a Jimmy
Peter Von Kant: Raises Interesting Questions
First of all, where are my people? Come on world, or ok, I’ll go smaller, Sarasota. Ok, smaller still, Ringling College Film Majors? I’d really like to see more intellectual and artsy people at Burns Court. For Peter Von Kant, I had a small passionate few who stayed for the talk back who I really… Continue reading Peter Von Kant: Raises Interesting Questions
Three Thousand Years of Longing Left Me Yearning for A.S. Byatt’s Story Depth
I’m not going to change, but it’s always dangerous to read the book before seeing the movie. But danger in a marvelous way, since our brains are able to picture who we’d cast as actresses and actors, what hotel rooms we envision, etc… So with that being said, while I enjoyed the movie, it did… Continue reading Three Thousand Years of Longing Left Me Yearning for A.S. Byatt’s Story Depth
Leftovers Two Days Straight
I went to see my second viewing of Top Gun Maverick and Where the Crawdads Sing on back to back nights and wanted to comment on both. First, Top Gun Maverick. I felt like I was more ‘present’ for this viewing which can sometimes happen the second time around. Whereas I originally claimed that the… Continue reading Leftovers Two Days Straight
Official Competition: Dark Humor Warm Up Required
I wasn’t prepared for Argentinian humor Friday night when I watched Official Competition. I was just complacent and over tired, but mesmerized by Penelope Cruz looking great even in a frizzy red wig…how does one woman possess such beauty? That’s the main question. I have heard many film buffs say what a genius performance she… Continue reading Official Competition: Dark Humor Warm Up Required
Need For Speed and Splenda: Top Gun Maverick
I thoroughly bought in by the second half of Top Gun Maverick (directed by Joseph Kosinski), the long postponed follow-up to the 1980’s machismo cult favorite. The dramatic pauses made me giggle a bit in the first half as did the intensely serious military explanations. But not a big deal, simply like jumping into a… Continue reading Need For Speed and Splenda: Top Gun Maverick
Mothering Sunday: Stop the Presses
Preface: A quote from Sheila Heti’s book Pure Colour which sums up the special quality of relationships falling on the cusp, fitting my experience with the movie Mothering Sunday: “Sometimes a person is meant to move forward in the world with the one they love at a distance, and that the distance is there to… Continue reading Mothering Sunday: Stop the Presses