We’re Back
19
Jan
After a long hiatus, due to laziness and technical difficulties, we’re back. Expect frequent updates.
Relatively Academic Thoughts on Animals in Film
30
May
Animals are innocents and deserve our compassion. Therefore they are used as shorthand, particularly in film which always must be kept moving, to mark good and bad, right and wrong, moral and asshole. It doesn’t matter what else you do … Read More »
To Five Movies of 2015
19
May
I like to give things time to settle before I commit to these things. 1. Inside Out –Sadness is my new hero. “That’s a bad idea don’t go in there.” This is always good advice. 2. Ex Machina –Oscar Issac … Read More »
A Conversation with an Idiot (Not Appropriate for All Audiences)
15
May
“So I’m going down on this girl….” “Whoa. Whoa! WHOA! Dude, you cannot begin a story that way.” “Why not, Bro?” “Common decency, Dude.” “All right, Bro. How does this appeal to your delicate sensibilities: I’m generously, and rather vigorously, … Read More »
Top Five Chamber Pieces
10
Mar
A Chamber Piece is a play or film with a small cast and one location. The archetypal Dramatic Chamber Piece is Agatha Christie’s Ten Little Indians. 5. Clerks –Filmed on a budged of maxed out credit cards. Whatever else, Kevin … Read More »
Relatively Academic Thoughts on Language
18
Feb
On Passing The New Menin Gate by Siegfried Sassoon (World War I Veteran and all around Bad Ass) Who will remember, passing through this Gate, the unheroic dead who fed the guns? Who shall absolve the foulness of their fate,- … Read More »
Gross
4
Feb
He was thirty five. Clean shaven. Dressed in business casual. When he pulled it out, he had been digging for a while. But he never really consciously acknowledged his prize. He just let it sit on finger and absentmindedly played … Read More »
Poetry in the form of Archilochos
27
Jan
Archilochos was the first, best warrior poet. Many of his works are in tact, but several verses have been lost. Though I am unworthy by any count of Greek warriordom this is my attempt to replace that which was lost. … Read More »
In Defense of A Boy Called Twist
3
Jun
The South African film Boy Called Twist (2004) reimagines the Dickens novel Oliver Twist (1837-1839) as a simple tale set in modern Cape Town. While the film photocopies the major narrative beats represented in the novel, the lack of a … Read More »
Top Five Movies of 2014
21
Apr
I don’t watch nearly as many new movies as I once did. Some of it is price –tickets + snacks + childcare –some of it is the sea change in movies in the new century. Compare the top ten grossing … Read More »