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Nikki TranterPopMatters Books & Re:Print EditorAbout Nikki Tranter Nikki Tranter has a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology/Criminology from La Trobe University in Melbourne and George Mason University in the U.S., and an M.A. in Professional Communication from Deakin University in Melbourne. She likes her puppy (Fulci the Fox Terrier), reading, painting, Take That, country music, and watching TV. Her favorite movie is Teen Wolf. Features
Exit from Nowheresville: My 10 Years with PopMattersThis is my story of how the new media world impacted my life, as a rural Victorian with a big dream. How it changed, and continues to change, my everyday life. How it made me a writer, gave me the confidence to undertake post graduate study, how it gave me the edge I needed to get the job I now utterly love. [23 October 2009] No Easy Reasons: Interview with Camilla NoliThe question at the heart of Camilla Noli's debut novel, Still Waters, is this: Is every woman suited to motherhood? The book is a sharp, distressing look at the answer. PopMatters spoke to Noli about the book, the controversy, motherhood, and the writer's dream realized. [1 October 2008] Historian: Interview with Brian Garfield"I think that, except for its ludicrous violence toward the end, the Death Sentence movie does depict its character's decline and the stupidity of vengeful vigilantism." Death Wish creator Brian Garfield talks to PopMatters about remakes, sequels, writing, and the meaning of vengeance. [5 March 2008] Story Just Wrote With Music: Interview with Doug Hoekstra"I do believe that, that even when someone is "bothering" the coffee drinkers, you can look around the audience and find folks connecting and digging what he or she is doing, and from those connections, all sorts of good things emerge, immediately or further on down the road." [28 September 2006] It’s Casual: Chris Penn (1965-2006)Sure, Michael Madsen's dancing torture scene and Tim Roth's pool of blood are cool, but for me, Nice Guy Eddie brings everything together. [6 February 2006] Deceitful (Above All Things): The James Frey and J.T. LeRoy ScandalsThe dual deceptions of memoirists James Frey and J.T. LeRoy have raised questions about truth in creative non-fiction, the publicists' role in promoting that truth correctly, and just what "memoir" means... [3 February 2006] Roth AppreciationPhilip Roth missed out on the Nobel Prize for Literature this year. Instead, he received a different prize, but one he considered near as worthy. The intersection of Keer and Summit Avenues in Newark, New Jersey, the setting for many of Roth's novels, including sections of his latest, The Plot Against America, was renamed Philip Roth Plaza. A man of time and place such as Roth couldn't ask for a better honor. [16 December 2005] This Time You Pray For RealBooks for kids on life, death, sexual awakening, sexual abuse, death, the Holocaust, and the Taliban. Farrar, Straus and Giroux offers kids startling alternatives to Harry Potter this Christmas. [29 November 2005] The Boy is GoneThe first time I saw Katie Holmes and Tom Cruise together, they were kissing. [15 September 2005] True Bliss: Celebrating The Big LebowskiLebowski Fest celebrates the irrational exuberance of a cult classic community. [31 August 2005] To Do with Reality: An Interview with Burk Sauls and Brett Savory'Despite the fact that no evidence of a satanic ritual was found in Robin Hood Hills or in the way the children were killed, the police promoted their stories of devil worshippers. The local media obliged...' Free the West Memphis Three founder, Burk Sauls, and editor of the new collection, The Last Pentacle of the Sun: Writings in Support of the West Memphis Three, Brett Savory, discuss fear and fiction in the case of Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley, convicted as teenagers of triple murder in one of the country's most controversial criminal trials. [10 March 2005] Better Times: Remembering Jonathan BrandisIt's unclear how comfortable Brandis was with the 'former teen idol' label, and to what degree that label affected his choice to take his own life. [11 December 2003] Same Old, Same OldMartin Bashir's effort to catch Jackson out, to expose even the slightest craziness, was evident from the outset. [10 February 2003] Reflections: A Tribute to Maurice GibbMaurice Gibb, as a part of the Bee Gees, had a significant hand in writing some of the most popular and well-known songs of all time. [23 January 2003] Unito Nella Diversità: A Chat with Zucchero'The blues is the blues; the soul is everywhere.' Italian blues legend, Zucchero, is bringing his music to the masses, courtesy of Starbucks and an all-star line-up fit for a King. [1 January 1995] Underdog: An Interview with Danny WoodFormer member of the wildly successful '90s boy band New Kids on the Block Danny Wood chats with Nikki Tratner about his trek back into the spotlight. Get Fuckin’ Real: An Interview with Hank Williams III'America needs to get a little less anal, 'cause you got kids fighting this big war, supposedly dying, and you're gonna get upset over shit, fuck, and goddamn? Come on! It's 2006. Get fucking real -- wake up, grow up, catch on to some of the European ways, and quit being so goddamn uptight.' PopMatters kicks her boots off for a balls-out natter with Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hank III. Superstar Tourism: An Interview with Carrie Underwood'I keep my camera with me everywhere I go,' says American Idol winner Carrie Underwood. 'I try not to be too annoying with it.' Thick-Skinned: An Interview with Ashlee SimpsonHere's a shocker -- Ashlee Simpson is lovely. She spoke to PopMatters recently about critics, Chrissie Hynde, and finding solace in the arms of friends. Understanding and Abilitytalk to her for little while and she'll set about disproving it all on her own. Things Living: Interview with Don McLean'We don't need to have our art be ugly. But it is; a lot of it. And these people justify this crap by saying, 'Oh we're just representing what's out there, man'. Basically, you're making it worse and number one, the artist's job is to elevate people and to lift people up and to give them a place to go, something to hold on to.' Don McLean speaks to PopMatters about art, love, and Britney Spears. More About Life with Delbert McClinton'I know I'm probably sounding like a real asshole,' Delbert McClinton says. 'But I'm really not.' No worries, sir. I, too, know the horrors of flight delays. Full Circle: Interview with Kenny Loggins and Jim Messina'The very first audience we played to, we walked out onto the stage and got a three-minute standing ovation before we even played a note.' Kenny Loggins and Jim Messina talk about their return to the stage after 30 years apart. Wonderlands: An Interview with Jewel'The things that thrill me are that I can afford medication, go to the movies whenever I want, get on a plane whenever I want. It just thrills me, you know?' Jewel talks to PopMatters about the joys of writing, the perils of ultimate perfection, and how Plato shaped her vision of love. Catch That Wave: Interview with the Click Five’s Ben RomansPopMatters talks to the Click Five, perhaps the world's first boy band influenced by The Cars. Experience Turned to Song: An Interview with Chiara CivelloMulti-lingual jazz singer explains the accessible language of melody. Tall Pines Reaching the Sky: Interview with Jere Cherryholmes'I tell people, when they talk about how much they grow on their instruments, its like watching them grow physically.' Cherryholmes patriarch, Jere Cherryholmes, talks to PopMatters about his talented family. New and Improved: A Chat with Vanessa CarltonVanessa Carlton grows up as an artist and a person, and she tells PopMatters all about it. What the Blues Can Do: An Interview with Kate Campbell'The heart of blues music is about feeling. You're trying to get to the root of the matter. You're just laying it out.' Kate Campbell's talks about art, Elvis, Internet distribution, and the beauty of the blues. Slightly Bigger: Interview with James BluntMost humans are quite similar and we're just trying to get through the world together. James Blunt talks about touring America, writing songs, and his new life as one of music's most successful newcomers. Dude, What’s Happening?: An Interview with Greg Behrendt'The one cool thing with getting older is that you can actively choose to be an eccentric. When people ask you what are you listening to you go, 'You know I'm not really listening to anything, I'm really into Japanese furniture right now.'' Greg Behrendt talks about Jerry Maguire, Sarah Silverman, his new DVD, and the importance of bringing the rock. Dealing in ExperienceAugusten Burroughs loves dogs, writing, and a man called Dennis. In a sweetly intimate, rather revealing phone interview, PopMatters spoke to him about these things and more. Magical Things: An Interview with Julianna Baggott'If you pay attention to the world around you, you'll see truly magical things.' Julianna Baggott talks about The Anybodies and The Nobodies, her fantasy books for young readers that reveal the path to enlightenment lies in a life spent reading. You Bring the Jack; They’ll Bring the Coke: Interviews with Craig Davidson and Brett Alexander Savor'Once you finish writing a four-page dog fight scene, or a scene where a guy gets his leg chomped off by an incensed killer whale, or one where an old porn star's penis pump explodes ... well, you sort of say to yourself, 'I've effectively eliminated myself from the mainstream.'' Craig Davidson and Brett Alexander Savory want to talk to you about Hell -- real and imagined. (If there's a difference.) Killing to be Clever: Alone with Max BarryMax Barry has been called this generation's answer to George Orwell. But how bleak is his vision of the future, really? PopMatters books critic Nikki Tranter investigates. The Right Thing: An Interview with Claire LaZebnikFed up with women's literature creating heroes out of lazy women who lie, cheat and steal to reach the top, Claire LaZebnik decided it was time to take a look at the other side of the coin. Cubicle Comedy: Interview with Pete Flies'Success is an act. I think it's funny when people say, 'I could never be an actor,' and it's what we do all the time, in work, relationships, life in general.' Inspired as much by Voltaire's Candide as Mike Judge's Office Space, Pete Flies talks about Memoirs of a Virus Programmer. Interview with Mara LeverittNikki Tratner interviews Mara Leveritt, author of Devil's Knot: The True Story of the West Memphis Three, on the details behind the indictment of three Arkansas boys for a group of gruesome 1993 murders. PopMatters Book InterviewYou name it, Kevin Murphy saw it in 2001. And lived to tell the tale. Words and Music: An Interview with David Niall Wilson'Write what hurts you'. Author David Niall Wilson discusses his writing philosophy with PopMatters. In doing so, he finds time to reflect on the state of contemporary horror writing, the dangers of being too literary, and how the blues inspired his latest novel, Deep Blue. His Anal Queen: Down and Dirty with Alessandro Porco'While I do have an affection for Jill Kelly, I wouldn't call it an obsession. Obsession is the sort of word one immediately associates with statements like, 'Your Honor, my client promises to keep the court-ordered mandatory distance away from...'' Alessandro Porco talks about The Jill Kelly Poems, his ode to porn star that reveals a lot more about the male psyche than perhaps it intended. Thinking a Little Harder: An Interview with Jodi PicoultFrom her San Francisco hotel room, Picoult talks about Vanishing Acts, her writing life, the impact of her fan-friendly website on her work, and why it's okay not to be Dan Brown. Reviews
The Last Kiss (2006)This is not a revised look at new-young-adult ideals: it's an age-old crock. [19 March 2007] 
So NoTORIous: The Complete SeriesThis Tori is a performance. The real Tori is clearly much cooler. Don't you just hate her? [2 March 2007] 
Jann Arden: A Work in Progress [DVD]A Work in Progress reveals the good person that Jann Arden is, but not enough of the good musician that she is. [8 February 2007] 
Friends - The Complete Series CollectionReturning to Friends, as the cliché goes, is like visiting an old friend. It's also very much a step back in time; to our own history as much as television history. [15 December 2006] 
A Star is Found by Janet Hirshenson and Jane JenkinsIn an exuberant, faultlessly pleasant manner, the authors take us behind the Hollywood curtain and into a world often misunderstood. [22 November 2006] 
Man in the Vault/Ring of Fear (1954)These films are to Lady From Shanghai what Slither is to The Blob: rip-offs, awful in parts, fabulous in others, trippy fun everywhere else. [27 October 2006] 
Romancing the Stone/The Jewel of the Nile (1984)Everything in Jewel of the Nile is predictable, right down to the romantic final scenes at sunset. [27 September 2006] 
Track of the Cat (1954)The film traps the viewer inside the cabin with the family one minute, then out in the snow the next, watching the windows and waiting. [18 September 2006] 
Home Improvement: The Complete Fourth SeasonIn its fourth season, Home Improvement shifts away from its focus on Tim's conventional masculinity to the family's "development." [28 August 2006] 
Frasier: The Complete Eighth SeasonAll Frasier's bad behavior seems headed toward a climax, or at least a confrontation. [17 August 2006] 
Cheers: The Complete Eighth SeasonThe classic Woody one-liner doesn't further a plot, but it does reaffirm his earnest oddness. [26 July 2006] 
What I Know Now: Letters to My Younger Self by Ellyn Spragins (Editor)Whether you're teenage Maya Angelou or clothing designer Eileen Fisher questioning the benefits of making it alone, your doubts correspond. [16 June 2006] 
Wings: The Complete First and Second SeasonsIt appears from these first episodes that Wings' purpose is defined: it's The Odd Couple with planes. [22 May 2006] 
Family and Other Accidents by Shari GoldhagenLosing his virginity becomes an issue of cleaning up, rather than some crash-bang moment of adult discovery. [18 May 2006] 
The Golden Girls: The Complete Fifth SeasonThe girls are back. And, as demonstrated in The Golden Girls: The Complete Fifth Season, the series' original sophistication has come back with them. [8 May 2006] 
Winning by Losing: Drop the Weight, Change Your Life by Jillian MichaelsHer method is refreshing because it deliberately and aggressively counters late-night TV revolutions and the South Beach-Atkins-Scarsdale-No-Carbs-High-Carbs-Carmen Electra-Strip-Yourself-Thin health product glut. [27 April 2006] 
Daltry Calhoun (2005)What a pity Katrina Holden Bronson didn't spend as much time perfecting her script as she did her soundtrack. [10 April 2006] 
The Andy Milonakis Show: The Complete First SeasonAndy doesn't care if you hate his show. He's having a good time, and someone likes it: MTV2 has signed him for a second season. [28 March 2006] 
The Golden Girls: The Complete Fourth SeasonGolden Girls' fourth season is all about the silly. [22 March 2006] 
The Biggest Loser: Australian EditionThe Blue Team's bullshit, taking too much screen time, reminds us that this is a ratings-first program, no matter the good it eventually does. [15 March 2006] 
Little Fish (2005)Jacquelin Perske's script delivers Tracy's story in a series of snapshots, brief, highly detailed moments, comprised of close-ups or bits of dialogue. [28 February 2006] 
My Date With Drew (2005)My Date With Drew is a starfucking free-for-all, revealing the sad desperation of a film industry fringe-dweller. 
The Man Behind The Da Vinci Code: The Unauthorized Biography of Dan Brown by Lisa RogakDid you know that Dan Brown released two pop records and married his publicist?" [23 February 2006] Catherine Tuttle: What They Will FindCatherine Tuttle is a few years and few harsh break-ups away from true greatness. [20 February 2006] 
Watermarks (2004)Stanton appears to have come to terms with at least some of her bad feelings. 'As I was getting old,' she says, 'I decided that I did not want to die with so much hatred in me.'" [6 February 2006] 
A State of Mind (2004)Even without many personal freedoms, the Pak and Kim families find ways to express themselves. 
Thea Gilmore: Loft MusicFrom Ramones to Jimmy Cliff, Thea Gilmore's covers are full of new life. [3 February 2006] 
The Execution of Wanda Jean (2002) - PopMatters Film Review )The film may not change minds regarding the death penalty, but does demonstrate its flaws on personal and structural levels. [23 January 2006] 
Home Improvement: The Complete Third SeasonHome Improvement's third season is its best, as crack-up funny as it is heartfelt. [3 January 2006] 
Billy Joel: My LivesThis box set isn't simply a look back at Joel's career; it's a document of the artist as a creator and interpreter. [23 December 2005] 
The Golden Girls: The Complete Third SeasonThey're charismatic and dead-on in their comic timing, especially Bea Arthur, who could very well be television's all-time coolest woman. [22 December 2005] 
Never Have Your Dog Stuffed and Other Things I’ve Learned by Alan AldaThe book, with Alda's full life as its case study, presents new ways of looking at old problems; new approaches to long-standing lessons. [13 December 2005] 
Reba McEntire: #1’sReba is divinity unmatched. Even if this hits collection is entirely superfluous. 
Felicity: An American Girl Adventure (2005)Even with its contradictions, Felicity offers Shailene Woodley's feisty performance and adorable little face. [8 December 2005] 
Dwight Yoakam: Live from Austin, TX [DVD]If jeans-wearing were an Olympic sport, Dwight Yoakam would win every single medal and possibly even lead some sort of honorary jeans-parade. [1 December 2005] 
3 Fox Drive: Listen to the MusicKim Fox's songs on Listen to the Music are little literary gems. [16 November 2005] 
Heathcliff and the Catillac CatsI realize this is all meant to be hilarious, but the cat is essentially terrorizing his friends and neighbors. [2 November 2005] 
In the Shadow of the Stars: Members of the San Francisco Opera Chorus - PopMatters Film Review )In most cases, the performers are doing what they do best -- performing. And so they resist appearing too vulnerable. [28 October 2005] 
Lolly Scramble: A Memoir of Little Consequence by Tony MartinMartin listens when people talk; he watches how they move. The results are something superb. [27 October 2005] 
Kaci Brown: InstigatorAt 17, Kaci Brown's got a lot of growing up to do. She's apparently well skilled at foursomes, though. [26 October 2005] 
The Warriors: Ultimate Director’s Cut (1979)The documentary DVD explores every detail of production and Hill's vision, so that the film, for this writer becomes something altogether new. [20 October 2005] 
Baaba Maal: Baaba Maal: Senegal [DVD and CD]Baaba Maal: Senegal is a trip to another world with Baaba leading the way through music, dance, and spirituality. [14 October 2005] 
Spin Doctors: Nice Talking to MeThe first album from the original Spin Doctors in more than a decade is so cool it should come with it's own winter coat-ah. [13 October 2005] 
Over the Edge (1979)Revisiting Over the Edge is always an education, especially if you grew up watching it repeatedly, as I did. [11 October 2005] 
Bill Ricchini: Tonight I Burn BrightlyBill Ricchini's new album evokes Brian Wilson, Elliott Smith, and Belle and Sebastian -- just the way he likes it. 
Trisha Yearwood: Jasper CountyTrisha Yearwood is back with her best album to date. [27 September 2005] 
Don’t Kiss Them Good-bye by Allison DuboisThe problem with DuBois's book is that exploration of this miraculous and otherworldly gift is lost amid a confused, unfocused work that can't decide if it's a memoir, self-help book, or a book of advice for potential psychics. [21 September 2005] 
Leo Kottke / Mike Gordon: Sixty Six StepsGuitar legends Leo Kottke and Mike Gordon have invented a new genre -- calypso-folk. And it rocks. [20 September 2005] 
My Name Is EarlEarl's not the sharpest tool in the barn, but his learning process made for entertaining TV. [19 September 2005] 
Witness: Special Collector’s Edition (1985)Bemused at times, Detective John Book is nonetheless captivated by the Amish community's simplicity, its decency, and its ability to thrive despite its antiquities. [14 September 2005] 
Titus: Seasons 1 & 2It avoids usual sitcom setups and sappy wrap-ups, instead considering the effects of what Titus calls 'hard, old school' parenting on young Christopher (Titus). [12 September 2005] 
The Sea by John BanvilleThese were the moments I truly cared about Max and his experiences by the sea. I identified with him, with his longings, and his fearless divulgence of his most private secrets and thoughts. [2 September 2005] 
Bigger than the Sky (2005)Bigger than the Sky starts off with its heart in the right place and ends up with almost none at all. 
Abigail Washburn: Song of the Traveling DaughterAbigail Washburn proves that bluegrass and bamboo flutes make perfect musical bedmates. [24 August 2005] 
Wishing Stairs (2003)This is a gorgeous piece of work with superior production values, a mystical, haunting score, and superb young actors. [17 August 2005] 
Born of the Fourth of July by Ron KovicThe story is desperate, it's harrowing, and in light of current events, it's as timely now as it was when it first arrived. [16 August 2005] 
World Tour Poker: Bad Boys of PokerIt's hard not to see this behavior as showing off, even when hearing Phil Laak reflect on it during his commentary. [3 August 2005] 
Tilt: The Complete First SeasonThe players in Tilt have so little respect for poker that the honor of the game is lost amid shaky deals and legs getting snapped. [29 July 2005] 
Acacia (2003)Director Ki-Hyung Par considers Acacia his personal statement on adoption in Korea. [28 July 2005] 
Bad Girls: The Complete First SeasonBad Girls makes the battle-scarred ladies of Lark Hall into minor heroines. [22 July 2005] 
Home Improvement: The Complete Second SeasonDespite his muscle-headed tendencies, it's hard not to love Tim Taylor. [21 July 2005] 
Father of the Bride: 15th Anniversary Edition (1991)Maybe it's asking too much for a lighthearted comedy to raise any significant questions. But it can't be asking too much to expect the film to make sense. [12 July 2005] 
Footballer’s Wives: The Complete Series OneFootballers Wives is sort of a Desperate Housewives meets North Dallas Forty. [8 July 2005] 
How to Lose Your Ass and Regain Your Life: Reluctant Confessions of a Big-Butted Star by Kirstie AllThe most refreshing aspect of Kirstie Alley's story is that it's her story -- find yourself offended by that triple-X laundry service comment? Doesn't matter, this isn't your fat-experience. [7 July 2005] 
The Wool Cap (2004)Though Gigot harbors no real affinity for the tenants, he can't tell them when he's annoyed or out of sorts due to his being mute. [23 June 2005] 
License to Drive: Special Edition (1988)So it's not Casablanca, but License to Drive does have its moments. [17 June 2005] 
World Poker Tour: Season TwoThe Travel Channel's World Poker Tour has helped make poker the hottest obsession around. [10 June 2005] 
The Golden Girls: The Complete Second SeasonIn The Golden Girls, which can be exceedingly smart, this kind of writing just feels lazy. [2 June 2005] 
American IdolHow did a longhaired 29-year-old rocker in vinyl pants make it to the Idol finale stage? Was somebody reading my dream journal? [31 May 2005] 
The Brooke Ellison Story (2004)Christopher Reeve's film seems geared less towards portraying the warts and all existence of a disabled person, than showing what can be achieved with a little selfless dedication. [26 May 2005] 
Garfield and Friends: Volume ThreeBut if adults might seek a bit of cat development or story arc, kids are fine with repetition. [18 May 2005] 
Hustle (2004)Pete Rose so badly wants people to think he's a good guy that he presents Rose the legend, never Rose the man. [16 May 2005] 
The I Inside (2003)You know something's wrong with your film when the most interesting thing in it is a 20-second scene featuring Robert Sean Leonard. [10 May 2005] 
The Wind in the Willows: The Complete First SeasonEgotistical and utterly deluded as to his own popularity, Toad's adventures are by far the series' best, owing much to David Jason's maniacal performance. [5 May 2005] 
The Specials: Specials Edition (2000)Apparently, the production suffered from ego problems on set, similar to those bothering the characters. 
God, the Devil and Bob: The Complete SeriesIn the final episode of God, the Devil and Bob, titled 'Bob Gets Involved', Bob (voiced by French Stewart) goes on a rampage against rap music. [26 April 2005] 
In the Weeds (2000)These moments serve no real purpose other than to let all us know all the kinds of hilarious and odd things that can happen during restaurant rush hour. 
Shadows in the Sun (2005)Claire Forlani goes so far as to call Shadows in the Sun her Il Postino. Oy. [24 April 2005] 
My Eyes Are Nailed, But Still I See by David Niall Wilson and Brett Alexander SavoryI found my brows had furrowed, my fingers were numb, and I wanted to put the book down and run away. And then I realized -- that's why I read horror fiction. [12 April 2005] 
Sapphire and Steel: The Complete SeriesWe don't know their past, we don't know the extent of their connection, but we're in love with these characters. [7 April 2005] 
A Tale of Two Sisters (2003)Reds, blues, and purples slide along director Ji-woon Kim's canvas and it's impossible to look away, even when it's scary. [31 March 2005] 
Koma (2004)The film twists viewers in three directions before they have time to come down from the first. [23 March 2005] 
The Boy Who Wanted to be a Bear: Collector’s Series Edition (2002)The Boy Who Wanted to Be a Bear speaks to human ignorance of the animal world. [7 March 2005] 
The GridThe Grid attempts to confront terrorism and Western ignorance of Islamic culture head-on. [28 February 2005] 
Sam the Man (2000)If Sam the Man didn't tackle some difficult relationship questions so perceptively, its horrible lead and crappy lighting would have sunk it. [24 February 2005] 
Taxi: The Complete Second SeasonAnd so Louie is suddenly a sensitive guy. It's a typically funny and revealing moment in Taxi's second season. [17 February 2005] 
MacGyver: The Complete First SeriesWith such an underdeveloped character and so many ridiculous plots, MacGyver's first season reminds us how bizarre '80s TV really was. [7 February 2005] 
The Jamie Kennedy Experiment: The Complete Third SeasonIt's not clear why Jamie Kennedy holds back with some marks and pushes others completely over the edge. [2 February 2005] 
The Golden Girls: The Complete First SeasonTheir advice -- dished out to each other or the seemingly endless numbers of relatives and friends -- reveals dignity and shrewdness. [26 January 2005] 
Truth or Dare: A Book of Secrets Shared by Justine PicardieThis is less about confession, and more about who these writers are and how they got that way. [11 January 2005] 
Home Improvement: The Complete First SeasonTim's determination to add 'more power' to every household appliance or gardening tool speaks to his skewed sense of what it means to be a man. [10 January 2005] 
Boy Meets World: The Complete Second SeasonHow did Boy Meets World manage to stay on the air for seven years?. [3 January 2005] 
Ragtime (1981)Profound as Coalhouse walker's story might be, Ragtime is about far more. [29 November 2004] 
Taxi: The Complete First SeasonIf Alex is the dad, Louie is the drunk uncle who visits without calling first. [24 November 2004] 
Midnight Water by Gaylene PerryPerry's style is simple yet the intensity it conveys demonstrates how even the most fascinating and heartbreaking of tales can become so much more. [3 November 2004] 
There and Back Again: An Actor’s Tale by Sean Astin with Joe LaydenAstin's list of gripes is a Mordor-mile long, and his new book gives him the ideal opportunity to repeatedly voice each and every one of them. [25 October 2004] 
The Lost Boys: Special Edition (1987)While director Joel Schumacher may not have made a perfectly genre-breaking, horror-comedy mix, he got the 'hip' part right. [13 October 2004] 
The Rebel: An Imagined Life of James Dean by Jack DannWhat begins as an exciting premise, though, quickly dissolves into a bizarre mess of ill-conceived ideas and inconsistencies that twists the life of Hollywood biggest and most enduring icon into a preposterous joke. [25 August 2004] 
The Last Love Story by Rodney HallHall considers the effect of a post-terrorism existence on the young and in love who have little to do with politics and guns and war. [20 July 2004] 
How the Light Gets In by M.J. HylandLou's fondness for smokes and booze is just one indication Hyland gives that her protagonist is struggling with Repressed Teen Syndrome. [7 July 2004] 
Peace Kills: America’s Fun New Imperialism by P.J. O’RourkeO'Rourke does more than simply visit these places, he goes out of his way to finding understanding in them, to find common ground. It's a commitment few understand and are willing to indulge in. [29 June 2004] 
Who’s the Boss?: The Complete First SeasonThe contradictory premise of Who's the Boss? does what it's supposed to do: it sets the scene for cheesy sitcom tomfoolery. [22 June 2004] 
The Last Ride by Denise YoungThe author has wants only to champion the self-awareness of some of them rather than challenge their idea that a bad upbringing is a license to be an asshole. [26 May 2004] 
The Bride Stripped Bare by AnonymousSo, which is it? The good wife afraid to undress in the light, or unabashed dominatrix ready to school the world on the ways of the woman?" [20 April 2004] 
Just One of the Guys (1985)Just One of the Guys is worth repeated viewing, especially for Hyser's hilarious and charismatic performance. [5 April 2004] 
Odd Thomas by Dean KoontzThe novel sees Koontz damning the young person's world without taking the time to explore it from any angle other than that alluded to by school shootings and rap music. [3 March 2004] 
Cool for Cats by Jessica AdamsThe debate as to the merits of chick lit continues to rage: Is it just about girls, gossip and getting laid, or is there something deeper to be found inside those rainbow-colored covers?" [2 December 2003] 
Mendocino and Other Stories by Ann PackerPacker's importance couldn't be more evident as 2003 comes to a close with the ever-spreading Chick-Lit Disease threatening women's literature. [19 November 2003] 
Bodies by Jed MercurioMercurio's main objective is to blow a big, fat hole in the E.R.-inspired non-reality that hospitals are dens of comfort and that all doctors are hunky heroes. [16 October 2003] 
Last to Die by James GrippandoThe perfect combination of cocky superhero and romantic leading man, Swytek is a guy who's seen it all and lived to tell the tale. [25 September 2003] 
Australian IdolThe show's own contradictions reveal that even the judges are confused as to just what makes an Australian Idol. [24 September 2003] 
Garage Days (2002)Director Alex Proyas comes out of his moody cave with this flick about a band's efforts to find fame. [17 July 2003] 
Villa Incognito by Tom RobbinsThe world needs Tom Robbins to offer fresh and glorious insight -- with no reservations whatsoever -- about those little pieces of humanity and society that flummox us most. [19 June 2003] 
The Man with the Dancing Eyes by Sophie DahlA charming little fairytale about love in the modern world, told with a poetic, old-fashioned voice, which manages to capture and allure throughout its sparsely filled 74 pages. [10 June 2003] 
Due Preparations for the Plague by Janette Turner HospitalIt's a rippling current through a sordid world encased by fear, politics and familial bonds. 
Our Story: 77 Hours Underground by The Quecreek Miners, as told to Jeff GoodellThe story reveals an extraordinary and untapped subculture of modern day coal miners and their families. [8 April 2003] 
The Good, the Bad and the Inevitable by Barbara HolborowShe is of the opinion . . . that some young offenders cannot be saved, no matter how severe the punishment or how tight the hug. 
Naked at Work and Other Fears: How to Stay Sane When Your Job Drives You Crazy by Paul HellmanJust because your boss grunted at you does not mean he hates you and is about to fire you . . . he may just be having a bad day. [2 April 2003] 
To End All Wars (2001)Explores separate and collective struggles to survive, the prisoners' strengths and weaknesses. [23 January 2003] 
The Lovely Bones by Alice SeboldIt was a whole lot better when it was called Ghost. [4 December 2002] Australians UniteWe discovered, in the most painful and tragic way, that we're not so safe, after all. [7 November 2002] 
Ash Wednesday by Ethan HawkeThough Hawke often expertly captures some charming and lush moments, 'Ash Wednesday' is not supposed to be a great work of literary genius (as some of his 'But, he's a Hollywood pretty boy!' detractors seem to think), just an uncomplicated tale of the tribulations of young people in love. Objective achieved. [16 September 2002] 
Chopper's simple message rests in the fact that we shouldn't discriminate against people, even if they are they freakish son of the town whore. [14 August 2002] 
Tart (2001)Tart is another in a long line of unoriginal attempts to explore one girl's desire to fit in. [6 June 2002] 
Lucky Man: A Memoir by Michael J. FoxFox's book is not just another Hollywood cry for attention hidden in the form of an autobiography. Though he may be known primarily for his work as actor, movies and movie making are not why Fox put pen to paper. [13 May 2002] 
Rove LiveSadly, Rove has castrated his own natural humour to please the big bosses, behaving like he's been thrown in the deep end without his floaties. [1 January 1995] 
Big Brother AustraliaAnd even when 'Big Brother Australia''s storylines weren't captivating, the people were -- their reactions, thoughts, and feelings, how they took on this environment and either made it their own, or let it swallow them whole. 
Maybe Baby (2000)Maybe Baby's sight gags are sometimes hilarious and the story is often engrossing. But the execution falls flat. 
Lantana (2001)Proves that local storytellers no longer need loveable anti-heroes and a supporting cast of offbeat simpletons to get noticed. 
Chopper (2000)It's a confrontational, if manipulative, style, never offering excuses for Chopper's behaviour. There's no obligatory flashback to an unfavourable childhood. There's no real evidence of the influence of drugs. He is who is because he is. That's it. 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[17 July 2008]Re:Print: Kate Summerscale and Mr. Whicher [15 July 2008]Re:Print: His life with Madonna [14 July 2008]Re:Print: Library theft’ll get you 10 years [11 July 2008]Re:Print: Henry Winkler is Hank Zipzer [2 July 2008]Re:Print: The Bella Cullen Project [1 July 2008]Re:Print: Here There Be Dragons [27 June 2008]Re:Print: Salman Rushdie knighted [25 June 2008]Re:Print: Does Writing Get Easier? [24 June 2008]Re:Print: Inkheart coming to theatres [19 June 2008]Re:Print: Paddington Bear turns 50 [17 June 2008]Re:Print: Covered In… Rain and Busy Days [10 June 2008]Re:Print: Friday news round-up: Age-branding, Sophie Kinsella, Rose Tremain [6 June 2008]Re:Print: NPR’s Summer of Books: Three Books [4 June 2008]Re:Print: Ian McEwan’s accidental plagiarism [3 June 2008]Re:Print: Oh, Oh My… The ‘Let the Right One In’ Trailer [29 May 2008]Re:Print: Book spotlight: Sydney Pollack by Janet L. Meyer [27 May 2008]Re:Print: Laughing With Them: An Interview with GoFugYourself Creators, Jessica Morgan and Heather Cocks [22 May 2008]Re:Print: James Frey: Novelist [21 May 2008]Re:Print: Punk songs all sounding alike: Palahniuk’s Snuff [19 May 2008]Re:Print: Meeting your idols: Dianna Heitz on John Elder Robison [16 May 2008]Re:Print: Nuala O’Faolain: The Lucky One in the Family [13 May 2008]Re:Print: News round-up: Interview edition [9 May 2008]Re:Print: Kids hate reading: The Plight of the Accidental Tourist [8 May 2008]Re:Print: Camels on Bondi: the Sydney Writers’ Fest commercial [2 May 2008]Re:Print: Farewell William Warner [1 May 2008]Re:Print: Ginger Spice: Author [28 April 2008]Re:Print: True crime author launches poker blog [24 April 2008]Re:Print: News round-up: Judge finds Harry Potter complex, and more. [22 April 2008]Re:Print: Blood on Paper opens [15 April 2008]Re:Print: You must read Lois Lowry and Sloane Crosley [14 April 2008]Re:Print: News round-up: Pulitzer Edition [11 April 2008]Re:Print: Collecting Pulitzers [9 April 2008]Re:Print: Diaz wins the fiction prize [7 April 2008]Re:Print: Predicting the PulitzersRe:Print: Friday news round-up: Textbook prices, John Krasinski, TextBuyIt [4 April 2008]Re:Print: Friday news round-up [28 March 2008]Re:Print: Friday news round-up [21 March 2008]Re:Print: If it weren’t for Arthur C. Clarke [19 March 2008]Re:Print: Introducing Books About: Friday the 13th Part 3 [17 March 2008]Re:Print: Dr Seuss recovered [13 March 2008]Re:Print: Spotlight on ... 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[27 April 2007]Re:Print: Welcome to Re:Print, the PopMatters books blog [23 April 2007]Consuming Consumables: Best American Boxed Gift Set 1 [$40.00] [13 December 2006]Consuming Consumables: Friends: The Complete Series Collection [$299.98] [12 December 2006]Consuming Consumables: READ - Warriors Box Set: Volumes 1 to 3 [11 December 2006]Consuming Consumables: READ - The Friend Who Got Away [7 December 2006]Consuming Consumables: READ - BlackBook List: Jet Set 2006 [6 December 2006]Consuming Consumables: READ - Factotum by Charles Bukowski [3 December 2006]Consuming Consumables: READ - Dissecting Death: Secrets of a Medical Examiner [30 November 2006]Consuming Consumables: READ - Phil Gordon’s Poker Box Set [29 November 2006]Consuming Consumables: READ - A Military Miscellany [28 November 2006]Consuming Consumables: READ - Museum of Lost Wonder [26 November 2006]NewsSoundwave Festival 2009: The Big New Thing [26 January 2009] |
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Moving Pixels: Parent-Child Bonding: Video Games that Bridge the Generation Gap The Rockist: Metal, Back from Purgatory
Blogs
Short Ends and Leader: Shameless! Tasteless! Hilarious! The Films of Yakov Levi Marginal Utility: A Quick Theory of the Self Mixed Media: Monsters of Folk - “Temazcal” (video) Sound Affects: Masters of the Form: Rage Against the Machine (1992) Moving Pixels: Cut Scenes Can Work in Games Notes from the Road: Fuck Buttons + Growing: 4.Nov.09 - Washington DC
Music
:. Say Anything: Say Anything :. Wolfmother: Cosmic Egg :. The Swell Season: Strict Joy :. Neon Indian: Psychic Chasms :. Karen O and the Kids: Where The Wild Things Are :. Slaraffenland: We’re on Your Side :. Gloria Jones: Share My Love
Film
:. The Men Who Stare at Goats :. Endgame :. The Fourth Kind :. Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire :. Disney’s A Christmas Carol :. Gentlemen Broncos
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:. Adult Swim in a Box :. The 39 Steps :. Planes, Trains and Automobiles (Those Aren’t Pillows Edition)
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:. Craig Ferguson’s autobiography is a testimony to America’s eternal appeal to immigrants :. INTERVIEW:Jeff Bridges abides, and works like crazy :. Roland Emmerich’s latest big-budget doomsday extravaganza is his ‘darkest film’ to date :. INTERVIEW:Hit repeat with Steely Dan and ‘Aja’ :. INTERVIEW:Lily Tomlin has had an extraordinary career being ordinary :. Film changes student’s course: ‘Precious’ star pursuing acting
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