Wednesday, October 31 2012
In Defense Of ... The Marriage Between Music and Television
One wonders if Elvis, the Beatles, the Who, et. al. would have gained such importance had TV not been available. Those hips wouldn't have been so polarizing, those haircuts wouldn't have been so cutting edge...
Thursday, November 3 2011
‘Maxwell Street Blues’ Is a Toe-Tapping Time Capsule
Viewing Maxwell Street Blues paradoxically stirs simultaneous emotions of melancholy and elation. Much like what happens when singing the blues.
Tuesday, September 27 2011
Smells Like MTV: Music Video and the Rise of Grunge
MTV’s central role in delivering grunge to a national audience in the early 1990s demonstrated the network’s power as a creator and definer of culture, and the reaction of many of grunge’s iconic figures against the video medium revealed the gulf between principle and reality.
Tuesday, September 20 2011
‘Bride Flight’ Is Beautiful but Predictable
Despite its serviceable storyline, Bride Flight is visually sumptuous and the characters are truly endearing.
Thursday, September 1 2011
Life, Murder and Companionship: Dexter’s Quest for Friendship
Looking back over Dexter’s journey, the need for a trustworthy companion has never been greater. As the character has become more human, the desire for companionship and a normal life has overtaken the necessitation to kill. It has become—in fact always was—the driving force in his life.
Thursday, August 11 2011
The Return of 120 Minutes
120 Minutes returns to guide us through the alternative/indie/hip-hop/whatever-else universe. But what's a show to do when nothing's as hard to find as it used to be?
Thursday, July 14 2011
A Riveting Story Is Elevated by Captivating Performances in ‘Barney’s Version’
This is not a romantic comedy as its trailer misleads; rather, it’s a drama that carries us through the defining moments that occur within nearly 40 years of the eponymous character’s life.
Wednesday, July 6 2011
Discover a Hero in ‘Cedar Rapids’
What's at first blush a light-hearted comedy is actually a much more profound tale.
Thursday, June 16 2011
‘Vanishing of the Bees’ Could Do with More Honey, Less Vinegar
Vanishing of the Bees flits about from topic to topic -- and loses its way.
