Wednesday, November 10 2010
Paul Robeson: A Resonant Voice That Will Never Be Fully Silenced
Modern day 'political' celebrities can't hold a candle to Paul Robeson, who always flaunted his politics even when it was perhaps most dangerous to do so.
‘Knucklehead’: The Tenacious Appeal of Pro Wrestling
It occurred to me that Clint Eastwood used to make these kinds of movies – often with an orangutan – back when he made good movies.
Thursday, October 28 2010
‘Poltergeist’: Home Sweet Hell
James Kahn’s version of Poltergeist is a rare example of a book written after a movie is released, which results in a riveting read.
Friday, October 22 2010
Prime-Time Nuclear Destruction: ‘Medic’, ‘A Flash of Darkness’
When it comes to prime-time half-hour visions of nuclear destruction, there's none better than Medic episode, 'A Flash of Darkness' from Valentine's Day 1955, a surprisingly bleak eruption of nuclear despair.
Wednesday, October 20 2010
Fantômas: The Case of the Dastardly Scalawag
King of the underworld! Master of disguise! Collector of exclamation points! From books to films, Fantomas was the giddy James Bond phenom of its day.
Friday, October 8 2010
‘A Cambodian Odyssey’: Haing Ngor Was Among the Most Consequential Actors of His Time
It isn't often that a brutal personal account of mass murder, slavery, torture and the obliteration of a sovereign nation causes a reader to meditate on the art of acting, but then, Haing Ngor's was no ordinary life.
Thursday, October 7 2010
‘The Grapes of Wrath’: The Specter of Tom Joad Emerges From America’s Dark Past, Once Again
With the current economic climate -- increasing rates of foreclosure, evictions, unemployment, poverty and misery -- this classic story dangerously impinges upon the present to reveal the specter of Tom Joad emerging from the darkness, once again.
Wednesday, October 6 2010
Hollywood’s Silent Sister Act: A Tearjerking Tragedienne, a Sparkling Comedienne
Mary Pickford was the biggest female star at the beginning of the '20s and Greta Garbo was the biggest at the finish, but in between there were none bigger than Norma and Constance Talmadge.
Friday, October 1 2010
Pacific Hell Amid Days of Heaven: Terrence Malick’s ‘The Thin Red Line’
PopMatters' Paul Maher speaks with cast and crew about what went into Terrence Malick's million-and-a-half feet of film (250 hours) that would become The Thin Red Line (re-released on DVD by Criterion, 28 September).
Thursday, September 16 2010
You’ll Never Get Rich—Bwa! Ha! Ha!: Sgt. Bilko: The Phil Silvers Show
Is there always something subversive about comedy? Only when it's funny.
Wednesday, September 15 2010
This Is a (Wo)Man’s World—Prime Suspect: The Complete Collection
The best thing about Prime Suspect is the density of it all, how we get beneath Tennison's skin to experience her desperation, her despair, and her desires.
Friday, September 3 2010
Masterpieces of Silent Film Are Rescued From Obscurity
Underworld, The Last Command, and The Docks of New York are masterpieces of visual storytelling -- human dramas expressed with cinematographic innovation, impeccably realized set design, and an unparalleled grasp of the “bigger picture” of the motion picture.
Thursday, September 2 2010
‘Word Is Out’‘s Historical Importance Cannot Be Underestimated
Tales of secrecy, discrimination, discovery, bonding, and isolation and loneliness are common, not surprising considering the social and political climate for the LGBT community in the '70s.
Tuesday, August 31 2010
‘The Mothers-In-Law’: Just for Good Measure, We’ll Give Everyone the Intelligence of a Radish
The '60s were the most surreal decade on TV, and this show has scenes as bizarre as any sitcom, even without castaways or martians or robots or talking animals or reincarnated automobiles.
Friday, August 20 2010
Rambo’s Hold Will Never Let (Us) Go
The essential point of this series of all the Rambo films, muddy as it has been made by the hateful final installment, is that Rambo represents the failure of the American people to come to terms with their misadventure in Vietnam.
Tuesday, August 10 2010
‘Leave It to Beaver’ Is Probably Closer to Real Life for People Today Than Many Would Admit
Leave It to Beaver's problem is not that it no longer fits modern social concerns, but that it does so too blatantly. God forbid a modern hipster should let loose a chuckle and thus irrefutably acknowledge dull suburban ambitions!
Thursday, August 5 2010
Pride and Prejudice
Clinging to the dictum “The personal is political”, and shunning such pesky realities as promiscuity, illness and civil rights, the progenitors of this Cinema Pride DVD have opted to focus simply on storytelling and character development.
Monday, August 2 2010
House of the Rising Sun Lamp: Jersey Shore UNCENSORED: Season One
The youth whom I was concerned for regarding this program are not the network’s audience, as I thought, but its stars. Most seem aware that there is a direct relationship between outrageous behavior and screen time.
Friday, July 23 2010
The Archaeology of Comedy: Ancient Funnybones Found Intact
More valuable fossils have been unearthed from the strata of film history thanks to these Kino and Flicker Alley DVDs: a bunch of lost Keatons and one lost Roxie.
Sunday, July 11 2010
How Does One Beat the Heat? Try Descending Into Icy Madness
To cope with the heat wave, advisories suggest visiting 'cooling centers' or public pools. To achieve a truly chilled-out state of mind, however, why not open the door to your mind and let the iceman cometh inside?
