In cae you were curious, the schedule for the 13th Spokane International Film Festival is now up. Which means that you can check out the schedule, work the films you want to see into your schedule. Something new this year: Tickets to all films screening…
OK, how little did I enjoy "Season of the Witch," the just-released Nicolas Cage thriller? Put it this way: I just finished watching "NYC: Tornado Terror," and "Category 6: Day of Destrucftion -- Part One" just began. And both -- perfect examples of made-for-TV action…
Following is the review of "Made in Dagenham" that I wrote for Spokane Public Radio: If one of Hollywood's more memorable real-life images involves Sally Field hoisting her second Oscar while exclaiming, "You like me! Right now, you like me!" then certainly one of the…
Time was, Nicolas Cage was an engaging actor. Quirky, of course, but also engaging. Now, though ... well, Cage is stuck doing one stupid film after the next. With the arguable exception of Werner Herzog's "The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call -- New Orleans," he…
Like so many other movie fans, I like Seth Rogen. I came late to the Judd Apatow-created series "Freaks and Geeks," which brought early fame to Rogen, Jason Segel and James Franco, among others. But I have enjoyed his various film roles, from "The 40…
In a post below, I added an animated defense of movie-theater employees who so often are forced to endure the stupid questions, actions of moviegoers. So now let me add a post from the other side. I went to see a screening of "The Green…
I guess I haven't yet blogged about seeing "Country Strong." My reaction: What a load of horsehockey. With Gwyneth Paltrow in the lead, I thought the film would be at least listenable. She has a decent voice. And because the camera loves her, I had…
The following animated clip is imagined, of course. But I have it on good authority that it represents actual experiences that movie-staff employees have with some members of the general public. Watch and see who you can empathize with. Warning: Some language in the following…
Several years ago, when I first began hearing of the group Coldplay, I fell in love with a song of their titled "Clocks." If you're unfamiliar with the title, you've no doubt heard the song -- its piano refrain is both hypnotic and infectious. I've…
It's a little late, but I did come up with a list of film that I liked from 2010. Following is taken from a script that I wrote for Spokane Public Radio: When you live in Spokane, it's impossible to see every film a year…
My adult life began in Oregon. I was 29 when I entered graduate school at the University of Oregon, hoping to learn the craft of journalism. Hey, the professors taught me what they could. And while earning my master's degree, I learned enough to fool…
My late friend Bob Glatzer never passed on a chance to praise the first two chapters of Francis Ford Coppola's "Godfather" trilogy (he, like most rational souls, was less a fan of the third). He likely would have liked the report below, done by a…
My friend, Kathleen Magone, specializes in finding intriguing quotes. Following is one that truly marks a gap, not just between generations but between educational classes. It is attributed to Jonathan Macfarlane, writing in the the literary journal The Walrus: "Apparently, long-form journalism is far from…
I've always called movies the great American art form. That's because when it comes to them, everybody has an opinion. I seldom try to argue the point. The way I see it, if you can make a case for your opinion, then you have a…
I can't say that this will carry over the whole new year, but my first blog post of 2011 concerns a television show. Not a standard show, mind you. Not a sitcom or example of "reality" excess or nature adventure or quiz show or anything…
As today is the last day of 2010, it's fitting to look at the movies that made the most money over the course of the year. According to Box Office Mojo, the Top 10 moneymakers were: 1. "Toy Story 3" ($415 million) 2. "Alice in…
As a movie reviewer, I'm accustomed to taking unpopular positions -- witness the debate I'm having with my friend, the young critic Nathan Weinbender, about "Black Swan." Thing is, I always try to stick with the issue of art and what makes it work ...…
Attention all book lovers: Here is some bad news for you. Better order that iPad as soon as you can.
I've been watching Adam Richman, the host of the Travel Channel's show "Man Vs. Food," since it hit the airways. And while I enjoy watching Richman pig out in cities all over the United States -- right now I've watching his Alaska show -- I've…
It's funny how expectations can color your view of a movie. I expected to love "True Grit" and I only liked it. I expected to loathe "The King's Speech" and yet I loved it. That's not to say that my observations were dependent on my…
Regarding my review below of the Coen brothers' film "True Grit," one thing that I particularly liked about the adaptation is the brothers' inclusion of one of author Charles Portis' better, if painfully aware, lines. It's the last line of the film, apparently the next-to-last…
I've been watching Coen brothers films since 1984 when "Blood Simple" played first played on a Spokane movie screen -- probably the Magic Lantern's. I've loved several of their films, appreciated most of them and felt indifferent only to a few. Among those I've loved:…
I can't be the only one who finds Tom Ashbrook, the host of NPR's program "On Point," just a tad bit cloying in how he moderates the show. Not taking anything away from the guy's intelligence, or incredible breadth of knowledge. But sometimes his overexcited…
In my house, the tradition is to see a movie on Christmas day. This year was supposed to have been the Coen Brothers' adaptation of Charles Portis' novel "True Grit." But it looks as if we will join Pete Porter, his wife and newborn son…
During yesterday's taping of "Movies 101," the Inlander's Luke Baumgarten made a good point about "Black Swan" when he referred to it as a horror movie. There certainly is a horrorshow quality to it. Still, I only really began to appreciate Darren Aronoflsky's film after…
