Dan Webster

Dan Webster is a staff writer for The Spokesman-Review in the Features department. He works as a features writer, film critic, movies, DVDs and books columnist, and blogger.

Contact Dan

Email: danw@spokesman.com
Phone: 509-459-5483
Fax: 509-459-5482

Recent stories by Dan

Small-budget film ‘Slumdog’ captures hearts, eight Oscars

April 3, 2009 in Features on Page C7 ‘Ricky Gervais: Out of England’ •••1/2
Writers workshop Saturday part of SpoCon 2009

March 29, 2009 in Features on Page D6 If you know how to write, the future is yours. That’s particularly true for those wannabes who choose to take part in the writers workshop that will be held Saturday …
Video File: ‘Bolt’ who thinks he’s superdog learns life lessons

March 27, 2009 in Features on Page C7 ‘In Treatment’
Fuller to share her Africa at GU Thursday

March 22, 2009 in Features on Page D6 Africa has always been a literary treasure. Mostly, though, our view of the continent – one that boasts vastly different cultures, from the desert tribes of the northeast to the …
Penn portrayal anchors ‘Milk’

March 13, 2009 in Features on Page C7 ‘Happy-Go-Lucky’
UFO Phil sighting at Magic Lantern

March 13, 2009 in Features on Page C1 UFO Phil’s voice takes a conspiratorial tone. “Can you keep a secret?” he near-whispers. 1
Movies, readings at libraries

March 8, 2009 in Features on Page D6 Public libraries are, as we can all agree, community treasures. Long past the day where libraries offered only an array of books (and maybe the occasional bookmobile), today’s institutions are …
Thomas raises bar in ‘Loved You’

March 6, 2009 in Features on Page C7 ‘Australia’ ••1/2
David Sedaris to read at Auntie’s

March 1, 2009 in Features on Page D6 Auntie’s Bookstore has scored a coup. The store that pioneered Spokane-area literary readings will present none other than David Sedaris on June 13. The humor essayist/radio monologist, known for such …
Cherilyn Cieryca wins Oscar contest

February 26, 2009 in Features on Page C3 “Slumdog Millionaire” was the big winner in this year’s Oscars, but it was almost as big for Coeur d’Alene movie fan Cherilyn Cieryca. Cieryca won this year’s Spokesman-Review Oscar Contest …
Who wants to win an Oscar?

February 22, 2009 in Features on Page D1 All too often years are marked by their top movies. Think of 1997. James Cameron made it all about “Titanic.” In 1986, Oliver Stone took us back to Vietnam for …
Whitworth celebrates career of professor with film festival

February 20, 2009 in Features on Page C1 Leonard Oakland says that nobody at Whitworth University calls him Mr. Chips. But it’s not because they have trouble choosing between the two movie versions of James Hilton’s novel – …
Coeur d’Alene library holding writing contest

February 15, 2009 in Features on Page D6 Writers take note: There will be ample opportunities for you to pick up some tricks of the trade over the next week. And for those who just want to jump …
‘Blindness’ strength in visuals

February 13, 2009 in Features on Page C7 ‘Frozen River’
Nine films, nine shorts remain to be seen at SpIFF

February 13, 2009 in Features on Page C5 Spokane’s infatuation with all things international continues on the big screen this weekend as the 2009 Spokane International Film Festival concludes its 11-day run. Beginning with a showing of the …
Spokane film festival expands horizons

February 6, 2009 in Features on Page C1 Pete Porter is high on this year’s version of the Spokane International Film Festival, which kicked off Thursday night at AMC’s River Park Square Theatres. “I think this lineup is, …
Honored Mexican film featured in Spokane festival

January 30, 2009 in Features on Page C5 When it comes to film festivals, there’s one thing you can usually count on: You’re not likely to see something mindlessly stupid. That’s particularly true of the Spokane International Film …
Aspiring Spokane-born actress looks to bigger things after TV debut

January 25, 2009 in Features on Page D1 Things weren’t looking good for Megan Albertus. It was episode two of “Momma’s Boys,” the Ryan Seacrest-produced reality show for NBC, and the Spokane-born aspiring actress was one of three … 3
Ron Howard creates drama, suspense in ‘Frost/Nixon’

January 23, 2009 in Features on Page C5 History makes a great first draft for Hollywood. Case in point: Ron Howard’s newly Oscar-nominated “Frost/Nixon,” which Peter Morgan adapted from his stage play about the series of taped interviews …
Ed Harris’ direction, acting aids ‘Appaloosa’

January 16, 2009 in Features on Page C7 ‘Our Daily Bread’ •••