Defense of Marriage Act struck down; anti-abortion bill in Texas defeated; the Civil War rages on in film; how Under the Dome proves that TV shows don’t have to pay for themselves with ads; why The Simpsons is TV’s most God-friendly series; appreciating Steve Wonder; two Mad Men video essays, on the show’s depiction of Vietnam and the gradual evolution of Peggy Olson.
The “accidental racism” of Paula Deen; Curtis Mayfield as musical journalist; Stephen Fry’s ongoing struggle with depression; Rex Reed still thinks Melissa McCarthy is, oh, don’t make us repeat it, just read it; why NBC newsman David Gregory is what’s wrong with Washington; Richard Matheson at 20,000 feet; what the heck is an aspect ratio, anyway?
Peter Sobczynski eulogizes the late, great, astoundingly prolific writer Richard Matheson, “whose work in a career that would encompass seven decades influenced anyone who encountered, it regardless of the medium he was working in.” Includes appreciations of “Duel,” “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet,” “I Am Legend,” “Somewhere in Time” and many other works, original and adapted.
The future of affirmative action; what it means to be “Pro-Putin”; Jaws the Revenge, re-shredded; James Gandolfini, cautionary tale; Isadora Duncan’s forgotten art; getting to the bottom of that mysterious Mad Men poster; Roger and Gene rave about Star Wars on Nightline.
For all our Los Angeles readers: This Thursday you’re in
for a treat. To remember Roger, the Cinefamily has partnered with
Cinespia to host an archival 35mm screening of the Ebert-penned cult
classic, “Beyond the Valley of Dolls” featuring a performance by ’60s
psychedelic rockers The Strawberry Alarm Clock. Some of the “Beyond…”
cast and crew, like Meyer bombshell Erica Gavin and groovy music
supervisor Stu Philips, will be there. I’ll be there too. And it all happens this Thursday, June 27th at 7:30pm at the the Saban Theatre, a newly restored 1930 Art Deco movie palace, at 8440 Wilshire Blvd in Beverly Hills, CA.
Table of contents for “Cut to Black,” a discussion of The Sopranos‘ ending and the future of TV drama; contains links to all six episodes, plus transcripts. Participants include RogerEbert.com editor and New York Magazine critic Matt Zoller Seitz, Huffington Post TV critic Maureen Ryan, A.V. Club TV critic Ryan McGee, and previously.tv contributor Sarah D. Bunting. And yes, they do get into whether Tony got whacked.
Part 1 of “Cut to Black,” a videotaped roundtable discussion about the end of The Sopranos and the future of television drama. This chapter talks about the shock of first seeing the Sopranos ending, and viewers’ reluctance to accept that it was meant to be ambiguous. Participants include RogerEbert.com editor and New York Magazine TV critic Matt Zoller Seitz, Huffington Post TV critic Maureen Ryan, A.V. Club TV critic Ryan McGee, and previously.tv contributor Sarah D. Bunting. Shot and edited by Dave Bunting, Jr.
Part 2 of “Cut to Black,” a videotaped roundtable discussion about the end of The Sopranos and the future of television drama. This is the “Did Tony get whacked?” episode, in case you’re wondering. Participants include RogerEbert.com editor and New York Magazine TV critic Matt Zoller Seitz, Huffington Post TV critic Maureen Ryan, A.V. Club TV critic Ryan McGee, and previously.tv contributor Sarah D. Bunting. Shot and edited by Dave Bunting, Jr.
Part 3 of “Cut to Black,” a videotaped roundtable discussion about the end of The Sopranos and the future of television drama. Participants include RogerEbert.com editor and New York Magazine TV critic Matt Zoller Seitz, Huffington Post TV critic Maureen Ryan, A.V. Club TV critic Ryan McGee, and previously.tv contributor Sarah D. Bunting. Shot and edited by Dave Bunting, Jr.
Part 4 of “Cut to Black,” a videotaped roundtable discussion about the end of The Sopranos and the future of television drama. Participants include RogerEbert.com editor and New York Magazine TV critic Matt Zoller Seitz, Huffington Post TV critic Maureen Ryan, A.V. Club TV critic Ryan McGee, and previously.tv contributor Sarah D. Bunting. Shot and edited by Dave Bunting, Jr.
Part 5 of “Cut to Black,” a videotaped roundtable discussion about the end of The Sopranos and the future of television drama. Participants include RogerEbert.com editor and New York Magazine TV critic Matt Zoller Seitz, Huffington Post TV critic Maureen Ryan, A.V. Club TV critic Ryan McGee, and previously.tv contributor Sarah D. Bunting. Shot and edited by Dave Bunting, Jr.
Part 6 of “Cut to Black,” a videotaped roundtable discussion about the end of The Sopranos and the future of television drama. Participants include RogerEbert.com editor and New York Magazine critic Matt Zoller Seitz, Huffington Post TV critic Maureen Ryan, A.V. Club TV critic Ryan McGee, and previously.tv contributor Sarah D. Bunting. The program was shot and edited by Dave Bunting, Jr.
The four basic aspects of being a bro; the rarely-seen sic-fi film High Treason, seen in Chicago; that darned Sopranos, with its infuriating cut-to-black ending; why internships don’t lead anywhere; Mad Men sells sunny products, despairing drama.
A remembrance by a fan of the late James Gandolfini, one of many people who never met him but was touched by his work, and by his presence.
Links to obituaries, profiles and appreciations of the late Sopranos star James Gandolfini, who died of a heart attack June 20, 2013 at 51. Cut to black, roll credits.
Simon Abrams looks at humanism in zombie films of George Romero, and how they’re carried forward in the novel “World War Z.”
Back in 1984, Roger was interviewed by Terry Gross for “Fresh Air.” It’s a
case of a great interviewer and a great subject. Though the interview is
not currently available in Fresh Air’s online archives, they graciously
agreed to let us put up the complete interview. It’s a great listen.
Craig D. Lindsey is on the warpath against jerk cinema, in which arrogant heroes trample all over everybody and the film celebrates them as righteously awesome. Whatever happened to charm?
This summer’s Millennium Park screenings kick off with a dedication to Roger Ebert.
