View image Movement, music & lyrics: Fred Astaire with George & Ira Gershwin. Over a wet, grey Seattle weekend, I immersed myself in Wilfred Sheed's delightful book about the architects of the American popular song, "The House That George Built:…
View image Or, maybe, a Notice of Recurrent Themes. Or The Bordwell Manifesto? No, David Bordwell and Kristin Thompson don't really call it a "Declaration of Principles." But, in recognition of their first blogiversary at on their invaluable blog, Observations…
I didn’t know Jim Gordon well, but I knew him with great affection. His personality improved the weather in a room, and we shared the same room for years.
View image I like to watch and learn. Alas, Manohla Dargis wasn't fond, as I was, of Eric Rohmer's "Romance of Astrée and Céladon," Juan Antonio Bayona's "The Orphanage" or Ira Sachs' "Married Life" -- all of which (and more,…
View image "Stellet Licht," Heilige Licht. From Paul Clark at ScreenGrab.com: Despite the sensational buzz for Carlos Reygadas’ "Silent Light" at Cannes, I approached the film with a bit of trepidation when I got a chance to see it in…
From Barry “Bear” Toffoli, Danville, CA:
From Melissa White, Salem, Oregon:
by Roger Ebert
View image Opening shot: Above it all. View image Second shot: A street in a neighborhood: Vallejo, CA - July 4, 1969. Music: "Easy to be Hard," from "Hair." It's probably the second shot of David Fincher's "Zodiac" that you…
View image 1. The title of the film and the name of the writer and director. Michael Nyman's chugging strings and pounding piano build tension and suspense on the soundtrack. View image 2. Opening shot: The mystery begins. Two children…
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