Author Archives: Sax von Stroheim

The Beach Boys’ Third Studio Album: Surfer Girl

Posted on October 26, 2013 by Sax von Stroheim

Sax von Stroheim writes: The last album in their Early Surfin’ Trilogy. We have moved from the Specific to the Mythic. Of the title song, Mike Love tells us “the words were found on a tablet in a field in … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

Johnnie To’s Romances

Posted on October 25, 2013 by Sax von Stroheim

Sax von Stroheim writes: Johnnie To usually makes movies about cops and robbers, but in the spirit of the great Hollywood studio directors, he seems willing and able to tackle any popular genre. In the comments on his recent post … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

I Love Adam Sandler Movies

Posted on October 24, 2013 by Sax von Stroheim

Sax von Stroheim writes: God knows, they aren’t very well made. Adam Sandler may be our Jerry Lewis – he certainly seems to embarrass middlebrow would-be-sophisticates in the way that Jerry did – but unlike Lewis he has no interest … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies, Performers | Tagged | 4 Comments

The Beach Boys’ Second Studio Album: Surfin’ U.S.A.

Posted on October 24, 2013 by Sax von Stroheim

Sax von Stroheim writes: The colonization of the imagination of the American Teenager: if everybody had an ocean, then everyone would be living the California dream. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNypbmPPDco Question: Does it matter that they were just capitalizing on a fad? That … Continue reading →

Posted in Music | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

The Beach Boys’ First Album: Surfin’ Safari

Posted on October 22, 2013 by Sax von Stroheim

Sax von Stroheim writes: This is the New Journalism: they are reporters; they are actors. They catalog the rituals of Early 1960’s Southern California Teenage Life; they tell us where it’s at: “At Rincon they’re walking the nose.” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOg1MxozVPc And because … Continue reading →

Posted in Music, Performers | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

“Pain & Gain” and Michael Bay

Posted on May 24, 2013 by Sax von Stroheim

Sax von Stroheim writes: Pain & Gain, the new true crime caper movie from Michael Bay: Uncouth Reflections Movie of the Year? Movie of the Decade? Movie of All Time? Its subject is excess, and it’s catching, so forgive the … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Not Quite Up To Par

Posted on January 18, 2013 by Sax von Stroheim

Sax von Stroheim writes: Night Train to Munich (Carol Reed, 1940) This isn’t a bad movie, but it suffers a bit because it isn’t a great movie, either, and it brings to mind too many other movies that are great … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

David Chase’s Small Movie for the Big Screen

Posted on January 15, 2013 by Sax von Stroheim

Sax von Stroheim writes: Not Fade Away (David Chase, 2012) A few different ways into talking about this movie: As you probably notice, I pay a bit of attention to current movies, but, even so, I completely missed that this … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , | 5 Comments

Some Oscar Counterprogramming

Posted on January 11, 2013 by Sax von Stroheim

Sax von Stroheim writes: I was thinking of writing up a snarky take on the Academy Award nominations, but then decided I didn’t really want to participate in that even as a joke. (I believe the official Uncouth Reflections editorial … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged | 5 Comments

Not My Favorite Horse Racing Movie

Posted on January 11, 2013 by Sax von Stroheim

Sax von Stroheim writes: Dead Cert (Tony Richardson, 1974) Something the Brits do pretty well: take their decent-to-classic mystery novels and turn them into solid-to-great TV programmes and movies. It’s rare to come across one that doesn’t have at least … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , | 4 Comments