Category Archives: Movies

Notes on “The Long Goodbye”

Blowhard, Esq. writes: 1. What a wonderful book. A sprawling mini-epic with L.A. as a Potemkin paradise that, like “The Big Sleep,” is confusing as hell. More than a few times I stopped short to say, “Wait, how are these people … Continue reading

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Quote Du Jour

Blowhard, Esq. writes: “There ain’t no clean way to make a hundred million bucks,” Ohls said. “Maybe the head man thinks his hands are clean but somewhere along the line guys got pushed to the wall, nice little businesses got the … Continue reading

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“Godzilla”

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes: The disaster film — which I think includes the giant monster film — has long been a venue for plots that encompass multiple characters, motives, and locations. One of the genre’s pleasures lies in our appreciation of how … Continue reading

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Juxtaposin’: New York Walks

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes: Related  Are Teenage Dreams So Hard to Beat?

Posted in Movies, Politics and Economics, Sex | Tagged , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

“Khartoum” (1966)

Eddie Pensier writes: A gorgeous-looking Lawrence of Arabia wannabe, directed by Basil Dearden, about the defense of Khartoum by General Charles Gordon (Charlton Heston) against the forces of the “Mahdi” Muhammed Ahmed (Laurence Olivier). Khartoum features loads of wide desert … Continue reading

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Movie Poster Du Jour: “The Reckless Moment”

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes: Back when movie posters were important as advertisements, and many theaters were independently run, some printing companies offered posters that functioned as alternatives to the studio-approved designs. Theaters looking to promote a film in a unique … Continue reading

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Showtune Saturday: “I Enjoy Being A Girl”

Eddie Pensier writes: A most delightfully politically incorrect number from Flower Drum Song (1961), Henry Koster’s film of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s musical. Nancy Kwan’s singing voice is dubbed by B.J. Baker. Oh, and stop waiting for that towel to ride … Continue reading

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Movie Poster Du Jour: “Illusion Travels by Streetcar”

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes: A country-of-origin poster from Bunuel’s Mexican period. Love the green-red coloration.

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“The Human Scale” (2012)

Blowhard, Esq. writes: I thought this documentary, an introduction to the theory and work of Danish urbanist Jan Gehl, was OK. Gehl’s thesis, which hardly seems remarkable but goes to show the state we’re in, is that public spaces are more … Continue reading

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

Showtune Saturday: “Der Guten Tag Hop-Clop”

Eddie Pensier writes: I will confess to not being a Will Ferrell fan at all (with the exception of his turn as Bob Woodward in Andrew Fleming’s very underrated Dick) but if anyone could harness the manic lunacy of Kenneth … Continue reading

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