Tag Archives: movies

Notes on “First Blood”

Posted on October 3, 2015 by Fabrizio del Wrongo

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes: The 1982 “First Blood” has much in common with the Kirk Douglas vehicle “Lonely Are the Brave,” made 20 years earlier. The heroes of both movies are veterans and pariahs, and they duke it out with … Continue reading →

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Juxtaposin’: Speechifying

Posted on September 27, 2015 by Fabrizio del Wrongo

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes:

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Movie Poster Du Jour: “Man of Aran”

Posted on September 20, 2015 by Fabrizio del Wrongo

Fabrzio del Wrongo writes: This British three-sheet for Robert Flaherty’s 1934 “Man of Aran” was designed by Marc Stone, a notable commercial artist who was responsible for some great posters, including a couple for the Karloff horror vehicle “The Ghoul.” … Continue reading →

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Brian Kellow’s “Can I Go Now? The Life of Sue Mengers, Hollywood’s First Superagent”

Posted on September 14, 2015 by Paleo Retiree

Paleo Retiree writes: Like Robert Evans (who produced “The Godfather” and ran Paramount), Sue Mengers was one of the great behind-the-scenes figures of ’70s Hollywood. The agent (first at Creative Management Associates, then at ICM) for many of the era’s … Continue reading →

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Listing Movies: 101 American Movies

Posted on September 7, 2015 by Fabrizio del Wrongo

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes: In July the BBC published a list purporting to represent the “greatest” examples of American filmmaking. I put the key word in quotes because I’m not sure what it means. The only clarification offered by the … Continue reading →

Posted in Movies | Tagged , , , | 23 Comments

Notes on “Tusk”

Posted on August 29, 2015 by Fabrizio del Wrongo

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes: In “Tusk,” writer-director Kevin Smith burrows deep into a hole of self-loathing and misanthropy. He’s beating up on the digital age, on young people, on hip callowness: the movie plays like the howl of a onetime … Continue reading →

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Notes on “Let’s Go Native”

Posted on July 26, 2015 by Fabrizio del Wrongo

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes: Like many early talkies, the 1930 “Let’s Go Native” is so effortlessly weird it serves as proof an innate American tendency toward surrealism. Jeanette MacDonald — still in her lingerie-naughty, pre-MGM phase — plays a Broadway … Continue reading →

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“The Fisher King”

Posted on July 16, 2015 by Fabrizio del Wrongo

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes: There’s a lot going on in “The Fisher King.” Perhaps too much. The mythic elements in Richard LaGravenese’s screenplay threaten to tip the movie out of balance, to spoil subtext by shoving it in your face. … Continue reading →

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Like a Holy Candle

Posted on July 11, 2015 by Fabrizio del Wrongo

Fabrizio del Wrongo writes: There are four sorts of scenes alternated: (1) the particular history of Judith; (2) the gentle courtship of Nathan and Naomi, types of the inhabitants of Bethulia; (3) pictures of the streets, with the population flowing … Continue reading →

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“The Black Swan”

Posted on June 29, 2015 by Paleo Retiree

Paleo Retiree writes: I was amazed how uninspiring I found this 2010 ballet-world-set psychological horror film. Natalie Portman plays a super-perfectionist, frigid (but yearning for release) ballerina who’s given the lead in a new version of “Swan Lake.” The movie … Continue reading →

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