Peter Schilling Marie Antoinette, 2006. Written and directed by Sofia Coppola. Starring Kirsten Dunst, Jason Schwartzman, Judy Davis, Rip Torn, Shirley Henderson, Molly Shannon, Steve Coogan, Marianne Faithfull, Asia Argento, Jamie Dornan, and Danny Huston. Now showing at theaters around town. Sofia Coppola adores couches. Couches and beds. Also, she seems to enjoy the alluring look of … Read more
Norman Andersen flipped a switch on the side of a contraption that looks like a combination of a pipe organ and a china cabinet, albeit with a bright red Scandinavian door harp perched like a cherry on top. “This is called Valkommen!,” Andersen said. The thing began to wheeze and hum, then the pipes moaned … Read more
Flags of Our Fathers, 2006. Directed by Clint Eastwood, written by William Broyles Jr. and Paul Haggis. Starring Ryan Phillippe, Jesse Bradford, Adam Beach, Barry Pepper, John Benjamin Hickey, Paul Walker, Jamie Bell, Neal McDonough, Harve Presnell, Judith Ivey, Myra Turley, and Thomas McCarthy. Now showing at theaters around town. A long time ago, when … Read more
Detail from “Brushes With Fame!” by Steve Willis (scroll down link for bio). So I saw Donald Sutherland wandering down Lake Street one night, and I’m thinkin’, what the hell’s this guy doin’ wandering down whore alley? Get this, so I yell out “Hey Donald, lookin’ for Klute?” What? I thought the whore was the … Read more
Good film criticism is hard to find in this world, but if you want to read a really great review of a really great film check out Anthony Lane’s awesome take on Infamous. My only complaint is that it–the review–is too short. Scroll down past his wacky look at Marie Antoinette, which I’ll be seeing … Read more
Infamous and The Queen. Infamous, 2006. Written and directed by Douglas McGrath. Starring Toby Jones, Daniel Craig, Sandra Bullock, Jeff Daniels, Sigourney Weaver, John Benjamin Hickey, Lee Pace, Peter Bogdanovich, Hope Davis, Isabella Rossellini, and, in a small but powerful role, Gwyneth Paltrow. Now playing at the Edina Cinema. If you were to look at … Read more
Ladeez and Gennulmen: Tonight, at the Bell Auditorium, as part of the distinguished Science on the Screen program, we have Hitchcock’s The Birds. Bring some popcorn of your own making, get a few glasses of cheap wine or fancy beer down your gullet, and a cardigan (the place is cold) and settle in for one … Read more
The art of creating fascinating trailers has certainly improved since I was a kid. Back in the day, previews were nothing more than solemn voice-overs summarizing the coming attraction. Today, many of these pre-feature shorts are more intriguing than the movies themselves, and I don’t know how many times I’ve watched a preview only to … Read more
Brief Encounter, 1945. Directed by David Lean and written by Noel Coward. Starring Celia Johnson and Trevor Howard. Available at your public library. Sometimes it helps to escape a blue weekend with a mindless comedy, some blood and gore, or a spectacular adventure full of explosions. To wander into the local Cineplex with twenty bucks, … Read more
Detroit Tigers 8, New York Yankees 3. Detroit wins ALDS three games to one. Trust me, I understand your pain. But today, after nearly twenty years, New York City is Mudville and Detroit celebrates. Briefly, for of course it ain’t over ’til it’s over.