The Philadelphia Story, showing tonight at the Walker’s Summer Music and Movies in Loring Park. According to an History of the Movies class I took at Michigan State University–taught by one of the screenwriters of Top Gun, for God’s sake–when The Philadelphia Story was released, Katherine Hepburn was considered “box office poison”. Kate being Kate, … Read more
The Illusionist, 2006. Written and directed by Neil Burger. Starring Edward Norton, Paul Giamatti, Jessica Biel, Rufus Sewell, Eddie Marson, and Jake Wood. Nightmare Alley, 1947. Directed by Edmund Golding, written by Jules Furthman. Starring Tyrone Power, Joan Blondell, Coleen Gray (rrowr), Helen Walker, Ian Keith, George Beranger, Taylor Holmes and Mike Mazursky. The Illusionist … Read more
Last Friday I was walking down the avenue–Riverside Avenue, to be exact. I was, at the time, admiring the marquee at the old Viking Bar, which read “Gone Fishing”; and I’d remarked to the boyfriend about that. But, because he’d never been to the place, I started going on about how much I’d always liked … Read more
Only once it happened, only the one time, that once upon a time, the only memory I have left that inspires anything for the man but disgust. And even so, it wasn’t love I was feeling that day, but a sort of plain pity and cruel fascination, but, Jesus, it was a great moment, almost … Read more
I still love baseball. I still make an attempt to at least keep tabs on every game, and religiously scroll through the boxscores every morning. I don’t know, quite honestly, why it’s been so hard to write about the Twins this year (and, truth be told, through the second half of last season). Actually, I … Read more
Two outdoor concerts happening today, which I’ll recommend, with feeling, since the window of opportunity is closing on these things: On my side of the river, out in the courtyard at the Mill City Musuem, there’s Desdamona (gee, I remember when she was just a wee thing at the Artist Quarter’s open mic) and The … Read more
This isn’t your average bake sale. You probably won’t find suburban moms in their J.Jill capris sweetly smiling over bundt cake. That’s because it’s … The Big Gay Bake Sale! This Saturday from 6-10pm, Patrick’s Cabaret is hosting The Big Gay Bake Sale as a fundraiser for the Flaming Film Festival. Beyond bakery items, they … Read more
I’m going to venture across enemy lines here (not really…), and refer you to Jim Walsh’s post about the First Avenue HayDay documentary that’s screening tonight as the kickoff for Sound Unseen. I mean, Walsh was there, man… Me, during the First Avenue heyday, well, I was a fourth grade nothing kicking about on my … Read more
Clash By Night, 1952. Directed by Fritz Lang, written by Alfred Hayes (from the play by Clifford Odets). Starring Barbara Stanwyck, Paul Douglas, Robert Ryan, Marilyn Monroe, J. Carrol Naish, Keith Andes, and Silvio Minciotti. Available on DVD locally at Cinema Revolution. San Xavier, location unknown. Probably it’s California, but it could be Washington, Oregon. … Read more
IFP (Independent Feature Project, d’uh) is throwing itself a lil’ soiree this evening. It’s a fundraiser for the organization–which is dedicated to promoting the work, locally, of independent screenwriters, filmmakers, and photographers. But it’ll only set you back about fifteen bucks, so it’s cheap as benefit events go. Expect to be fed, watered, and entertained … Read more