Recent Reviews
Re: “Devil”
What impressed me about the film was its view that all people are inherently flawed but well-intentioned and worthy of redemption. The implications are more generous than those of much purportedly Christian entertainment, which seem to restrict sympathy only to characters who are practicing Christians.
Also, I can't agree with your assessment that the film is tired or lazy. I have to reiterate my admiration for Fujimoto's work, which is plenty active, even athletic. In fact, I'd rank it alongside his very best: "Melvin and Howard," "Something Wild," and "The Sixth Sense." If you're referring to the familiarity of the characterization or the plotting... well, I can't disagree with you there. But I don't see a problem with cliches so long as there's enthusiasm in their unfurling. (Needless to say, I'm a big fan of 40s and 50s B movies.) I found that in "Devil." If you didn't, well, there are always other horror movies.
Recent Comments
Re: “A list of 20 notable classics and rediscoveries that screened in Chicago in 2012”
Arrgh! How could I forget that?! As I wrote at the beginning of the post, it was so difficult to narrow down my list to just 20 titles. But you're right--The Gaucho was a great screening, as was Silent Film Society's revival of Fritz Lang's The Spiders. I'm sure there are dozens of others worthy of inclusion that I failed to mention. I hope other readers bring them up in the comments section here.
Re: “Parental Guidance must be good for someone besides Billy Crystal”
I don't think so, but I can understand why the five-year-olds and grandparents in the room did.
Re: “The Village: revisiting a meaningful plot twist”
Dear Uh, yeah,
I think you use "uh" as rhetorical device more than any other writer I've encountered! I wasn't making any claim to great insight here; I just wanted to voice my appreciation of the film's narrative structure, which I feel rises above the sleight-of-hand tricks of Shyamalan's other work. And I agree that the film has more to do with American culture in general than with any particular era of history, which is why I described its critique of the Bush administration as "indirect." (Also, in response to Ronald's thoughtful comment, please note that I accuse "reactionaries of all stripes" for idealizing the past; I don't associate it with any one political persuasion.) The post-9/11 era may have been Shyamalan's taking-off point, but I think the finished film is more open-ended, closer in spirit to Nathaniel Hawthorne than John Waters.
Re: “The Insect treatment: an interview with Nate Cunningham”
Sorry for the omission, Lymenews. I've added that to the article.
Re: “This week in Bollywood screenings: Son of Sardaar”
You're right! Thanks for catching that; I've corrected the post.
Re: “Lower the boom, release the Kraken, and open the kimono”
In the bathrobe scene in World According to Garp, Mrs. Ralph wants Garp to get a hard-on but he doesn't. He isn't attracted to her.
Re: “Dennis Byrne misses the point on Republicans and abortion”
Communist homosexuals? You mean like the German composer Hans Werner Henze? That guy's awesome!
Re: “Martin”
It was going to play at Doc Films (at the University of Chicago) on Saturday, October 30, but the screening had to be cancelled, unfortunately. It is a great movie, though--one of George Romero's very, very best. Thankfully, it's readily available on DVD, so it isn't hard to come by.