Monthly Archives: January 2008

Bad day. This morning I discovered that, somewhere, somehow, I lost my debit card. Because of the terrible weather last night I skipped out on going to the Chicago Film Forum screening, which has made me grumpy. We have been … Continue reading →

35 Up [1991] 1. The shot of the dog catching the rabbit was included again.2. For the first time in the series really, death weighs heavily on the subjects. This is what I have to look forward to as I … Continue reading →

 Movies: City as Symphony

Thieves Like Us [1974]  1. Shelley Duvall reading McCall’s while lying on the bed in the cabin.2. The slo-mo ambush. An allusion to Bonnie and Clyde. Except in this case Altman only shows us the outside of the cabin getting … Continue reading →

Parents [1989] 1. The name of the corporation: TOXICO.2. Was Sandy Dennis just playing drunk when she made this movie, or was she really drunk? In any case, she was fantastic. I love her opening bit of dropping her cigarette … Continue reading →

Bernard and Doris [2007] 1. He says, “I’m just going to adjust your pillow.” He brings her gently forward, as in an embrace, and cradles her. She smiles slightly, peaceful Then he releases her and she lays back against the … Continue reading →

Learning of Heath Ledger’s death has made me genuinely sad. It was his performance in Brokeback Mountain that really made that film work. The inwardness. It reminded me of Anthony Hopkins in Remains of the Day actually; so withdrawn that … Continue reading →

The Milky Way [1969] 1. He carefully breaks the bundle of twigs in half and then places them on the fire. No, he pushes them into the fire. But he doesn’t burn his hands. 2. Ham in the knapsack.3. “The … Continue reading →