Monthly Archives: March 2013

3 things about Giuseppe Patroni Griffi’s THE DRIVER’S SEAT (IDENTIKIT)

The Driver’s Seat (Identikit) [1974] 1. “When I diet, I diet. And when I orgasm, I orgasm. I don’t believe in mixing the two cultures.” 2. A giant stack of cafe chairs. She wanders around the empty pavilion. A group … Continue reading

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Am I good bartender? Find out tomorrow.

As part of a Chicagoist fundraiser for the violence prevention organization UCAN, I’ll be bartending tomorrow night (Thursday the 28th) at Nisei Lounge in Chicago. My shift is from 8-9pm, and though I’ll gladly mix up any drink you like … Continue reading

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3 things about Billy Wilder’s THE SEVEN YEAR ITCH

The Seven Year Itch [1955] 1. He takes his first puff. “Injurious tars and resins!” 2. “It sorts of cools the ankles, doesn’t it?” We only get to see the legs. 3. Staircase to nowhere.

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3 things about Abbas Kiarostami’s LIKE SOMEONE IN LOVE

Like Someone in Love [2012] 1. Is the girl teaching the parrot how to talk? Or vice versa? 2. The next day, the glasses of champagne are still sitting on the table. 3. He goes over to the window to … Continue reading

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3 things about Nick Castle’s THE LAST STARFIGHTER

The Last Starfighter [1984] 1. Eyebrow malfunction. 2. “What did I do wrong? I’m new at these gland games.” 3. Speckled green blood on his hand.

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3 things about Wim Wenders’ UNTIL THE END OF THE WORLD

Until the End of the World [1991] 1. She wanders around a pachinko parlor in a jet-lagged daze. 2. A handheld computer in a leather case. 3. Brandy and hot chocolate at Tosca’s in San Francisco. Beautifully filmed. One of … Continue reading

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3 things about EVERYTHING IS TERRIBLE! THE MOVIE

Everything Is Terrible! The Movie [2009] 1. Surrounded by candles, Angela Lansbury relaxes in a tub. 2. “Page 34! Page 34!” 3. Fuller, thicker hair.

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A valiant try by director Walter Salles and screenwriter José Rivera, but …

In their attempt to translate Jack Kerouac’s novel On the Road to the screen they get all the notes right, but they miss the book’s melody. This was definitely a tough review to write. Hopefully I was fair; there are … Continue reading

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3 things about Claire Denis’ WHITE MATERIAL

White Material [2009] 1. The taut muscles on her arm as she clings to the side of the moving bus. 2. He pushes the junk food-filled wheelbarrow around the courtyard in a frenzy, chased by a cadre of child soldiers. … Continue reading

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March 20, 2003

On the evening of March 20, 2003 I was working as a field researcher for a UIC/Robert Wood Johnson Foundation health study. My job was to go door to door to the addresses randomly chosen for the study and conduct … Continue reading

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