Author Archives: robchristopher

3 things about John Sturges’ MYSTERY STREET

Mystery Street [1950] 1. He lifts her out of the car, clunks her body against the car door. He doesn’t care. 2. Elsa Lanchester: “Careful, dear boy! That gin costs four dollars a bottle.” 3. She goes through the canceled checks; … Continue reading →

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3 things about Martin Scorsese’s THE AGE OF INNOCENCE

The Age of Innocence [1993] 1. Dissolving into slow motion and then back again. 2. He picks up the parasol and lifts the handle to his nose. Later he finds out it isn’t hers. 3. She laughs bitterly. “Have you … Continue reading →

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3 things about Wong Kar-wai’s IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE

In the Mood for Love [2000] 1. “I’ll leave you in peace then.” 2. Green Melmac plates, green coffee cups and saucers. You can see the coffee through the cup. 3. A rehearsal of a confrontation. A rehearsal of a … Continue reading →

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Unproduced disaster film.

A dream last night. It was an all-star cast which included Mary Tyler Moore, Nancy Walker, James Mason, and Robert Ryan. The premise: it’s four weeks before Christmas and the Grand Opening Day of a new, state-of-the-art shopping mall. One … Continue reading →

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3 things about Rob Epstein & Jeffrey Friedman’s HOWL

Howl [2010] 1. The typewriter punches out handwriting. 2. Next to the phonograph, an LP by Dinah. 3. An arm emerges from the bottom corner of the frame to accept the cup of tea.

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STORIES FROM THE GRID: Chicago/Rush

Being part of a series involving Chicago and its surroundings. The family was sitting outside around a black metal table. An older gentleman set down a tray of food in front of them. In a deep, rolling cadence he recited, … Continue reading →

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3 things about James Cameron’s AVATAR

Avatar [2009] 1. “You’ve contaminated the sample with your saliva, Norm.” 2. Quick cutting neutralizes 3D. 3. Chest hair, green filaments.

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9/11.

My own memories of 9/11 are (blessedly, considering what’s come later) self-contained. Working a full day at the coffeehouse, not wanting/wanting to be there, spending a few hours at home glued to the TV, then going to a Laurie Anderson … Continue reading →

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3 things about Fred Zinnemann’s ACT OF VIOLENCE

Act of Violence [1948] 1. The slow scrape of his shoe on the sidewalk. 2. She cradles the bottle of milk, nervously massaging it. 3. Alongside the train tracks they approach one another, like a shootout in a western.

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3 things about Tobe Hooper’s LIFEFORCE

Lifeforce [1985] 1. Frank Finlay has the Christopher Lee role. 2. “Every blue spark is a human soul.” 3. A flattened pile of twitching corpses on the stairs of the cathedral.

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