3 things about Francine Parker’s FTA

Posted on December 19, 2015 by robchristopher

FTA [1972]

1. Jane wears her Klute haircut.
2. The only film in the history of motion pictures to feature a song called “I’m Tired of Bastards Fuckin’ Over Me.”
3. Disturbingly cheerful narration at atomic bomb museum in Hiroshima.

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3 things about Lewis Seiler’s DOLL FACE

Posted on December 14, 2015 by robchristopher

Doll Face [1945]

1. Faux hipster number “Hubba Hubba Hubba,” which includes a throwaway lyric about firebombing Tokyo.
2. “He was out there playing mouse and cat!”
3. The anesthetized face of Perry Como.

Pretty dire. Even at 80 minutes it drags.

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3 things about Frederick Wiseman’s THE STORE

Posted on December 12, 2015 by robchristopher

The Store [1983]

1. “The bigger the cereal bowl, the better. And I need a cup and saucer too.”
2. A missing Waterford crystal chandelier.
3. Singing telegram chicken stripper.

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9 weeks of stories.

Posted on December 11, 2015 by robchristopher

The ninth story in Chicagoist’s series of new stories by Barry Gifford just went online. Read the whole lot at Fridays with Roy. The series concludes next Friday with his annual Christmas story.

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3 things about Michael Schultz’s SCAVENGER HUNT

Posted on December 10, 2015 by robchristopher

Scavenger Hunt [1979]

1. “I have no holes! I can’t see!”
2. Orthopedic brass knuckles.
3. Socks and underwear hanging up in his office.

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3 things about Jason Amm & Robert Fantinatto’s I DREAM OF WIRES

Posted on December 7, 2015 by robchristopher

I Dream of Wires [2014]

1. Smart decision to use a female narrator, since all but two of the interviewees are men.
2. The Monterey Pop Festival was the turning point for the popularity of Moog’s synthesizer.
3. “Just hit record.”

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3 things about Thom Eberhardt’s NIGHT OF THE COMET

Posted on December 6, 2015 by robchristopher

Night of the Comet [1984]

1. A game called Scary Noises.
2. Sam does not like country.
3. How will they get his braces off?

3 other things.

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3 things about Alex Gibney’s GOING CLEAR: SCIENTOLOGY AND THE PRISON OF BELIEF

Posted on December 5, 2015 by robchristopher

Going Clear: Scientology and the Prison of Belief [2015]

1. David Miscavige is shorter than Tom Cruise?
2. Paid between 6 and 40 cents an hour.
3. A game of musical chairs to “Bohemian Rhapsody.”

Bonus: deeply stained teeth, protruding lips, an accent that’s equal parts John Huston and Oral Roberts.

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3 things about Vincent Sherman’s THE DAMNED DON’T CRY

Posted on December 4, 2015 by robchristopher

The Damned Don’t Cry [1950]

1. Always, the sound of oil pumps in the background.
2. The main room of the club is a series of low-slung arches receding into the background.
3. Patricia, pronounced puh-TREE-sha.

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3 things about Dan Gilroy’s NIGHTCRAWLER

Posted on December 3, 2015 by robchristopher

Nightcrawler [2014]

1. Even as blood bubbles from the corner of his mouth, the look of disbelief on his face.
2. “I feel like grabbing you by your ears right now and screaming, ‘I’m not fucking interested.’ Instead I’m going to drive home and do some accounting.”
3. Most Network moment: dual silhouette in front of a bank of monitors.

Jake’s manbun is an inspired choice. Rupert Pupkin lives!

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