Another view of A Room with a View, and being young and in love
Some nights ago, when there was still a bit of heat in the air and golden light outside, Martha and I sat down to watch A Room with a View. I’d hesitate to count the… Read More
Tag: Movies
A case for indie movies: Better roles for women, says Vera Famiga
“I’m least challenged or inspired by [Hollywood] stories… I’ve gravitated towards independent cinema because you have to work harder in studio scripts to flesh out characters, particularly female ones. They are not as sharply edged,… Read More
Nabokov’s caution to writers and other artists (and politicians, too)
“For better or worse, it is the commentator who has the last word.”— Vladimir Nabokov This observation from Vladimir Nabokov is spoken by one of the Russian-American novelist’s characters, and not a nice one, either…. Read More
Madeline Kahn was killingly funny, always. And it was tough on her
“I can’t even really tell a joke. I find being funny very hard work. I am always asked about it and I feel guilty saying that, but it’s the truth. I love my work but… Read More
Let your imagination take flight, said Lauren Bacall
“Imagination is the highest kite that can fly.” — Lauren Bacall Lauren Bacall wrote these words for her memoir, which was published first as By Myself in 1978, and then revised and published in 2005… Read More
Joe Orton thought a lot about good taste (and who got to decide what it was)
“The kind of people who always go on about whether a thing is in good taste invariably have very bad taste.”– Joe Orton The playwright Joe Orton said these words during an interview published in… Read More
Why more women should direct movies, from Jane Campion
“One of the things we learn in movies directed by men is what the ‘fantasy woman’ is. What we learn in movies directed by women is what real women are about. I don’t think that… Read More
How Spinal Tap gave me a case example in interviewing technique
As rock managers went, Ian Faith always looked for the best way to frame a situation … and to take advantage of a poorly worded question, too. Ian Faith, of course, never existed. Played by… Read More
Sorry, 007: Why we root for heroes who are much more ordinary
“While it’s fun to watch James Bond kick ass, we don’t really identify with him. Most people — myself included — feel overwhelmed by life from time to time. And we can more easily understand… Read More
The train, the river and the opening of a classic music documentary
Jazz on a Summer’s Day was released in 1959, and was filmed the preceding summer at the Newport Jazz Festival. Its opening moments combine the dappled, reflected sunshine in a harbour with a jazzy rhythm…. Read More
A thought on the line between actor and audience, and other things about Tim Curry
“It’s an odd pairing. I’ve always loved the audience, but from a distance. Once you’ve elicited a strong response from an audience, you want it again. That kind of an energy is as addictive as… Read More
A clever thought about a stupid reputation
“The great advantage of having a reputation for being stupid: people are less suspicious of you.”— Richard Curtis These words come out of the mouth of Tom, the richer-than-rich, loyal and slightly daft friend in… Read More
A thought on the enchanting, liberating freedom to fail
“I did scary things like that when I was a young woman. I had all of my 20s to fail. I wanted to be a stand-up and then I wanted to be Lily Tomlin. I… Read More
A thought on finding the truth
“People assume actors are born liars but I’d argue the actor’s job is to tell the truth. And I’ve realized I’m not a good liar.”— Cate Blanchett Cate Blanchett — who gave this answer to… Read More
Imagine if this football-powered hit kept its cringy original lyric and title
In the movie Bend It Like Beckham, there are sequences where the young girls playing soccer football seem like they’re about to fly into the air. They’re moving at speed, there’s joy all around, and… Read More