“Calvary” written and directed by John Michael McDonagh (The Guard, Ned Kelly) is definitely worth seeing. In fact, having just finished a screenwriting class, this could be the template given to future writers showing them the ropes: ~make your main character suffer and holy Job, does Brendan Gleeson’s character suffer ~have quirky unique minor characters… Continue reading Calvary, the Saints Come Marching In
Boyhood, My How Time Flies
I put off writing this blog, thinking I was going to watch the film for a second time, but alas my best movie friend has been occupied as of late, so here it goes: Boyhood was an oxymoron of a film, and this comes from a fanatic of the Before Midnight, Before Sunrise, Before Sunset… Continue reading Boyhood, My How Time Flies
Jodorowsky’s The Dance of Reality
A funny thing happened on the way to the theater, well, actually inside the lobby. At the Little Theater in Rochester, NY, to see Jodorowsky’s The Dance of Reality, I loitered beforehand, looking at movie posters, being idiosyncratic and wanting to sit without a romantic couple plunking themselves behind me-yes, alone on a Saturday night,… Continue reading Jodorowsky’s The Dance of Reality
Venus in Fur: Piled High
In the most recent AARP newsletter, the author Nicholson Baker inferred his indifference to the hubbub regarding the naughty aspects of 50 Shades of Gray and I have to agree. Meaning, sex is extremely enjoyable in its basic form which is also why I’m pretty naïve to sexual fetishes. So I was surprised and intrigued… Continue reading Venus in Fur: Piled High
Skimming the Cinematic Stones: Early Linklater
Between my son’s practice in the Finger Lakes Opera ‘Carmen’ and my work on a Blue Cat Screenplay Contest Short, completing a triology of early Linklater was a challenge. But guess what, I’m not late! Santa aka ‘Boyhood’ won’t be in Rochester, New York till 8/15. Let’s start with the wonderful surprise of Slackers (1991),… Continue reading Skimming the Cinematic Stones: Early Linklater
Mr. Braff, I’d Take a Shiner For You
The following alludes to a scene from the moving film “Wish I Was Here” written and directed by Zach Braff. When you read the name Ian Buckwalter, please read it as Cloris Leachman snarled, “Frau Blucher” in “Young Frankenstein” with a subsequent horse neigh:Cloris Leachman Dear Mr. Braff, If ever I was in a grocery… Continue reading Mr. Braff, I’d Take a Shiner For You
Philip Seymour Hoffman: A Double Header Pilgrimage
Living in Rochester, New York grants me the privilege of seeing Philip Seymour Hoffman movies on the big screen once a week for the next few months at the grand Dryden Theater (George Eastman House). And since one of his last movies “The Most Wanted Man” opened at the independent Little Theater on Friday 7/25/14,… Continue reading Philip Seymour Hoffman: A Double Header Pilgrimage
Words and Pictures: Perhaps Too Close to Home
I saw Words and Pictures two weeks ago at the super quaint Cinema Theater on Clinton Avenue in Rochester, New York where pet therapy (the theater cat) is free with admission. Usually I am chomping at the proverbial cat nip to write about a film, and it wasn’t that the film was bad that kept… Continue reading Words and Pictures: Perhaps Too Close to Home
Snowpiercer: Ode to McEnroe, “You Can Not Be Serious!”
Much like that chair ump with an obvious stygmatism from the late 70’s are Rotten Tomatoes reviewers(94%) and David Denby of The New Yorker. You can not be serious! Snowpiercer was horrid story telling, due to either the original book being flawed or the screenplay and editing askew, and I’m not about to try to… Continue reading Snowpiercer: Ode to McEnroe, “You Can Not Be Serious!”
“Obvious Child”: Pregnant in its Details
Gillian Robespierre may have been inspired by Louis CK’s stand up comedian’s “life on display” award winning formula in her film Obvious Child which she both directed and co-wrote. The movie stars comedian Jenny Slate (as Donna) and actor Jake Lacy (as Max). Although I enjoyed the flick as a whole, overly antiseptic aspects mixed… Continue reading “Obvious Child”: Pregnant in its Details