Stranger than “Stranger Than Fiction”

Last updated on: February 16, 2013 at 1:22 pm By Jeffrey Overstreet

My favorite thing about Marc Forster’s vividly romantic comedy Stranger Than Fiction was the romance that never actually caught fire… the combustible pairing of Dustin Hoffman and Emma Thompson. Ever since that movie, and both times I’ve seen it on DVD, I’ve become distracted by the potential for the continuing story of their two characters, who just seemed made for each other. But then I’ve sighed, shaken my head, and resolved myself to watching Hoffman and Thompson continue to pop up,... Read more

“The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus”: Starring Tom Waits?

Last updated on: February 16, 2013 at 1:23 pm By Jeffrey Overstreet

In El Pais, Terry Gilliam reports (if I’m not misreading the French) that his next project is The Imaginarium of Dr. Parnassus, starring Tom Waits and Heath Ledger. (This, according to Film Ick.) Excellent. Waits had an unforgettable cameo (“I’m like a moral traffic light, really…”) in The Fisher King , my favorite Gilliam film, and I can’t wait to see him in a larger role. Gilliam and Waits are a match made in heaven. And while I must say... Read more

“Fay Grim” and “Waitress”

Last updated on: February 16, 2013 at 1:24 pm By Jeffrey Overstreet

During hours when I couldn’t write over the last couple of weeks, I managed to wedge in two films… Fay Grim ‘Tis the summer of sequels. But forget Spidey, Captain Jack, and Jason Bourne… I know what you’ve REALLY been waiting to see. The follow-up to Henry Fool!! What? You haven’t? You never saw Hal Hartley’s sick and twisted 1998 comedy about the garbage man who became a famous poet? If you want a witty, challenging comedy about art, pornography, poetry, trash,... Read more

Vintage T-Bone Burnett

Last updated on: February 16, 2013 at 1:32 pm By Jeffrey Overstreet

Interested in some vintage T-Bone Burnett music? Check it out. Rhino is releasing a deluxe package of Proof Through the Night and Trap Door (or, to be exact, The Complete Trap Door). Thanks to Jim Bricker for the alert! Read more

Specials: Cairns and Overstreet Poetry! “Knocked Up.” “All About Adam.” “The Golden Compass.” “Spidey 3.” Helen Mirren. Aronofsky.

Last updated on: February 16, 2013 at 1:31 pm By Jeffrey Overstreet

Here are a few links I’ve been saving up this week… Scott Cairns and Anne Overstreet both have poems in the new issue of Relief! Order your copy today! Ross Douthat on Knocked Up and its (surprising?) lack of talk about abortion. (Updated: Even more.) (Oh, and I just discovered his first post on the movie.) Peter Chattaway on Disney’s upcoming Adam-and-Eve movie… All About Adam. Peter’s also keeping an eye on The Golden Compass‘s movie hype, and how director Chris... Read more

Music bits: U2 Album Progress. Whitman’s aves. Hartse on Feist. The Believer.

Last updated on: February 16, 2013 at 1:29 pm By Jeffrey Overstreet

A quick blitz of music links: U2’s progress on their new album. Andy Whitman rates the best albums so far this year. Joel Hartse reviews Feist’s The Reminder. A summary of The Believer’s annual Music Issue. Read more

The Police, Unplugged

Last updated on: February 16, 2013 at 1:26 pm By Jeffrey Overstreet

MTV’s decided to dust off Unplugged. Billboard reports it will feature appearances by Mary J. Blige, The Police, Bon Jovi, Kenny Chesney and John Mayer. (more…) Read more

Your Favorite Moments of “Silent Acting”

Last updated on: February 16, 2013 at 1:27 pm By Jeffrey Overstreet

Last week, Elvis Mitchell interviewed Sarah Polley on NPR’s “The Treatment.” They talked about Polley’s new film, Away from Her, which stars Julie Christie. This led them to talking about how Polley was enthralled with Christie’s performance in Doctor Zhivago. Mitchell then asked her if David Lean was an influence on her own creative work as a director. Polley’s answer made me happy, so I’m sharing it… (more…) Read more

Over the Rhine’s “Trumpet Child” Tour Kickoff

Last updated on: February 16, 2013 at 1:28 pm By Jeffrey Overstreet

From the Over the Rhine MySpace page: Starting August 31, Over the Rhine will kick off the TRUMPET CHILD 2007 WORLD TOUR with a gala Album Release Concert at Coney Island Moonlight Gardens in Cincinnati, OH. – shortly followed by the first leg of the tour, beginning September 13 in Seattle, Washington. Beginning this Saturday, June 2nd at Midnight Eastern Time (that’s either Friday Night or Saturday morning – depending on your preference), you’ll be able to buy tickets for... Read more

Sufjan Stevens Plays The Innocence Mission

Last updated on: February 15, 2013 at 10:19 pm By Jeffrey Overstreet

In this Pitchfork blog entry on Sufjan Stevens, there’s a link to video of Sufjan Stevens (hooray!) performing a cover of The Innocence Mission’s “The Lakes of Canada” (hooray!!!) Read more