The Artists’s Job: An Artist’s Life Workshop in Portland

Last updated on: October 3, 2012 at 5:35 pm By Jeffrey Overstreet

If you’re an artist living anywhere near Portland, or want to pay Portland a visit, here’s something to consider: The Artist’s Job: Making a Life and a Living as an Artist (more…) Read more

Asheville Poetry Review Delivers an Early Christmas Gift

Last updated on: October 3, 2012 at 5:36 pm By Jeffrey Overstreet

I am blessed in so many ways that Anne Maureen Doe said “Yes” when I proposed about 15 years ago. And I am overjoyed whenever the world confirms what I’ve known all along: That she is an excellent poet. So I can’t help myself: (more…) Read more

Happy Half-Century to Joe Henry!

Last updated on: October 3, 2012 at 5:37 pm By Jeffrey Overstreet

In honor of a man who, as of today, has lived a half-century, here is a birthday song by They Might Be Giants. I’ve chosen this song for two reasons: (more…) Read more

Trash Transformed

Last updated on: October 3, 2012 at 11:07 pm By Jeffrey Overstreet

Okay, so if I tell you that Waste Land is a movie about the world’s largest landfill, you probably won’t want to see it. What if I tell you it’s about extraordinary works of art made from stuff that was taken from the world’s largest landfill? No? What If I told you it’s such an inspiring documentary, I watched it twice in one week? (more…) Read more

Waste Land (2010)

Last updated on: October 3, 2012 at 5:47 pm By Jeffrey Overstreet

My review of Waste Land, one of the most inspiring films I’ve seen this year, is up at Image. Read more

Big Letdown

Last updated on: October 3, 2012 at 5:48 pm By Jeffrey Overstreet

Can you guess what my favorite film critic, Steven Greydanus, is writing about here? Too much feels haphazard. Stuff happens, and later other stuff happens, and in between there’s a lot of moody standing around and angst and stuff. There’s very little action or spectacle — a couple of chase scenes, a couple of showdowns, and not much more. What’s more, where the first chase involves seven parallel chases, the story only follows [its central character] — which means that... Read more

Really, MPAA?

Last updated on: October 3, 2012 at 5:49 pm By Jeffrey Overstreet

Before I start describing the MPAA with language they would consider inappropriate, I’ll just hand the microphone over to Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams, whose film Blue Valentine was just rated NC-17. Why was it given that rating? (more…) Read more

2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)

Last updated on: October 3, 2012 at 5:49 pm By Jeffrey Overstreet

[November 2010 Update: It’s been almost a decade since we turned the page on our calendars to 2001. And yet, Stanley Kubrick’s masterpiece, 2001: A Space Odyssey, still feels prophetic. So I’m digging up my review of that re-release and posting it again, and I’ll include this – an article that appeared just today on Kottke called “Kubrick Explains 2001.”] – (Warning: This review is offered with the assumption that readers have seen this film. No attempt has been made... Read more

Looking Closer’s Christmas Gift Recommendations: A Kingdom Far and Clear

Last updated on: October 3, 2012 at 5:50 pm By Jeffrey Overstreet

Looking for a great fantasy book to give for Christmas? Here’s an idea: Mark Helprin’s glorious “Swan Lake” trilogy is being republished in one volume – A Kingdom Far and Clear – with beautiful illustrations by Chris Van Allsburg. (more…) Read more