Summa This, Summa That
That’s me to a T. Not calm. Not lately. Luckily, this is Wyoming. And it’s not winter. So I’m goin’ fishing. With the entire family. …which might not help. But, still. Try to behave while I’m gone. More anon. Read more
That’s me to a T. Not calm. Not lately. Luckily, this is Wyoming. And it’s not winter. So I’m goin’ fishing. With the entire family. …which might not help. But, still. Try to behave while I’m gone. More anon. Read more
Heist films are quite an interesting little genre, with a long and storied history, and an intriguing set of commonly-present story elements and genre rules. They’re often elaborate, twisty, morally …imprecise, and (very often) a ton of fun. In related news, Sneakers is on NETFLIX INSTANT and YOUTUBE($). When shadowy U.S. intelligence agents blackmail a reformed computer hacker and his offbeat team of security experts into stealing a code-breaking “black box” from a Soviet-funded genius, they uncover a deadly conspiracy. Like most heist... Read more
I’m not the world’s greatest Field of Dreams fan. I’ve enjoyed it pretty much every time I’ve seen it, and I’m glad for its fame. I’m even planning to celebrate it’s 25th Anniversary Year with a re-viewing or two. But if I’m honest with myself, I find that I’ve always enjoyed the idea of the story more than the actual telling. There’s something a bit too predictable about it, for me; something a bit forced. …except for Terence Mann’s speech, which... Read more
Unless you are a fervent fan(atic) of Dr. Terminus (as I am) or a dedicated devotee of Broadway’s “Barnum” (which I am not, though I’m thinking of changing that as a result of this post), hearing the name “Jim Dale” probably doesn’t bring a face immediately to mind. In fact, I’m guessing the vast majority of folks nowadays are far more familiar with his voice than his visage, given his Grammy-winning turn as the “Golden Voice of Harry Potter’s Audio Books.”... Read more
Gentlemen: I received your letter to-day by post, in regard to the ransom you ask for the return of my son. I think you are a little high in your demands, and I hereby make you a counter-proposition, which I am inclined to believe you will accept. You bring Johnny home and pay me two hundred and fifty dollars in cash, and I agree to take him off your hands. You had better come at night, for the neighbours believe... Read more
In my ongoing, often gleeful trek through the Land of Shorts, I sometimes find myself so blown away by the technical brilliance of what I’m watching that I lose track of (and don’t even really care) what the “point” of the short is. I’m not saying that’s a good (or a bad) thing. Just reporting. And here, by way of example, is today’s short film, Natalia Mirzoyan’s Chinti, which includes this little tidbit in its Vimeo listing: The film is... Read more
“The time has come,” the Walrus said, “to recommend the hippest, most outrageously hilarious Disney film currently available from NETFLIX INSTANT.” …which is just another way of say that if it’s been as long a week for you as it’s been for me, I can think of no better antidote than to take some time over the next few days and watch The Emperor’s New Groove. In this animated Disney adventure, a South American emperor experiences a reversal of fortune... Read more
I wrote this post about a year-and-a-half ago. Way back in the earliest stages of my Patheos blogging, a couple days after Elizabeth gave me the keys to the place. But for some reason, I never published it. Too nervous, I think. For reasons that are still unclear to me. (I have over 200 drafts stored up in this thing. Most of them are stubs; mere reminders of something I want to write about, if I ever get the chance/have... Read more
I’ll be honest. I was sold on this video the moment Open Culture described it as “using Gustav Mahler’s Fourth Symphony as a sort of sonic mortar.” (Of course, as I scan through my archives, I find that I have been fascinated by this sort of past/present mashup for some time now. I’m nothing if not …reliable.) Time has altered all of Parkinson’s and Miller’s locations over the last 90 years, as Smith’s 2013 footage shows. The iconic architecture may remain, but Covent Garden... Read more
As I have surely remarked in the past, I love The Secret of Kells. Which is streaming in a number of places, so if you have not yet seen it for yourself, I urge you stop whatever it is you’re doing and GIVE IT A WATCH. If you have seen it, however, you will doubtless understand my excitement at this trailer: Song of the Sea tells the story of Ben and his little sister Saoirse — the last Seal-child — who embark... Read more
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