SUNSHINE CLEANING

DVD viewing 
 
When you see as many high-octane, under-developed films as I do, it’s easy to be surprised when a truly great story comes your way. In fact, I am often overwhelmed at the artistry of a well-told film, almost shocked by the fullness of plot and character. The fact that so many of these wonderful [...]

THE THING CALLED LOVE

Most of my favorite films remain so because I am emotionally attached to them. This is the key reason I collect movies, knowing that I will want to revisit them again and again throughout my life in hopes of recapturing the feelings I had on first viewing. I may not watch a film for five [...]

Summer Film Series – Vol. 7, No. 5: NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM – BATTLE OF THE SMITHSONIAN

August 18, 2009 at Movies 10 in Plano, Texas 
 
I am a die-hard fan of Night at the Museum, so the decision to take another crazy ride with those living exhibits was the simplest movie decision ever. The fact that I visited Washington, D.C., once upon a time only served to make the film all the [...]

Summer Film Series – Vol. 7, No. 4: JULIE & JULIA

August 8, 2009 at Movies 14, McKinney, Texas 
 
The more I view the work of Meryl Streep, the more I am convinced that she is our greatest living actress. Her talents are undeniable, but in recent years, as she enjoys an unexpected phase of her career, she has become larger than life. She portrays characters with [...]

the legacy of John Hughes

It should come as no surprise that director/writer/producer John Hughes is hugely responsible for my being a pop culture junkie. His biggest films were staples of my teen years, the first movies I saw that seemed to speak to and about my generation. And Hughes introduced me to actors who have remained favorites throughout my [...]

5 things I love this week

July 26 – August 1, 2009

Spending a day at the art museum. I never tire of walking around museums and seeing masterful works created hundreds (and thousands) of years ago, and to have the opportunity to examine favorite pieces up close after years of reading about them in books is one of the greatest privileges [...]