Smile of the Week: Movies do the Neutron Dance
Posted on January 9, 2014 at 3:59 pm
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Critics on Critics: What Words Would You Ban from Reviews?
Posted on January 9, 2014 at 8:00 am
Indiewire’s weekly poll turns the critics on themselves, asking them to disclose what words they would ban from reviews. From “epic” to “game-changer” to “Oscar-worthy,” they tell us what terms are overused, under-specific, and just too easy. I admit to using some of these, and appreciate the reminder, but the fact is that some films are epic and some performances are Oscar-worthy.
The Original “Please Mr. Kennedy” Song
Posted on January 8, 2014 at 9:53 pm
My favorite movie of 2013 is “Inside Llewyn Davis,” and I love the scene where the very serious folksinger title character (Oscar Isaac) gets hired as a studio musician to perform a silly novelty song. Justin Timberlake plays the musician who wrote the song, “Please Mr. Kennedy.” It’s about a guy who says he does not want to be sent into space. This was, of course, the early days of the space race, with Alan Shepard the first American and second person to go up in a space capsule in 1961, the year this movie takes place.
There was a real “Please Mr. Kennedy” song back in the 60’s, a similar theme, but it was about not wanting to be sent to Vietnam. This was long before the angry protests of the late-60’s anti-war movement, with much more powerful songs like the “Feel-Like-I’m-Fixing-to-Die Rag” sung by Country Joe and the Fish. This was just a light-hearted song from Mickey Woods. Here it is:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DW6lQKLn5B8
Movie Addict Headquarters: Our Thoughts on the Golden Globes
Posted on January 8, 2014 at 9:20 am
Many thanks, as always, to Betty Jo Tucker for having me on her wonderful Movie Addict Headquarters show to talk about the Golden Globes with our pals A.J. Hakeri and Mack Bates.
Exclusive Director’s Cut of Salinger Biography on PBS
Posted on January 8, 2014 at 8:00 am
American Masters launches its 28th season with the series’ 200th episode: the exclusive director’s cut of Shane Salerno’s documentary, Salinger, premiering nationally Tuesday, January 21, 2014, 9-11:30 p.m. on PBS (check local listings) with 15 minutes of new material not seen in theaters.