November 14-18, 2011
While clever dialogue often dominates contempory filmmaking, when directors let a well crafted silence do its work, the results can be extraordinary. Kevin Mattison shares some of the better examples in “The silence that says everything”
In her new column “Over the Boards,” Yael Borofsky revisits the moment that she fell in love with hockey, and tries to figure out why such a fast-paced, physical, fan-friendly sport struggles to find a broader audience. Read “Hockey and the machine”
Shane and Chris Houghton’s Reed Gunther Volume 1 came out last week, the first graphic novel for their hit comic book series about the affable misadventures of the beguiling, bear-riding cowboy of the same name. Rosemary Van Deuren talks to the Houghton brothers about why “all-ages” doesn’t mean “kids only” in “Reed Gunther: An interview with Shane and Chris Houghton”
Sarah Pavis says that Parks and Recreation is one of the funniest shows on TV right now, but if you’re going to dig up old episodes on Netflix, you should skip the first season and start with season 2. Find out why in “From cringe to cheer: The evolution of foible in Parks & Recreation”
The Gamers’ Club is playing EarthBound. Read “Oh, Poo” by Daniel J. Hogan and “Taking dad’s advice” by Gavin Craig
As winter approaches, new Californian Jill Kolongowski finds that she doesn’t miss the snow so much as the winter rituals, so she pulls out the crock pot. Read “Winter in California: turkey white bean pumpkin chili”
The silence that says everything
I’ll begin by explaining the somewhat cumbersome, enigmatic title of T. Sean Durkin’s film debut, Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011). Martha is the name of a young woman, played by Elizabeth Olsen, who runs away from her life and joins a cult. Marcy May is a name the cult’s leader, Patrick (John Hawkes), feels suits … Continue reading
Hockey and the machine
The moment I started loving hockey I was ten and sitting, well, standing, actually no, hopping from foot to foot, with my curl-framed face inches from the quivering puck-marked plexiglass. I could have had a staring match with the goalie if he wasn’t adjusting to take on the rushing Flyers’ offence. My slightly rowdy, beer-clad … Continue reading
Reed Gunther: An interview with Shane and Chris Houghton
Shane and Chris Houghton are pretty excited. Reed Gunther Volume 1 came out last week, and it’s the first graphic novel ever for their hit comic book series about the affable misadventures of the beguiling, bear-riding cowboy of the same name. Created, written and drawn by the Houghtons, this trade paperback from Image Comics collects … Continue reading
From cringe to cheer: The evolution of foible in Parks & Recreation
It’s hard to recommend a TV show to people and, in the same breath, say “skip the first season.”* “The whole season?” they’ll ask suspiciously, “why?” “Well it’s only six episodes,” you’ll sheepishly reply, “and the show is completely different from that now.” That’s not hyperbole. Parks & Recreation originally started as a spinoff of … Continue reading
EarthBound: Oh, Poo
I added the remaining player character to my party this week: Poo. Yes, that is his name. I read an article where the writer wondered why his Japanese name was not translated as Pu, but given the quirkiness of the game, along with the inclusion of characters like Master Barf, Poo fits. Poo, like Ness … Continue reading
EarthBound: Taking dad’s advice
I’m not totally ready to write off EarthBound. There are, after all, some good things to say about the game. The enemy design is unusual and imaginative, even (or especially) for a genre that spends a lot of time on its bestiaries. I love bumping into tripped-out blue-skinned people who “turn back to normal” at … Continue reading
Winter in California: turkey white bean pumpkin chili
It’s that time of year when the first snowfall makes everyone lose their minds, as if they’ve never seen snow before. People in Massachusetts had an actual reason to lose their minds when some areas got over a foot of snow at the end of October. My family in Massachusetts was without power for days. … Continue reading
November 7-11, 2011
Mike Vincent watches Pearl Jam Twenty and looks back at a band that he’s loved, and not loved. Read “The shadow of the 90s”
A tattoo is a way to inscribe one’s history, one’s family, one’s self on one’s own body. Ana Holguin traces those inscriptions in “Skin writing”
Are you looking for some Shakespeare that’s a bit off the beaten ruffled-cuffs-and-iambic-pentameter path? Or are you possibly looking to smuggle some of the bard into a loved one’s film diet without them realizing? Either way, Sarah Werner hooks you up in “Shakespeare with a difference”
The Gamers’ Club is playing EarthBound. Read “Cut!” by Daniel J. Hogan
To cheese, or not to cheese? Gavin Craig traces the way tastes can change over time (and solves a bit of a mystery) in “A tale of two cheeses”
The shadow of the 90s
Last Friday, while waiting for one of my kid’s PBS programs to begin I saw a commercial for that evening’s American Masters program. I was surprised to find that the ad was for Cameron Crowe’s documentary about Pearl Jam Twenty. I set the DVR with plans to watch the show either in real time or … Continue reading
