I agree, sensational movie—Linney and Philip Seymour Hoffman are as good as they've ever been, which is saying something. Now that my dad is drifting into dementia, it's amazing how my sister and I are mirroring so many of that movie's dynamics and emotions.

I wasn't thinking Brad—he and Stacy's relationship is awesome. I was thinking how Spicoli treats his younger brother Chris (though Chris is no prize either, calling Spicoli "butthole" and tattling on him).

Good God, no one's mentioned "The Brady Bunch"? I can't recall how many times I've been talking with friends, relatives, near-strangers, and whenever the conversation turns to "who was your favorite Brady kid," it's always hands-down Peter (Christopher Knight). Greg was a drip, Marcia Ms. Perfect, Jan was neurotic,…

In his tighty-whities, no less. An extra bonus.

Oh man, that climax where Meg faces down IT for Charles Wallace…those two pages just repeating "I love you. I love you. I love you." Give you the chills. Anyone who tries to film that moment has their work cut out for them.

That was one of the first examples I thought of reading this article. Older brothers are so often painted as one-dimensional thugs (see: Spicoli in "Fast Times" "Weird Science" etc.), and Cusack does a remarkable job in barely two short scenes of sketching in a young man who is funny, wry, kind, loving—in general,…

Back in the 70s after she "found" her faith, Davis gave a lecture at my Episcopal church in Seattle which I unfortunately missed due to a scheduling conflict. My mom taped the whole thing on our ancient tape recorder for me and got Davis' autograph; based on the tape and my Mom's meeting her, Davis was an…

This was somewhere around the point where, for me, Michael Jackson jumped the shark from Extremely Talented Muscian And Dancer to Wannabe Deity or somesuch. Post "Dangerous," he just kept getting more and more messianic and creepy (viz the statue on the cover of HIStory—hell, the fact that the CD was named HIStory).…

As a lifelong West Coaster who grew up in Seattle, did 3 years in Tacoma finishing high school, Eugene for college, San Francisco for 3 years being young and single, 11 years in San Jose happily partnered, and now living outside of Portland (still partnered), I'm always fascinated by San Francisco's raging contempt…

Madam Roland said the opening party from "Auntie Mame," and I completely agree, but for some reason the site won't link my comment there. Absolutely, the fantasy of a sophisticated New York party of a certain era would be delicious. (I'd also like to attend the final blow-out from "Another Gay Movie" so I could get…

I like the Carnegie Hall concert from the early 90's, which indeed climaxes with Bernadette Peters listing the elements as the chorus then moves into "Sunday." And yes, the orchestrations are stunning—it's so beautiful, and builds so powerfully, it's almost as if you're stepping into the "Real Narnia" from "The Last…

She also liked certain actresses very much, though she turned on Katharine Hepburn after "The Lion In Winter." She adored Barbra Streisand, Julie Christie, Cher, Melanie Griffith, Jane Fonda, Diane Keaton, and in later years had special praise for Daryl Hannah and Michelle Pfeiffer. (She was one of Pfeiffer biggest…

What about Whoopi Goldberg cracking the code for "Jumping Jack Flash" ("Sing with me and find the key")? She also crashes the embassy ball—gloriously—with the Supremes' "You Can't Hurry Love." Both of those songs save Jonathan Pryce's life!
Also, let us not forget the downfall of Lena Lamont (Jean Hagen), who…

Yeah, the whole opening sequence in the bell tower (an homage to "Vertigo") seems in memory to be a little masterpiece of sound mixing to amplify the chaos and horror. (The whole movie seems to be riffing on Catholicism in some very trippy ways.) And Diana Scarwid was terrific as Maureen. I remember finding chunks…