Which speaks volumes.

Yes. What Lucas did with Star Wars in 1977 was to reintroduce classical storytelling to mass media cinema. He attributes its success to his painstaking labor (he’s no writer in terms of natural gifts) and the public’s hunger for the values in the “hero’s journey.”

Watching Last Jedi was like watching Trump win.

Yeah. But he’s so cute, though.

Thanks too from this writer to Virtual. Robert, my Texan friend (one of those guys who has read everything; his mother’s an extraordinary judge), likes to say, “Cocaine? I’ve done it... seven, maybe eight — maybe, and I mean maybe, nine. Hundred times.”

However, I’m lucky: I was no addict. I just stopped, and that was…

Good movie!

Of A Serious Man, Variety said — approvingly — “this is what you do after you’ve won Best Picture,” and while it’s impossible to single one of their film out, it is unique in their catalog.

Really? Hmm. What do you think is the major element?

For me, the bribe not only formed the climax of the plot structurally (following the three act structure), but focused the overall thematic.

But money permeates the film in other ways. Larry’s wife has fallen in love with a clearly wealthier guy. Larry must fork over…

A story about turning down a bribe is about money.

I think it’s a good article; I’ve thought this for a long time

Yes, I got it! :)

It’s one of the great cities of the world. And it has the best climate in the world, certainly. Not to mention the best food.

people who are part of a powerless community don’t aspire, usually, to gaining anything other than personal power for themselves

Yes. The future of the world is Russia, and we’re going to miss parts of Western Europe dearly.

That’s it. And it’s a great film entirely due to his performance.

What you’re saying is exactly what Orson Welles confirmed in interviews. It’s not the public who determines what gets made, and it’s not the studios, and it’s not box office, and it’s not the stars: it’s the actual producers, whose authority is completely arbitrary.

Speaking of Welles, in 1936 — as a radio fan, you…

I don’t think I could love the Obamas more, but these are awful. When I first saw them, all I could think was — great, just what we need.

I realize I’m betting that there’s somebody on the right that might get art. But we don’t need more reasons right now to pull the National Endowment for the Humanities and the NEA…

How I wish more people knew this.
Speaking of which, perhaps, what’s up with Kinja’s star numerator?

I mean I’m a composer and I have a phd in music theory so the only fun I have in life is these types of rejoinders: “not particularly skillful” is not a particularly accurate assessment of McCartney’s musicianship from Revolver on. I get how people think he’s dorky, but even Lennon said he was a melodic genius (“he’s…

With all respect (phd in music theory here, which accounts for my lavish lifestyle), it was I Want To Hold Your Hand’s unprepared-for, rapid-fire about-faces from dangerously long conventional stretches (in the context of the songwriting strategy) to sudden musical departures (which were actually hinted at in…

OMG — It’s far worse. Look at our President! Harvey Weinstein is a pussycat compared to those guys. Had he gone into finance, his behavior would be considered that of a sensitive, artistic, troubled soul. In fact, some would regard him as a man who loved women “too much.” I knew a guy at one of the big banks whose…

The overlap of the accused and the art world (film, TV, lit, media, journalism) is worrisome. It’s partly Weinsteincreepcreep, but it’s also circumstantial configuration. Having worked in the arts and on Wall Street, I can tell you that a “shitty banking men” list would put its media analogue to shame (and I am not…

The hatred of 4 goes too far: you and blpppt are right. And I, with Evan G, can’t stand the racism of Temple of Doom — nor, come to think of it, much else, besides the Cole Porter intro, one of SS’s dazzling set pieces (racism there, too, notwithstanding).

One aspect of Spielberg and Lucas that gets lost in their late…