A History of Violence
Sean MurphyWhen you think about the distinctive ingredients of Americana, the elements that comprise what we think about when we think of what makes America so...American, it's easy to recite the clichéd…
Farewell to a Goodfella: Henry Hill, R.I.P.
Well, it finally happened, albeit a lot later than many of his enemies would have liked. The world's most famous --and recalcitrant-- bad-guy-turned-FBI-informant, Henry Hill, has passed away at age…
Here’s Johnny, Redux
I may have to go purchase a five gallon (ten gallon?) hat just so I can properly tip it to the good folks at Sabotage Times for unearthing this gem.…
Ben Gazzara, R.I.P.
Still reeling from the sad news about Don Cornelius, it's painful to acknowledge the loss of another irreplaceable master, Ben Gazarra. Some good tributes out there. (Here's one.) What can…
Human Connections, Missed Connections, Chance Connections: ‘Three Colors: Blue, White, Red’
Words need not be minced here: the Criterion Collection treatment of Krzysztof Kieslowski’s trilogy is an essential, if overdue cultural event. The high-definition digital restorations are reason enough to rejoice;…
Remembering (and Celebrating) The Kids In The Hall (7/10)
This weekend PopMatters is revisiting an outstanding feature from a couple of years ago: The Best of TV on DVD. Definitely worth checking out. My entry, below, was on the…
The Insider: Ten Years Later (3/09)
Toward the end of Sydney Lumet's '70s classic Serpico there is an unnerving scene that encapsulates the conundrum faced by the eponymous cop: already persona non grata within the law…
The David Lynch Dilemma (Revisited)
With the 25th anniversary edition of the seminal/infamous/underwhelming Blue Velvet being released this week, it seems like an opportune time to revisit a topic certain to cause some consternation: David Lynch…
Due To Popular Demand…More Catwoman!
Wait, I was the only one clamoring for more? Okay. "Batman, let's throw caution to the wind!"
End of Summer (Camp) with a Bat, a Cat and a Clown
It is an inexorable, if lamentable rite of passage to revisit cultural mementos from one's childhood and discover that, to an adult's eyes, they are lacking. But then, "putting away…