We admit to being suckers for Hollywood biographies. Many of these “based on fact” movies extol the accomplishments of famous personalities: Lawrence of Arabia; Lincoln; J. Edgar. Others examine lesser-known individuals who deserve our attention: Schindler’s List; Twelve Years a Slave; A Dangerous Mind. Filmed portrayals of Stephen Hawking, Butch […]
We first noticed it in October of 2014. Singer Paul Revere, of Paul Revere and the Raiders, died at age 76. The band was internationally known, but he’d been born in Idaho, and shared the stage with Eugene, Oregon native Mark Lindsay, so to us it was a local story.
Three […]
Remember the slogan, “Don’t trust anybody over 30?” It was a centerpiece of the “generation gap,” that sprang up in the 1960s.
Well, a variant of that slogan has come back to haunt us: “Don’t trust anyone under 30.” And we’re hearing it, surprisingly, from music fans.
In the ‘50s, listeners, young […]
A few weeks ago, on Halloween night, we found ourselves standing in the middle of Jacksonville’s historic cemetery.
It was quiet up there, and very dark. The outlines of nearby tombstones were clear, but we couldn’t read the names on them without a flashlight. Reading, however, wasn’t what we were […]
Mars is an unlucky place to be stranded. The planet awaits, desolate and bleak, offering an environment with no air to breath, no water to drink (well, a little, if recent reports pan out), and no food to eat. The surface is dead. This, of course, makes Mars a lively […]
Why is a trailer like a t-shirt?
Showbiz, baby!
Every film marketer knows something about t-shirts that bear movie logos: they’re only in demand before the movie is released. Fans of Quentin Tarantino want to be “first on their block” to promote his upcoming film, so they’ll definitely wear that t-shirt with […]
If you’ve encountered us on the streets of Jacksonville within the past twelve months, you may have overheard us in heavy discussion about the meanings of words like “trapunto” and “boucle.” Or you may have heard us contemplating the virtues of double-sided tape in the dressing room. Or the reason […]
Reluctant to step outside without a straw hat, sunscreen and a handheld, battery-powered portable fan? Yeah, us too.
We’re not the first to despair over the hot sun in the summertime. In 1933, Songwriter Irving Berlin composed “We’re having a heat wave.” Ethyl Merman sang the song in the film Alexander’s […]
The Britt Classical Festival is about to begin. And we’re ecstatic!
Once again, one hundred-plus of the world’s finest musicians will take time from their tuneful day jobs to join us here in Jacksonville. We’ll welcome them into our homes and they’ll join us at our bistros and bars. But that’s […]
08/08/08.
That’s the date we arrived in Jacksonville. Not being numerologists, we had no idea of how auspicious a day it would prove to be. Our new house, located near the top of a (steep) hill, offered a great view. Our dogs approved of the yard. The neighbors, even after learning […]
You probably heard a while back that Weird Al Yankovic will be coming to J’Ville’s Britt hill. Yup, on September 2 that freaky accordion player who turned “Beat It” into “Eat It” will perform live right here in town. That early announcement was a rare “sneak peak” into the Britt […]
Two men with irrevocably intertwined lives passed away at the end of February: a world-famous actor, beloved by millions; and a highly successful producer, well known in Hollywood, less familiar to people outside of entertainment circles.
The actor was Leonard Nimoy. He entered the business in l951, performing onstage and onscreen, […]
British singer/songwriter Sam Smith is either a very lucky guy…or not quite so.
Smith reached the top of the charts last year with his soulful composition, “Stay With Me.” Then, just a few weeks ago at the 2015 Grammy Awards, the tune was named both “Song of the Year” and “Record […]
The movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid opens with this line on the screen: “Most of what follows is true.” While the main characters actually existed, their story’s timeframe has been truncated for convenience, and, some characters, for dramatic convenience, are consolidations of several actual people. Such is the […]
It’s one of the most unnerving scenes in cinema history. A woman sneaks into the room where her husband has been writing his novel. She peeks at the sheet of paper in his typewriter and starts reading: “All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy.” She reads […]
We’ve been asked why we don’t include restaurant reviews in our ramblings on all things “entertainment.” The simple answer is that we know better. The servers and chefs of Jacksonville’s dozen eating establishments are almost like family—and we wouldn’t want to create sibling rivalries by touting the efforts of one over another. Acclaimed food critic […]
The Britt season has come to an end, but that doesn’t mean our need for live music has ended. We love live music. In fact, as Woody Allen explained in (Terry’s favorite movie), Annie Hall, “Love is too weak a word.” Well, Woody invented some new ones for us: We […]
The Unfettered Critic – September 2014
Watching TV has never been so easy. Or so hard.
Remember when three networks—CBS, NBC and ABC—scheduled our viewing for us? Today we download favorite shows to “devices” like smart phones, tablets, computers and (insert new tech here!) in order to view them whenever we want. Now dozens of cable networks, […]
We were taken aback last summer when a friend grumbled that George Gershwin’s l925 composition “Concerto in F” shouldn’t have been on a Britt conductor’s playlist. “The piece is one of our favorites,” we countered. “The guest pianist was exceptional and the orchestra delivered a brilliant performance.”
“It’s not classical,” he […]
You’ve seen a great food movie or two, right? One that teases your salivary glands the way a romance tugs at your heartstrings? Tampopo (1985) presents a bowl of noodles as more sensuous than sex. Babette’s Feast (1987) tempts with lustful terrapin soup, quail in vol-au-vents and blinis. Like Water […]
Maybe you’ve noticed. You’ll be watching the final moments of a television show. Just as the characters arrive at the quintessential pinnacle of dramatic closure, a pop song that isn’t part of the normal background music springs forth. The scene continues without dialogue, using the power of song to enhance the emotions playing out on screen.
We made a mistake.
Two seasons ago, the Oregon Shakespeare Festival presented “Animal Crackers,” the Marx Brothers masterpiece that stormed Broadway in 1929 and hit Hollywood in l930. We’d heard how great the OSF production was. But we were busy. We missed it. And […]
In our Unfettered column last October, we told you we were looking forward to five movies scheduled to open before the end of 2013. We hadn’t seen them; they weren’t in theatres yet. We chose them because of the buzz they generated, and because their trailers, which we watched on the web, seemed tantalizing.
Here’s how it works. In theory. The Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences mails Oscar Nomination ballots to its 5000-plus members—producers, directors, actors, cinematographers, etc.—so they can vote for the best productions offered throughout the year...
Jacksonville, it seems, is the ultimate unanticipated destination. We all know why we left our old stomping grounds—too much traffic, too impersonal, etc...
The Jacksonville Woodlands Park and Trail System meanders above and around town, providing...
Autumn is the season we savor for cinema. Oh sure, summer has the fun “popcorn” movies that entice people to...
By the time you read this, a decision will have been made. It will not, however, be revealed until about the time...
Return with us now to those thrilling days of yesteryear...
The 2013 Britt Classical Festival approaches, this year sporting a special format that we find enthralling...
It’s one of the wonders of Jacksonville. You’ll be walking down the street on a summer afternoon...
If we had to choose a favorite from all of Broadway’s tuneful offerings, My Fair Lady would likely lead the pack.
We think baseball and movies go together like mustard and hot dogs...
We admit it—we like American Idol, and we’re not alone...
The 85th presentation of the Academy Awards airs Sunday, February 24th. Mark your calendars!
Review is hearing that locals ARE making a huge effort to Shop Local this year!
Film buffs long have proclaimed l939 as “The Golden Year” of motion pictures...
Revisiting The Final Frontier: Star Trek: The Next Generation at 25
Peter Bay's last year, Upcoming Classical highlights, $5 Concerts, Britt's 50th anniversary...
During his standup days, we giggled at Martin’s banjo, certain that it was but a comic prop...
The Britt Festival: Between rock and a hilly place...
It wasn’t until l978 that other tuneful sounds were added to the mix at Britt...
It’s not too late to hang out with the world’s most famous young lovers...
In tribute to the great silent filmmakers of the past, Hazanavicius has created The Artist...
If you’re thinking, “What (or even, ‘Who’) is Downton Abbey?” then you’ve come to the right column...
Holiday movies we found are a bagful that are more fun than a bowl of figgy pudding...
Every autumn, as the leaves turn gold, Hollywood studios roll out productions...
Thoughts on Extreme Makeover and our own Community Involvement ...
Legend Smokey Robinson comes to Britt Festivals for the final concert of the season this Saturday!
From shopping locally, enjoying Art Ambles, Farmer's Market and "Leverage" (the TV Show)...