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March 21, 2008 Practical jokes between newspapers are a time-honored tradition. Here’s the latest one. I may have been a small part of it. Check out this link: Tribune Wins Sun-Times Video Contest. Also, an embarrassing performance we did this morning on the WGN Morning News. Lastly, check out the latest Screen Scene column.
March 3, 2008 The month really just got away from me... The book is due soon, and there’s a big, top-secret-like project coming up this month in the Tribune. For now, a couple of new columns about the Chicago production of “Humboldt Park,” starring Freddy Rodriguez and Debra Messing, among many others -- plus a sneak peak at the movie adaptation of Scott Smiths “The Ruins.”
February 3, 2008 Super Bowl Sunday...and I’m stuck at a computer. A couple items to catch up on here... First, RIP Heath Ledger -- the world of film lost a promising actor last month. I did a quick piece about his time in Chicago, playing the Joker in “The Dark Knight,” which is online here. In (strangely related) news, check out my profile of Logan Square’s Museum of Mourning Photography & Memorial Practice. The piece begins: Anthony Vizzari sees dead people. Read the entire piece, and see the video, here.
Thanks to the folks who wrote me about the Cut Man piece in the Tribune this last week. For the uninitiated, cut men patch up boxers and mixed martial artists. They are this small, secret ive brotherhood of blood men. Read it here and check out the video. Also, a quick interview I did with Clive Barker, in which he talks about the “Hellraiser” remake...
January 5, 2008 Happy 2008!! Yikes. Check out the outstanding video by Chris Booker about life backstage at the Metro -- where Kurt Cobain and Courtney Love started their romance. The story and the video are both here.
December 7 , 2007 Here’s my Q&A with Philip Pullman, author of “The Golden Compass,” about his books, the controversies around his athiestic mythology and his Republic of Heaven....read it here.
(Post) happy Thanksgiving to all... Some updates, especially from the Screen Scene column, including: A few questions with Brian DePalma about “Redacted” and A piece about the Chicago punk rock documentary A fascinating conversation with director Todd Haynes ( “The Velvet Goldmine,” “Far From Heaven”) about his Bob Dylan inspired film “I’m Not There” -- in which six actors (include Cate Blanchett and Heath Ledger) play different aspects of Dylan. We also talk about a seventh Dylan, cut from the script. Read the article here. Coming up: Keep an eye out for my conversation with author Philip Pullman (“The Golden Compass ”) in the first week of December.
October 26 , 2007 A couple quick updates, most notably my Q&A with author Also, a new Screen Scene column with Tony Kaye, the director of “American History X” and “Lake of Fire.” Read it here. In the next couple weeks, I’ll be talking to the Chicago Film Archives and Brian De Palma.
October 13 , 2007 Dang, September just kind of slipped away. My Tribune column, Screen Scene, soldiers on and picks up momentum, especially during festival season. Also, in Tempo we’re finishing up our Unauthorized Access series. But I’m burying the lead here. I don’t often use this space to talk about non-writing concerns, but this it too big. So, here it is: In April, Betsy and I are expecting a baby. The University of Chicago Press just picked up my book, “Last Words of the Executed,” for a Spring 2009 release. It’s essentially an oral history of capital punishment, as told from the gallows, the chair and the gurney. Studs Terkel was nice enough to write me an amazing foreword. I have to say, as a Montanan, it’s an honor to be part of the press that publishes Norman Maclean’s “A River Runs Through It.” It contains my favorite ending paragraph of any book: “Eventually, all things merge into one, and a river runs through it. The river was cut by the world’s great flood and runs over rocks from the basement of time. On some of the rocks are timeless raindrops. Under the rocks are the words, and some of the words are theirs. I am haunted by waters.” Enough news for one entry.
September 27, 2007 Who saw “Knocked Up”? If so, than you might be interested in my profile of Chicago’s Jim McBride, aka Mr. Skin.
Big news. Today, the Chicago Tribune launched my film column, Screen Scene, in our Friday Movie section. I interviewed Chicago power couple Xan Aranda of the Chicago Short Film Brigade and her longtime boyfriend, Andrew Bird. So, every Friday from today, I’ll be covering the indie, art house and foreign film scene. Here’s the beginning of the column: “Welcome to Screen Scene. Do you have a favorite, well-loved seat at your local movie theater? Do you listen to DVD commentary tracks? Find yourself at film festivals and drive-in movies? Read geeky movie Web sites? For the full column, click here.
August 21 , 2007 My apologies for the lack of updates this summer. Lots of stories, book stuff, life entanglements, summer visitors... Life has picked up a certain velocity. More updates soon, but here are few stories from recent travels, including a return to the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument. Also: an interview with author Amy Hempel. A brief report on “The Dark Knight,” the sequel to “Batman Begins,” which debuted footage of Heather Ledger as the Joker at the Wizard World Convention. “The Dark Knight” films in Chicago until the end of the summer. Lastly a story and video on Rocky, the hoved star of Indian weddings in Chicagoland. Anyone recognize the narrator of the video?
June 23 , 2007 We’ve been all over the last couple weeks (Salt Lake City and Park City, on assignment for the Tribune) and will be gearing up again for 10 days in Montana next month. But, here’s a column that appeared today, revealing my obsession with drive-in movie theaters.... and, a Tempo cover story about the state of the postcard -- old fashioned, quaint and still kicking postal ass. Next week, look for my piece about Al Capone’s connection to the tunnels under the jazz club The Green Mill and bookstore Shake, Rattle & Read in Uptown.
May 15, 2007 Happy Birthday Mom! April just flew by, no time for updates. Plenty of time spent on the road for Tribune stories and grading finals for my class at Columbia College. A recent link: my interview with Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Edgar Wright, the team behind “Shaun of the Dead” and Since the latter is a cop comedy, I got them to come clean with their youthful indiscretions and brushes with the law.
Back from Alaska now, and it’s taken me weeks to warm up. Ten days of waking up to -24 degrees F can do you in. It was otherwise lovely though, and it afforded a weekend trip to Anchorage, where my lovely bride and I celebrated our first anniversary. A couple stories from the trip: The World Ice Art Championships, with Web video and stills shot by yours truly. A local artist, from Wheaton, took 2nd place. And... The 25th Annual World Clown Association convention. Who doesn’t love frozen clowns? Read about it here. Lastly, a Q&A with Sister Julie Vieira, the blogging nun. I spent this morning with Simon Pegg, Nick Frost and Edgar Wright, the guys behind “Shaun of the Dead” and the upcoming cop comedy “Hot Fuzz.” Watch for the Tribune interview in April.
February 22, 2007 I’m a little bit late with the updates, my apologies. Yesterday, the Tribune published this story about students who design their own majors. And, here’s a piece about retiring Playboy art director Tom Staebler and some of his most memorable covers (read the Dolly Parton story). Lastly, an article about Paul Teutel Sr., or “Paul Sr,” for fans of cable’s “American Chopper.”
January 28, 2007 Check out the Sunday Chicago Tribune today...not only is there a huge Super Bowl section (go Bears!), but my story on visual search engines hit the front page. Traditional search engines, like Google or Yahoo!, require keywords for a search -- but what happens when words fail? Starting this spring Like.com will allow users to upload there own photos for digital mapping and search to find similar photos or products. For example: Want to replace those favorite sneakers your dog ate? Just take a photo, upload it and Like.com will search its database for a similar pair. Other companies, like Pixsta, are applying the tech to vacations -- so people who want Hawaii-like vistas can go someplace similar for half the price. The technology has lots of possibilities: Don’t know the name of a flower? Upload a photo of it and search. What about a building or city landmark? In the near future, a photo taken via cell phone could lead you to not only names -- but the histories of cities. Read the story here. There’s even a video component here.
January 17, 2007 I just received Darrell Schweitzer’s Neil Gaiman Reader, to which I contributed a chapter, in the mail for Amazon today. It looks grand. Check it out here. Also, the Tribune published my story about the Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa. You can read it here.
December 23 , 2006 Merry Nearly-Christmas! I’ve filed my last story, turned in my final grades and am headed Montana-ways, where I’ll be visiting West Yellowstone with my bride. The Chicago Tribune ran the story about my visit to Francis Ford Coppola’s Rubicon Estate winery earlier this month, and PopMatters just picked it up here. The Trib also published my story about Chicago film talent and a-day-in-the-life story about Chicago Christmas tree vendors. No more postings until 2007... Happy holidays!
November 12 , 2006 Just back from San Francisco, where I wrote this piece on Second Life -- sort of MySpace meets “The Matrix.” It hit the front page of the Chicago Tribune today and can be read here. Be sure to click on the videos we shot, including a tour of Second Life, narrated by yours truly. “Snow Crash” author Neal Stephenson talked about Second Life for the first time and its comparison to his own “Metaverse” in a sidebar here. Sidebar II: About Kurt Vonnegut and Ben Folds in Second Life. Sidebar III: About everyday users on the site. (since removed) I also got the chance to visit Francis Ford Coppola’s Rubicon winery, Lucasfilm’s new campus in the Presidio and the Charles M. Schulz Museum in Santa Rosa. More pieces to come.
October 16, 2006 Today, the Tribune published “The undercover agent comes in from the cold” on page 1. It’s my profile of former FBI special agent Robert Hamer and the piece I’m most proud of this year. The man spent 26 years on various undercover assigments, posing as drug peddlers, arms dealers, mob guys, a pedaphile, etc. -- an amazing guy and an amazing story of a man who, near the end, lead not just a double -- but a quadruple -- life. Read it here, while it’s still up. Be sure to listen to the audio segments and the two videos we posted.
October 4, 2006 The folks (namely: Tad Friend) at the New Yorker picked up and expanded my piece on Del Close’s skull. After 7 years, his friend and will executor Charna Halpern admitted the skull wasn’t Del. Read the piece here online. Also, I’ve just returned from San Diego where I reported a (super secret) piece that should break this Sunday on the front page of the Tribune. Stay tuned.
September 10, 2006 It’s fall semester at Columbia College Chicago...
August 8, 2006 Back from the honeymoon now and was met with all sorts of mail for the Del Close article (see below). Thanks to all those who wrote.
July 21, 2006 Today in the Chicago Tribune, my story on Del Close’s skull hit the front page. Close, an improv comedy icon and teacher to folks like John Belushi and Bill Murray, willed his skull to Chicago’s Goodman Theatre when he died in 1999. But is the skull at the Goodman actually Close’s cranium? Del is laughing his head off somewhere, if he still has it. Read the story here in the Trib or here in PDF form.
July 7, 2006 I just saw that Darrell Schweitzer, editor of the Neil Gaiman Reader, put up an Amazon page for the forthcoming book here. Check out the cool cover. It’ll be out in November, with an in-depth interview I did with Gaiman as he was finishing up DC Comics’ “The Sandman.” We met at a Greek restaurant in Minneapolis in 1995 -- on the day Jerry Garcia died -- and Neil good-naturedly answered my questions and spun tales for hours. The piece, which spans his life and career up to that piont, will be one of two interviews in the Reader. More to come.
July 2, 2006 Any Laura Ingalls Wilder fans out there? “Little House on the Prairie” viewers? I married one. And I wrote about it here in the Chicago Tribune. We went to the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum in Walnut Grove, Minnesota.
June17, 2006 So I’ve been a little remiss in updating this thing. Busy, I guess. A summer full of Tribune stories, book work, concerts, softball and poker is now in full swing. What am I doing now? Midnight laundry and watching Disney’s “Lilo and Stitch” sequel, “Leroy and Stitch.” Oh, the glamour. A couple new posts. The Chicago Tribune recently posted its 4th Annual 50 Best Magazines list. Also, my interview with director Terry Zwigoff and comic book artist Daniel Clowes about the film “Art School Confidential” is up here.
April 5, 2006 Ah, back home. The book tour of the Northwest was a resounding success. Thanks again to Kathleen Karlyn and her staff for hosting the mini-John Woo film festival, and thanks to all who showed up for the party.
March 20, 2006 The nice folks at the University of Oregon Film & Media Group in Eugene, Oregon are hosting a 2-day John Woo film festival, followed by a book signing for me April 3 - 4. Showing Monday, April 3: “The Killer” at 7 p.m., on campus at 110 Willamette Tuesday, April 4, same location: Reception and book signing at 6 p.m., followed by a screening of Woo’s ultra-violent action masterpiece “Hard Boiled” at 7 p.m. I will conduct a Q&A at the end of the session and sign books afterward as well. I’ll be in Portland over the weekend as well, reporting a story for the Chicago Tribune and signing a few books at Powells Books on Burnside...
March 19, 2006 Well, got hitched. Thanks to everyone who came to the throw-down, to the folks who have loved and supported us through it all.
Feb. 22, 2006 More changes abound. I survived turning 30 (while at the Grand Canyon), and next month: the wedding. All is running pretty smoothly. Also, the nice folks at the University of Oregon and the Cultural Forum in Eugene are hosting a two-day film event and book party for me April 3 & 4. More details to come, as I may have an event in Portland as well...
Jan. 16, 2006 Well, I’m turning 30 this week. Damn. There is some raging against the machine, however. For the first time in my life, I’m published in Mad magazine. They kindly featured an excerpt from John Woo: Interviews. If you want to look for it on the newsstand, it’s issue #462 -- the American Idol cover. Lastly, there are some updates at johnwoointerviews.com.
Jan. 4, 2006 The Billings book party was a smash success -- thanks again to all of you who came out and helped make it happen. Jaci Webb of the Billings Gazette wrote a nice profile article, which should still be up here. Beware, clicking on this link will automatically launch Windows Media Player and start right up. Also, Ken Siebert of Yellowstone Public Radio conducted an amazing interview which can still be heard online here. Next up: wedding invitations, turning 30 and more wedding plans. Ah, adulthood. Now, if I could only get over this cold.
Dec. 18, 2005 My Best Movies of 2005 list is up on the Chicago Tribune website here. Also, plans are being finalized for the hometown book party on Friday, Dec. 30. More to come...
Dec. 6, 2005 Oh, one last thing -- for my friends and family, I’ll be hosting a hometown book party at the Eleven Cafe in Billings, Montana on Friday, Dec. 30, from 5 to 8 p.m. More news to come... I think Jaci Webb from the Billings Gazette will be writing a profile piece on me before the party.
Dec. 5, 2005 So, the wedding date is set: March 18. The joke is, because of its proximity to St. Patrick’s Day, I’ll remember to buy flowers at the sight of green beer. A few new stories up, inlcuding my interview with director Ang Lee (“Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”) on his new film, “Broken Mountain” -- the so-called “gay cowboy” movie with Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal. It’s based on the story by Wyoming author Annie Proulx. You can read the piece here. Also up: A piece with Scott McGehee and David Siegel, the directors behind “The Deep End” and now, “Bee Season.” Lastly, I spent some time with Elvis biographer Peter Guralnick and L.C. Cooke, the brother of soul star Sam Cooke (“Chain Gang,” “Wonderful World”). We hung out in Bronzeville’s Negro League Cafe and talked about this South Side neighborhood the Cooke’s grew up in, and Guralnick’s new biography of the singer “Dream Boogie: The Triumph of Sam Cooke.” It’s up, for awhile, on the Chicago Tribune’s main site here.
Oct. 22, 2005 Whew. So, the book party was at the Siskel Center was a big hit. Thanks again to everyone who showed up to chat and get their books signed. I didn’t get to sit down (or eat) for the entire party, which is a sign of success, I guess. One small drawback: Betsy’s engagement diamond popped out and wasn’t found. At least it made the night more memorable. More book events in November, December and throughout 2006.
Oct. 16, 2005 Lots of news this entry... The book party for John Woo: Interviews closes in...only 5 days away now. I’ll be appearing on some Chicago-based radio this week, so listen for me on: Sunday, Oct. 16, 7:30 - 8 a.m., WGN 720 AM, The Sunday Papers with Rick Kogan. Wed., Oct. 19, 7:30 p.m., WCKG 109.5 FM, Slippin’ into Darkness with Stan & Terry. Thursday, Oct. 20, Mac & Slater, 2-3 p.m. on Fearlessradio.com. Steve Edwards at WBEZ’s program Eight Forty-Eight also asked me to talk, appearance TBA. It seems that Amazon has stocked up on the book, and all accounts from my publisher have been positive.
Woo called me early last week, after seeing the book. “I feel so honored,” he said. “I feel like I don’t deserve it,” -- which is completely untrue, but very sweet. He’s in Beijing now, doing pre-production for “The Battle of Red Cliff,” to be his first movie with Chow Yun-Fat in a decade. He also gave me a nice quote about the book: “I never go back and watch my own movies. But it's nice to hear what my true friends have to say about them, the good and the bad. Thanks to Rob and my friends, your perspective helps me know myself better.”
Also, the folks at Midway Games asked if they could host the Chicago premiere of the trailer for Woo's 2006 game (under his Tiger Hill Entertainment company) called “Stranglehold ” in tandem with the book party. Looks like that plan is a go; the more the merrier. Also, the folks at Midway Games asked if they could host the Chicago premiere of the trailer for Woo’s fall 2006 game (under his Tiger Hill company) called “Stranglehold” in tandem with the book parthy. Looks like that plan is a go; the more the merrier. Asian Cult Cinema also made the book its cover story, and ran a lengthly excerpt. I just received some advanced copies, but the issue should be out on stands in early November. ReelChicago.com posted a nice article, and the Chicago Journal will have a piece out later this week. The Chicago Reader, Time Out Chicago and New City should bits as well. The Chicago Tribune is running an excerpt today, along with a news item about the party. I haven’t seen it online yet, but will post it when it’s available. Lastly, Inside Kung Fu and Mad magazine (no, I’m not kidding) are also running something on the book this fall.. Keep an eye out.
Again, the book party details are: Gene Siskel Film Center, 164 N. State Street, Chicago Advanced tickets on sale here. More details and updates at: www.johnwoointerviews.com
Oct. 3, 2005 A couple bits of new news about John Woo: Interviews...after two days on sale, Amazon.com only has three copies left. I’m elated and disturbed and more will be available soon. In the meantime, the book has a new home on the web at www.johnwoointerviews.com. Also, tickets for the post-book party screening of The Killer just went on sale here. The book party and reception is free, but you need a ticket for the movie.
September 23, 2005 I just received early copies of John Woo: Interviews and they look extraordinary. Word from Woo’s office today is that he’s pleased with the book (and wants more copies -- hey publisher!), which makes me happy. Thanks again to all my contributors and copy editors who kept my dyslexic brain from tanking the project. Copies will hit bookstores slowly, by region, and I’m planning signings here: Chicago: Oct. 21, 2005 at the Gene Siskel Film Center (see below for party details) Billings, Montana: mid-February, 2006 Seattle, Portland & Eugene: April 1-3, 2006, tentatively More dates later, as the book gets a push in each region of the country. Also, I’ve added reviews of “The Constant Gardener” and “Tim Burton’s Corpse Bride” in the portfolio section.
August 24 , 2005 Life changes abound. Betsy and I have begun consolidating households, dates are being set and planning for the John Woo book party is being solidified. Save this date: John Woo: Interviews book signing and movie Gene Siskel Film Center,
164 N. State Street, Chicago In other news, more filmmaker profiles are now online. One for Jim Jarmusch and the other for John Dahl, who is also from Billings, Montana, like yours truly.
July 16 , 2005 This week, at my girlfriend Betsy’s birthday party, I said: “I’ve been asking Betsy for months now what she wanted for her birthday. She could never tell me...so I got her something I wanted...”
July 6 , 2005 Some pleasant news from writer/editor Darrell Schweitzer. He tells me that his new book, The Neil Gaiman Reader, will be out later this year from Wildside Press. I submitted a chapter to him way back in 2002 -- an unpublished interview I did with Neil years earlier, just as he was finishing up his run on The Sandman. Darrell emailed to confirm that it will be a chapter in the book, which I’m excited about. If you haven’t yet checked out Neil’s amazing blog, click here.
June 13 , 2005 My review for Cinderella Man, which sparked more love/hate mail than I’ve ever received, is up here. Also, news from Montana says that my mom and sister will join me for the Gene Siskel Film Center party for the release of John Woo: Interviews. Now, if I can just schedule one in my hometown in December.
May 31, 2005 Just heard from the nice folks at the Gene Siskel Film Center, and we’ve set the date for the book release party for John Woo: Interviews. It is: Friday, October 21. Barbara Scharres is trying to get ahold of Woo’s new short film, plus we’ll screen The Killer, if all goes to plan. Save the date.
April 15 , 2005 Amazon.com has the listings up for John Woo: Interviews, in both hardcover and paperback. They don’t have jpegs of the bookcover up yet, and the information isn’t entirely complete...but it’s there and it’s a start!
March 18 , 2005 After a break-neck week, I was finally able to finish indexing the John Woo: Interviews book. We (meaning Betsy and friends Herman and Adrienne) did one final read of the proof pages and only found one or two heart-attack inducing mistakes. My God, how did I make it this far in journalism with dyslexia this bad? Now, it’s done and on its way to the printers...plans for a book party are in the works for the end of October. Details to come....
Feb. 8 , 2005 Oh, I almost forgot. My pieces on photobooths and the history of the squished penny are online at ChicagoTribune.com. Enjoy!
Feb. 7 , 2005 My film course af Facets, Mindbending Movies II, powers along thanks to the ethusiasm the class. Below, I’ve included past links from the movies we’ve screened. “Memento” Christopher Nolan, 2000 The short story that inspired the film: Memento Mori by Christopher’s brother Jonathan Nolan Andy Klein’s analysis at Salon.com Official “Memento” website Christopher Nolan interviews here and here
“Mulholland Drive” David Lynch, 2001 Everything You Wanted To Know About Mulholland Drive via the Salon.com crew Decoding Mullholland Drive via Pitchforkmedia.com Background articles from: New Yorker, Guardian & Movieline Original TV pilot screenplay An alternate audio commentary Village Voice review
“Jacob’s Ladder” Adrien Lyne, 1990 Biblical Jacob’s Ladder, from Genesis Roger Ebert's review About Birth Trauma? Interview with screenwriter Bruce Joel Rubin LSD experiments on British Troops (a video) History of government drug experiments
David Cronenberg career profile Cronenberg interview Interview about “eXistenZ,” sister film to “Videodrome” A great, non-official website
Jan. 4 , 2005 Happy New Year! My review of “Lemony Snicket’s Series of Unfortunate Events” is up here. I’m also proud to announce that I’m teaching another course at Facets, starting January 14, a sequel to last year’s Mindbending Movies. Here’s the film list and the course description. “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind” Michel Gondry, 2004 Description: Dates: Official site: Facets If you’re interested, sign up here. More news in 2005!
Dec. 11 , 2004 Happy Holidays! Back from the Nieman Conference on Narrative Journalism in Cambridge, seeing friends in NYC and reporting stories in Baltimore and Washington D.C. Completely exhausted now, but check out www.chicagotribune.com for new reviews and articles!
Nov. 16, 2004 Check out my review of Pixar’s “The Incredibles” here.
Oct.14, 2004 Good news! My publisher tells me “John Woo: Interviews” will be released in Fall 2005, and I’m pushing for a shipping date next October. Now all I have to do is make it through mountains of pre-publicity work. Also, Facets Multimedia asked me to teach another film course, so the next one will be during their winter session. It’s called: FRIENDY FIRE: Course description: War movies as political statements: war movies in support and in protest of war. Although Fahrenheit 9/11 is poised to be the first anti-war (or anti-president) blockbuster, this does not mean that it was the only one ever made. In this course, we will examine films that could be seen as “patriotic” or as “propaganda,” each focusing on a different cause and ideology. M*A*S*H , though set in the Korean War, was aimed directly at policy makers for Vietnam; Shakespeare's Henry V has been seen both as a celebration and a condemnation of war, depending on the artistic and dramatic choices by that particular filmmaker. This course will examine these films, by reflecting on the aesthetic and political currents of the contemporary movement in which they were written, filmed and viewed. FRIENDLY FIRE runs
Thursdays Films to be screened: “Dr. Strangelove” If interested, go to Facets online here to sign up for the class.
Aug. 25, 2004 Sorry for the delay, but here are the final notes for OPEN YOUR EYES. Thanks again for your thoughtful comments. I’m constantly amazed by the insight and interpretations brought forth in the class. Thanks to all of your for making the class something I looked forward to each week. For now, interviews on VANILLA SKY and it’s Spanish original, OPEN YOUR EYES. Amenabar interviews: REVIEWS *Vanilla Sky articles*
July 26, 2004 Hey class, here are some notes on Spider. If you are looking for the original book, you can find it here. Interviews with David Cronenberg Interviews with Ralph Fiennes: here, here and here. REMINDER: Our last class is next week, Sept. 29, Thursday from 7 - 10 p.m. After the movie, we’ll move a few doors down to:
July 19, 2004 For my class, on our discussions of Adaptation... For those interested in reading more about ADAPTATION, consider the links below:
Photos of the real people here. Adaptation –Script Tease from The Oregonian. Interview Meryl Streep Talks about Adaptation. Jonze and Kaufman interviewed.
July 6, 2004 I talked to a couple students after class, including one who talked about how “amazing” some of their fellow student’s writing on “Donnie Darko” was (particularly Amy’s response). So, while you’re free to read this and not respond, I encourage you to pass compliments and reactions along to me and then I’ll send them out to everyone on the list. If you just have questions for me, however, I will not post those unless given permission. Below are some links relating to Ingmar Bergman’s “Persona,” including Susan Sontag’s seminal (but very dense) essay. Sontag’s link is here. The New York Times’ review One fan’s intense reading here. A Bergman bio. Career Analysis here. AND, for those who asked there are two famous versions of “Electra” -- I’ll list them in full text below, but here’s a good summary first. by Sophocles By Euripides Also, helpful books: The Magic Lantern (Bergman’s autobiography) The movie itself, new to DVD: Persona. Next week: Fight Club.
June 27, 2004 So, Mindbending Movies kicked off with a bang, a spirited discussion after a screening of “Donnie Darko.“ For those in the class, or if you are just curious about Richard Kelly’s complicated masterpiece, check out the links below: (If you haven’t seen the film yet, warning: Spoilers ahead.) Richard Kelly interviews about “Donnie Darko,” plus the director’s cut info : http://romanticmovies.about.com/cs/donniedarko/a/rkellyint.htm http://www.indiewire.com/people/int_Kelly_Richard_011024.html “The Philosophy of Time Travel” : http://ruinedeye.com/cd/time1.htm (with graphics) http://www.tangent-universe.org/dump/time_travel.html#foreword (without graphics) An esoteric page with a bootleg script and analysis: http://www.stainlesssteelrat.net/dd.htm Another fan’s very complete analysis (agree or disagree) : http://www.tonystuff.co.uk/darko-spoilers.htm Lastly, if you have time and patience, the official DD sight is very cool: http://www.donniedarko.com/ The DVD is available on Amazon here and Kelly’s companion book is here.
June 14, 2004 My Facets class, Mindbending Movies, starts up this week and there are only a few slots left, so that’s encouraging. Also, my piece on the history and state of photobooths is up on chicagotribune.com. Click here. If you check out the photo galleries, you can spot my girlfriend Betsy in the last selection in the “Reporter’s pictures” section. Just click on the middle photograph.
May 21, 2004 It’s official! The University Press of Mississippi asked me to assemble and edit the book, “John Woo: Interviews,” as a part of their Conversations with Filmmakers series. It’s a respectable academic press and quite a prestigious series, so I was honored to be asked. For the volume, I’m reprinting a profile I wrote on Woo during his “Windtalkers” tour. We just hung out at Andy’s jazz club in downtown Chicago, chatting away like old friends and it was the first time we’d met. There are few nicer people in Hollywood. I’ve also conducted a 35-page new interview with John, in which we talk about every film from 1968 to 1990. Quite an undertaking. Other books from the press include: “Martin Scorsese: Interviews” by Peter Brunette “Billy Wilder: Interviews” by Robert Horton “John Huston: Interviews” by Robert Emmet Long
**** May 15, 2004 Happy Birthday Mom! We’re taking you to Ireland this year! **** Easter -- April 11, 2004 Cadbury Mini-egg season is over. And now, a moment of silence. This summer, starting June 14, I’m teaching a course at Facets Multimedia, the Chicago arts cinematheque, called “Mindbending Movies.” I originally wanted to call the course “Mindfuck Movies” but good taste (& marketing) won out in the end. I wanted to assemble a list of films that inspire a reaction of “What the hell?” as you leave the theater. The full course description, also posted on the Facets site, is: “Certain movies defy definition, while others perversely elude it alltogether. The provocative films selected for this course fall somewhere in between, placing the wary spectator in an amnesiac trance, where we feel that our narrative loyalty has been betrayed. These movies challenge your imagination, ultimately making us more skeptical about the world around us. This course will also explore what we take for granted in film, and how certain filmmakers play against our expectations through story structure, editing and any number of other cinematic acrobatics.” Films in the course include: Ingmar Bergman’s “Persona” David Fincher’s “Fight Club” David Cronenberg’s “Spider” Richard Kelly’s “Donnie Darko” Alejandro Amenábar’s “Open Your Eyes” Spike Jonze’s “Adaptation” If anyone is interested in attending the course, call 773-281-9075 for more information or sign up online here.
**** April 5, 2004 My good friend Christine Whitmer has come back from her military tour of Iraq. Thank goodness she’s home. Over the last year, I’ve tried to write her a postcard a day and exchange tapes. We’ve known one another since high school and I’m breathing easier with her stateside. Welcome home kid. In Tribune news, my profile of indie filmmaker Bill Brown is online here.
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March 15, 2004 Well, the Gondry piece is out and online.
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March 7, 2004 I’m working on a profile of director Michel Gondry right now, best known for his groundbreaking White Stripes videos (the Lego-mation of “Fell in Love with a Girl”) his work with Bjork and Radiohead. His second feature film, “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,” comes out in a couple weeks. It’s one of those rare mindbending films that also wraps around your heart and makes you question the nature of waking reality. So, that’s Trib stuff. On the homefront, I’m five (count ’em, 5) days away from being free of credit card debt. It’ll be the first time in roughly 10 years. Moving everything three months for three years before I was hired on at the Tribune took its toll, but there was also that little habit of buying DVDs in bulk. The dating life and eating out a bunch didn’t help either. But, I’m almost done with my New Year’s resolutions: paying off debt, losing a few pounds (6 more to target weight -- although my Achilles heel, Cadbury Mini-eggs, have slowed the process) and doing some more outside writing. Two out of three isn’t bad. More later, Rob
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Feb. 2, 2004 Happy New Year! ... a little bit late. So, I’ve been getting used to Dreamweaver, and still haven’t yet worked out all the kinks. My piece on the Jack Dempsey/Tommy Gibbons fight of 1923 in Shelby, Montana ran recently. It’s an epic story of a small town with dreams of heavyweight boxing match that was ultimately its doom, and 80 years later, its redemption.
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Oct. 1, 2003 One more bit of news: Earlier this year, Bill Ryan asked me to write about film in his visual design book for International Thomson Publishing . I just got word that “Graphic Communications Today ” will be available in December 2003. My section begins with a quote by François Truffaut: “Film lovers are sick people.” And, in a way, I suppose we are. ****** Sept. 30, 2003 So, I’m getting the hang of this. A broken foot (volleyball accident) has slowed me down a bit, but I’m adjusting. I’ve just graduated from the crutches to the cane now, and am on the mend. The poker book is now out, and in a store near you. They placed my story right next to Neal Pollack’s, a fine honor. Sales have been solid as well, the editors tell me. In related news, I’ll be introducing a panel of poker personalities at the next Chicago Humanities Festival. I had a blast hosting one a few years ago with Michael Chabon, Neil Gaiman, Will Eisner, Chris Ware and a few other comics legends, so I was delighted when they asked me again. This time around poker guru James McManus “Positively Fifth Street,” radio host Ira Glass (“This American Life”), Jake Austen (editor, “A Friendly Game of Poker”) and company will debate the culture merits of poker. Six shooters will be checked at the door. When: Saturday November 1, 2003, 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. Where: Symphony Center, Buntrock Hall, 220 S. Michigan Ave. Tickets: click here More Humanities info: I’ve also interviewed actor/director/comedian Roberto Benigni (“Life is Beautiful ”) for the Chicago Tribune’s Humanities Festival Guide (out Oct. 12), which was a delight. A student and enthusiast of Dante’s “Divine Comedy,” Benigni will open the festival with a performance of the last canto of “Paradiso,” the final book in the series. The nice folks at Istituto Italiano di Cultura, Chicago will also reprint the interview in a small, square-bound folio for the event. A limited print run will be given to attendees of the event. When: Saturday November 1, 2003, 10:00 to 11:30 a.m. Where: Symphony Center, 220 S. Michigan Ave. Tickets: click here ***** September 13, 2003 Thanks to the folks who made the third season of Chicago Culture Club’s “International Dinner and a Movie” a success. By most accounts, I didn’t embarrass myself (too much) with my introduction of Wes Anderson’s “Rushmore,” a personal favorite and absolute modern classic. I opened up their first evening back in 2001, on Sept. 12 – the day after the horrors in NYC, Washington D.C. and nationwide. It felt right then to screen Jean Renoir’s anti-war allegory “Grand Illusion.” Still does. ***** Hi. Welcome to my new Web experiment, sort of a clearinghouse for my writing and interests on the Internet. This year promises to be a rewarding one, with several publishing projects in the works. Look for my introduction to Brian Azzarello’s “100 Bullets: The Counterfifth Detective,” in bookstores now. Out later this year is “A Friendly Game of Poker” (Chicago Review Press), in which I’ll have a story published alongside work by Neal Pollack, Nick Tosches, Ira Glass, Bill Zehme, Chris Ware and many others. Until then, you can still find my work in the Chicago Tribune and various freelance projects. Feel free to email me and say hello. Best, |