Susie Diamond sang here
Airline ads and promotional images during the Golden Age of Air Travel were selling travelers on an experience. In the days before interminably long security checkpoints and nonexistent customer service, airline advertisements were emphasizing just how well airlines would take care of us. And that included some not-so-subtle implications of mile high adventure with the … Continue reading The Art of the Ad: Fly the Friendly Skies
A film that inspires either loving or loathing, but rarely anything in between, Mother! opened five years ago this September. I saw it in the theater by myself, but with a decent number of other moviegoers. As the madness intensified over the film’s running time, I slid lower down in my seat, as if trying … Continue reading “The Sink’s Not Braced!”: Mother! Turns 5
Bettie Page and beaches go together like chocolate and peanut butter. After all, Bettie’s career in modeling began when off-duty NYPD officer and avid photographer Jerry Tibbs approached her on the shores of Coney Island, New York, told her she’d be a great pinup model, and gave her his card. Soon after he was taking … Continue reading Queen Bettie: Beach Babe
Today, Queen Elizabeth II was laid to rest at Windsor Castle as the world watched. This post will not be about that.* Instead, here at the Starfire Lounge we’re going to focus on the Queen of an entirely different realm. After writing somewhere in the neighborhood of 1,200-1,300 words—a very respectable neighborhood**—on the lovely and … Continue reading Queen Bettie
Mary Mason has built a diverse resume: medical student, illegal underground surgeon, and dark avenging angel. Slightly detached and desperate for money to pay for school, Mary auditions for a job at the local strip club. The manager Billy seems smitten. Later he even fantasizes about Mary performing an erotically charged dance—one of several instances … Continue reading “Do You Think I’m Crazy?”: American Mary, 10 Years On
The controversial new movie Blonde will be streaming on Netflix later this month. Based on Joyce Carol Oates’ novel and featuring Ana de Armis as a sort of fictionalized Marilyn Monroe, the movie is sure to stir up animosity among Marilyn’s most ardent fans, like yours truly. I’ve owned the novel for years but haven’t … Continue reading Blonde on Blonde
In the season six episode of Three’s Company—hilariously titled “Some of That Jazz”—Janet (my birthday buddy, the lovely and talented Joyce Dewitt) thinks her dance instructor’s interest in her is strictly for her dancing skills. Jack (one of the best comedic actors of all time, the late John Ritter) knows the teacher (Michael Bell in … Continue reading Janet, Jack, and Some of That Jazz
Previews | Collated film criticism | Our reviews and ratings | Visitor ratings | Critics rankings | Free movies | 9,625+ entries
Stuff From the Self-Indulgent World of Tom Brevoort
Celebrating the Unpopular Arts
Movies from the Sunny Side of Life
A historical record of artistry, anarchy, alchemy & authenticity.
Roger Green: a librarian's life, deconstructed.
Discussing the minutiae of comic book collecting.
Comics, Creators, Culture
Cult, B-Movies, cheesy fun films to Film Noir to classics new to me.
Actresses of the fifties and sixties
Discussion of popular movies, obscure VHS faves, & genre films
A rambling pop culture conversation.
... observations from a lifetime of geekiness.
The Starfire Lounge 