OctoberPfest

My love of October is well documented. Autumn is in full swing, replete with crisp air and colorful foliage. Pumpkin coffee and ales of all sorts are flowing like wine everywhere. And of course the best holiday ever is being celebrated with spooky decorations and horror movie marathons—Halloween. It truly is the most wonderful time … Continue reading OctoberPfest →

Oh, Gina

Scarface (1983) has grown into a massive cult favorite over the years, but rarely is it praised for its treatment of female characters. But Oliver Stone's script does include two juicy roles for women, each of which leaves a lasting impression: Michelle Pfeiffer as Tony Montana's lady Elvira Hancock and Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio as Tony's … Continue reading Oh, Gina →

Surviving Scarface: Elvira

Wow, the restaurant scene in Scarface (1983) is powerful. That's all I kept thinking the other night when I watched Brian De Palma's epic tale of the rise and fall of Cuban "political refugee" and drug lord Tony Montana (Al Pacino in one of his most popular and oft-quoted roles). The movie is chock-full of … Continue reading Surviving Scarface: Elvira →

Susie—not Suzie—Diamond

Google searches for Susie Diamond constantly ask me “Did you mean Suzie Diamond?” No, Google! I mean Susie! You know, Michelle Pfeiffer in the 1989 Steve Kloves masterpiece The Fabulous Baker Boys? That Susie Diamond. Susie is the role that should have won Michelle an Oscar. She won every other major award for her stunning, … Continue reading Susie—not Suzie—Diamond →

Tequila Sunrise

It's been a week or two now since I revisited Robert Towne's criminally underrated neo-noir classic Tequila Sunrise (1988), and I'm still obsessing over falling in love again with both the film and Michelle Pfeiffer’s performance. A sharp Towne script, packed with crackling dialogue, along with gorgeous cinematography from Oscar-winner Conrad Hall and a stellar … Continue reading Tequila Sunrise →

Cheetos, Candy, and the Light: Dangerous Minds at 25

Continuing the theme of back to school from my last post, I've been thinking a lot about how classrooms won't look or feel the same this year. And classrooms now also include the living rooms, kitchen tables, or dens of American households, as so many of us will be working from home and overseeing our … Continue reading Cheetos, Candy, and the Light: Dangerous Minds at 25 →

Back to School Again…Maybe

Grease 2 is on my mind a lot under normal circumstances, but with school districts and states across the United States unveiling the myriad, well-meaning but crazy-complicated and nerve-wracking plans for sending children back into Covid Petri dishes....well, I’m thinking about Grease 2 even more these days. I won’t bore you with the details. Short … Continue reading Back to School Again…Maybe →