Coffee Talk with Harley Quinn

Earlier I posted this random thought on social media, along with the following GIF: Me: 2020 is hard enough on my anxiety, I should probably cut back on the coffee intake, but uuuugh I reeeeally want another cup… Coffee: When this 2020-related “coffee is my savior” moment occurred to me over a soothing cup of … Continue reading Coffee Talk with Harley Quinn →

Season of the Witch: Sukie Ridgemont

What scares me isn't how short life is, no, it's the pain, all the pain. I don't understand why there has to be any pain. I adore Sukie Ridgemont, one-third of the famous Witches of Eastwick from the 1987 hit movie of the same name. She’s one of Michelle Pfeiffer’s most pure-of-soul characters—kindhearted mother, sweet … Continue reading Season of the Witch: Sukie Ridgemont →

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 →

We Like to Watch: Body Double

Many filmmakers explore the themes of doubling and voyeurism, but few have done it as consistently or successfully as Brian De Palma. One of the handful (or two handfuls!) of masterpieces in his filmography, Body Double (1984) perfectly illustrates De Palma’s (and D.P. Steven H. Burum's) visual interrogation of these elements while also implicating us, … Continue reading We Like to Watch: Body Double →

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 →

Happy 25th, Nomi

One of the absolute monoliths in the world of cult classics, Showgirls opened on this day in 1995. Over the last twenty-five years, I've thought a lot about why I love Showgirls so much and I've come to realize it's basically this: life is a big, epic, chaotic mess and the film masterfully, hilariously, and … Continue reading Happy 25th, Nomi →