Category Archives: movies

Jeff Bezos as Charles Foster Kane


Kudos to Bernie Sanders for stating the obvious about the billionaire weasel responsible for the ongoing decline of a top-tier newspaper: Jeff Bezos could afford to spend $75 million on the Melania movie and $500 million for a yacht to … Continue reading

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It’s Groundhog Day. Six more weeks of deep freeze?


I was deep into my writing routine when someone knocked on my door, derailing my train of thought. It was my neighbor Swamp Rabbit, seeking a ride to the liquor store so he wouldn’t have to brave the icy streets … Continue reading

Posted in climate change, environmentalism, humor, mainstream media, movies, Philadelphia, Uncategorized | 5 Comments

Stephen Miller, Nietzsche, and ‘Baby Face’


You can talk all you want about international niceties and everything else. But we live in a world, in the real world, Jake, that is governed by strength, that is governed by force, that is governed by power. These are … Continue reading

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A movie about conscience. (No wonder it wasn’t a hit.)


OK, I’m busted. Last week I implied that the movies shown on Netflix are invariably mediocre, but within days The Forgiven (2021) proved me wrong. It takes place at a luxury residence on the fringe of the Sahara Desert — … Continue reading

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Netflix stars upstaged by sexy ‘superyacht’


My neighbor Swamp Rabbit and I were discussing the steady stream of mediocre movies that Netflix cranks out for subscribers. “I saw a new one last week called The Woman in Cabin 10,” I said. “It’s about an ace reporter … Continue reading

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Satire is no match for a mad king and his minions


Swamp Rabbit and I were debating the usefulness of satire in a country whose democratic traditions are being subverted by authoritarian forces. Will poking fun at those forces help? Can satirists wake sane Americans to the fact that the norms … Continue reading

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No method, just madness


From Francis Ford Coppola’s Apocalypse Now: Colonel Kurtz: “Are my methods unsound?” Captain Willard: I don’t see any method at all, sir.” I was listing for my neighbor Swamp Rabbit some of the steps Donald Trump took to undermine the law … Continue reading

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Regarding Trump’s infatuation with Hannibal Lecter


“Has anyone seen Silence of the Lambs? The late, great Hannibal Lecter. He’d love to have you for dinner.” — Donald Trump at the Republican National Convention My neighbor Swamp Rabbit was wondering about the Republican presidential nominee’s bizarre fixation … Continue reading

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Robbie Robertson (1943-2023) and the rock of ages


Swamp Rabbit and I were talking about the death at age 80 of Robbie Robertson, lead guitarist and main songwriter in the Band, one of the most artful and influential acts in rock ‘n’ roll history. I’m tempted to use … Continue reading

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Now showing: TCM vs. corporate philistines


“Zaslav is at it again.” I was telling my neighbor Swamp Rabbit that the same high-level hatchet man behind the mission to make CNN more rightwing recently took action to dumb down, or perhaps destroy, the only TV outlet that … Continue reading

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