Monthly Archives: February 2011

Roger Ebert and The Joy of the Bad Review

Posted on at by Todd Hunter Starkweather

When I am winding down at night I will, as so many other do, flip through an endless array of channels hoping to find a good movie. HBO, Cinemax, and other basic cable channels will have an array of films playing … Continue reading →

Posted in Essays, Film, Film Criticism, Reviews | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Cinematic Pugilism: The Chaplin v. Keaton Debate

Posted on at by Peter Schilling

“Yeah, but they’re both great, aren’t they?” –Anonymous friend of mine, whom I guess is right. Gary Cooper v. John Wayne. Bette Davis v. Joan Crawford. Robert DeNiro v. Al Pacino. Adam Sandler v. Jim Carrey. Those battles never existed, … Continue reading →

Posted in Essays, Film, History, Uncategorized | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Five Film Favorites: Charles Bronson

Posted on at by Ward Howarth

Hollywood first knew Charles Bronson as Charles Buchinsky.  Beginning in 1951, a string of uncredited roles eventually led to memorable turns in a few well known pictures, among them Andre de Toth’s House of Wax (which I’ve had the good … Continue reading →

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Shades Of Grey: The Naked City

Posted on at by Ward Howarth

Arguably film noir‘s most fertile playground, the urban landscape offers limitless potential for dark & dirty deeds. From the dingiest alleyway to the swankiest high rise apartment, the city knows no end to intrigue and scandal. New York City’s rich … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, film studies, History | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

Five Film Favorites: Westerns set in the 20th Century

Posted on at by Todd Hunter Starkweather

When I first began writing for the James River Film Journal, the first article I came across was F.T. Rea’s “Five Film Favorites: Westerns.”  Rea’s list spanned from Stagecoach (1939) to Unforgiven (1992) and contained films from the ’40s, ’50s, and … Continue reading →

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Shades Of Grey: In A Lonely Place

Posted on at by Ward Howarth

I was born when she kissed me.  I died when she left me.  I lived a few weeks when she loved me. Nicholas Ray’s film noir IN A LONELY PLACE has the unique distinction of being less about a murder … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, film studies, History | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

What the Oscars Do Well: John Hawkes and Jacki Weaver

Posted on at by Todd Hunter Starkweather

Regular readers of this journal will already recognize the futility of railing against the Oscars and how and whom they nominate.  The Oscars will not change, nor are they the necessary guideposts that lead us to great cinema and wonderful artistic performances.  … Continue reading →

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This Week’s Birthday: Thelma Ritter

Posted on at by Peter Schilling

Jorge Luis Borges once wrote that we mistake the peace of the cemetery for death, when “what we long for is sleep and indifference.” This longing, to let go of the world’s troubles and finally taste some of that sweet … Continue reading →

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Screening Recommendation: The Cove (and the REFF)

Posted on at by Todd Hunter Starkweather

I am encouraging everyone to do something that I know I will not (or cannot) do: attend the Richmond Environmental Film Festival‘s (REFF) showing of The Cove (2009) at 5:00 p.m. at the Byrd Theatre.  In fact, attend as much … Continue reading →

Posted in Events, Film | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

The Devils & the Details

Posted on at by F.T. Rea

My first good look at what was to become the Biograph Theatre was in July of 1971. Having gotten a tip from a friend that the DeeCee-based owners were considering the hiring of a local manager, I went to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Birthdays, History | 3 Comments