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Entries from April 2009

Wanting Things We Can’t Have and Having Things We Don’t Want

April 28th, 2009 · 4 Comments

The Age of Innocence (1993)
Screenplay by Jay Cocks & Martin Scorsese, based on the novel by Edith Wharton
Directed by Martin Scorsese
Produced by Cappa Productions/ Columbia Pictures
Running time: 139 minutes

What the *&#! Is This About?
In New York City of the 1870s, Newland Archer (Daniel Day-Lewis) is among the well heeled who attend a performance of [...]

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Tags: Based on novel · Concert · Dreams and visions · Master and pupil · Museums and galleries · Unconventional romance

They Wanted This Embarrassment To Go Away

April 24th, 2009 · 9 Comments

Over the Edge (1979)
Screenplay by Charlie Haas & Tim Hunter, based on the article by Charlie Haas
Directed by Jonathan Kaplan
Produced by Orion Pictures
Running time: 95 minutes

What the *&#! Is This About?
Walking through the planned suburban development of “New Granada,” 14-year-old Carl Willat (Michael Kramer) and his buddies – Richie White (Matt Dillon), Claude Zachary [...]

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Tags: Coming of age · Cult favorite · Drunk scene · Famous line · Father/son relationship · High school · Interrogation

They Were Marketing It For Dumb Teenagers

April 20th, 2009 · 5 Comments

Dazed and Confused (1993)
Written by Richard Linklater
Directed by Richard Linklater
Produced by Detour Filmproduction/ Alphaville Films
Running time: 103 minutes

What the *&#! Is This About?
On May 28, 1976 – the last day of the school year at “Lee High School” somewhere in Texas – quarterback Randall “Pink” Floyd (Jason London) faces an existential crisis over whether [...]

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Tags: 24 hour time frame · Brother/sister relationship · Coming of age · Cult favorite · Drunk scene · Famous line · High school · Mother/son relationship · Music · Shot In Texas

A Glib, Cynical, Socially Irresponsible View of High School

April 16th, 2009 · 5 Comments

Heathers (1989)
Written by Daniel Waters
Directed by Michael Lehmann
Produced by Cinemarque Entertainment/ New World Pictures
Running time: 103 minutes

What the *&#! Is This About?
At “Westerberg High School” in Ohio, Veronica Sawyer (Winona Ryder) has managed to ingratiate herself into the most powerful clique in school, which includes sociopath Heather Chandler (Kim Walker), self-absorbed Heather McNamara (Lisanne [...]

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Tags: Black comedy · Cult favorite · Dreams and visions · Famous line · High school · Paranoia