Category Archives: Movies

“I’ve never been a guy who had more than a toe in Hollywood anyway, so my toe is more easily lopped off than most.” — Richard Linklater

Posted on July 30, 2026 by sheila

Richard Linklater, at Ebertfest 2013, presenting “Bernie.” Photo by yours truly. It’s his birthday today. One of my favorite contemporary filmmakers (if not my favorite?) Here’s my essay on Movie Mezzanine: Time After Time: Looking Back at “Before Sunrise”. Here’s … Continue reading →

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“There are no ‘old’ movies really – only movies you have already seen and ones you haven’t.” — Peter Bogdanovich

Posted on July 30, 2026 by sheila

A re-post of the huge thing I wrote after Bogdanovich died, ending with my personal encounter with him where he kissed my hand. I cannot sufficiently express what his films have meant to me, let alone his writing about films … Continue reading →

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“I am happy – as happy as anyone can be who believes that life isn’t quite to be trusted.” — Clara Bow

Posted on July 29, 2026 by sheila

In 1927, provocative novelist Elinor Glyn, popularized the term “It”, “it” being sex appeal, or what the kids would now call “riz”. Earlier, Glyn hswept the world with her controversial erotic novel Three Weeks but It was mainlined into the … Continue reading →

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“People don’t know it, but I’m primarily Irish. We get these dark periods.” — William Powell

Posted on July 29, 2026 by sheila

“I have never gone into a picture without first studying my characterization from all angles. I make a study of the fellow’s life and try to learn everything about him, including the conditions under which he came into this world, … Continue reading →

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Happy Birthday, Edward Herrmann

Posted on July 21, 2026 by sheila

With a career as long and diverse as Edward Herrmann’s there is much to discuss. When he died, I wrote a piece for Ebert, focusing on just one moment in Warren Beatty’s Reds, a moment that (in its small way) … Continue reading →

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“The reality is you don’t arrive, you don’t have a crone ceremony and suddenly get wisdom.” — Olympia Dukakis

Posted on July 20, 2026 by sheila

“I recognize that the real pulse of life is transformation, yet I work in a world dominated by men and the things men value, where transformation is not the coinage. It’s not even the language! Winning is everything in Hollywood. … Continue reading →

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“I have an idea that the Irish possess a built-in don’t-give-a-damn that helps them through all the stress.” — James Cagney

Posted on July 17, 2026 by sheila

It’s his birthday today. One of my favorite actors. From Who the Hell’s in It: Conversations with Hollywood’s Legendary Actors, by Peter Bogdanovich: He was different from most of the great stars of the golden age in that he often … Continue reading →

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“I’m not a yesterday’s woman. I’m a tomorrow’s woman.” — Barbara Stanwyck

Posted on July 16, 2026 by sheila

A real actor’s actor. She was great from the start. She was tough and practical. She didn’t have to act that. She also had deep wells of feeling, and she didn’t have to reach. She could break your heart and … Continue reading →

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“I’m not saying I’m trying to create some revolutionary style, but each film has its own language – the movie tells you how it wants to be told.” — Apichatpong Weerasethakul

Posted on July 16, 2026 by sheila

It’s Apichatpong Weerasethakul’s birthday today. This Thai director is doing some of the most challenging, provocative, and hard-to-classify work in contemporary cinema. He’s only 55 years old, and has already directed 9 feature films, and many short films. The first … Continue reading →

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“Reality is diabolical.” — Ingmar Bergman

Posted on July 14, 2026 by sheila

It’s Ingmar Bergman’s birthday today. I saw Persona in college – while studying acting – and was so intimidated by it I thought, “Okay. I can’t ever watch this again.” I needed courage to feel like I still could give … Continue reading →

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