Jack Silbert
The Plot Against Hoboken Jack
AN OPPORTUNITY CAME UP AND I THOUGHT OF YOU! read the e-mail’s subject line. My spam radar went off but, no, the sender was totally legit: Gail Solomon, VP of communications at my beloved Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation. Evidently, a casting agency had contacted her, looking for a white, caucasian, double amputee (check, check, and […]
Movie Review: VHYes
4 stars out of 5In the grand tradition of The Kentucky Fried Movie, SCTV, and Too Many Cooks comes… VHYes. This anthology of 80s pop-culture spoofs is the feature-length debut from director/co-writer Jack Henry Robbins. Two of the executive producers, who also appear in the movie, are Tim Robbins and Susan Sarandon, coincidentally the parents […]
Movie Review: The Assistant
3.5 stars out of 5I read the poster and thought “Julia Garner is too old to play a young assistant.” But I was thinking of Jennifer Garner. Was pleasantly surprised to learn that the lead was Julia, who I am very familiar with from Ozark and The Americans. She’s been great in both those series […]
Movie Review: The Rhythm Section
3 stars out of 5 Different town, but second consecutive movie where I was the only one in the theater. I’m starting to get a complex. Or perhaps a multiplex. The Rhythm Section (I keep typing Rhythm Method) is a crummy name for an action flick, but at least the title is explained in the […]
Aquarium Playlist, 2/11/20
EPISODE #369: VALENTINE’S DAY 2020 (HEARTS) Lois — “Valentine” [ALTERNATE THEME]Luna — “Inside Your Heart”Bruce Springsteen — “Two Hearts”Jad Fair & Norman Blake — “Two Hearts Together”The Beach Boys — “Let’s Put Our Hearts Together”Withered Hand — “Heart Heart”The Schramms — “Hearts and Diamonds”Karl Hendricks Trio — “Painted my Heart”Megan Reilly — “Sew the Threads […]
Movie Review: Gretel and Hansel
4 stars out of 5 Do I have to say every time that, full disclosure, Sophia Lillis is my dear friend Karen’s stepdaughter? What if I get it out of the way in the first sentence? OK, fine. Um, this movie is FUCKED UP. I had no idea what to expect. Even my recollections of […]
Movie Review: 2020 Oscar Nominated Live-Action Short Films
A Sister (Belgium) 4.5 stars out of 5 A taut, highly realistic thriller based around a nighttime car ride. I won’t say any more plot-wise as it’s very worth watching and I don’t want to ruin it. Terrific performance by the actress not in the car, Veerle Baetens. This would be my choice for the […]
Movie Review: 2020 Oscar Nominated Animated Short Films
Dcera (Czechia) 3.5 stars out of 5 Daughter/dad story #1, told in an intriguing, dark papier-mâché-esque style. Grown-up daughter reflects back on her relationship with her father back in the day. Impressive, though I had a little trouble following the exact details of this one. Hair Love (USA) 3 stars out of 5 Daughter/dad story […]
Aquarium Playlist, 2/4/20
EPISODE #368: NEED Thelonious Monk — “Well You Needn’t” [ALTERNATE THEME]Sunshine & the Rain — “All We Need”The Kinks — “I Need You”The Muffs — “I Need You”The Who — “I Need You”The Beatles — “I Need You”Rufus Wainwright — “Sometimes You Need”LL Cool J — “I Need Love”Elva — “I Need Love”Slim Harpo — […]
Aquarium Playlist, 1/28/20
EPISODE #367: WANT The Who — “Happy Jack” [THEME]Jay Reatard — “Always Wanting More”Bob Dylan — “I Want You”Elvis Costello — “I Want You”The Shivas — “I Want You”Cheap Trick — “I Want You To Want Me” (early version)NRBQ — “I Want You Bad”The Hoodoo Gurus — “I Want You Back”Terry McCarthy — “Want You […]
Jack Silbert, curator