Jack Silbert
Pandemic Cinema, Year 4
A chronological list of non-current or non-theatrical movies (feature length and short films) that I watched at home during the continuing COVID-19 crisis in 2023. The great majority of them were new to me. Cleaning House (1938)House of Dark Shadows (1970)Night of Dark Shadows (1971)Ventriloquist Cat (1950)The Green Ray (1986)The Freshman (1925)Drag-a-Long Droopy (1954)Mon Oncle Antoine (1971)Thunder Road […]
My Highly Subjective List of the Best Films of 2023
Over the past couple of months I’ve noticed people in pajamas at the movie theater. At first I was annoyed (“People used to dress for Broadway!”), but I suppose whatever gets people to the cinema these days is OK by me. And I dare say that crowds are slowly returning even though A) films are […]
Aquarium Playlist, 1/2/24
EPISODE #571: LIVE HIGHLIGHTS 2023 Elvis Costello & the Attractions — “I Hope You’re Happy Now” [ALTERNATE THEME]Antietam — “Orange Song” The Ekphrastics — “A Painter of Mild Renown”Megan Reilly — “Love Was a Dream” Spiritualized — “Let It Bleed (for Iggy)” Tsunami — “Beauty pt. II” Bob Mould — “Next Generation” Vintage Crop — […]
New Year’s Resolutions 2024
1. Reboot the show 24.2. Resole my Reebok ReBoots.3. Start a 501c3PO non-profit for androids.4. Publish subjective book about famous telescopes, In My Hubble Opinion.5. Write bucket list. First item: Buy bucket.6. Give up obsession with taking 10,000 steps a day with help from a 12-step program.7. Buy an electric car, which will look cool […]
Movie Review: The Iron Claw
2.5 stars out of 5The Von Erichs were heroes to some but didn’t mean shit to me. I was a WWF kid: Bruno Sammartino, Bob Backlund, Jimmy “Superfly” Snuka, Mr. Fuji & Mr. Saito, etc. When I was a bit older there was some second-rate wrestling federation on WTBS; I associate that with Saturday nights, […]
Movie Review: Ferrari
4 stars out of 5 I think the last movie I saw directed by Michael Mann was Heat back in 1995. And prior to that, Manhunter in 1986. But I was a big Miami Vice fan, and perhaps unfairly associated Mann with style over substance. And while the racing scenes here give Mann plenty of […]
Movie Review: Poor Things
3.5 stars out of 5 Dear Poor Things:Where The Wild Things Are called; it wants its font treatment back. OK, on to the review! For the first 30–45 minutes, I was entranced by this film, laughing out loud, prepared to re-order my top movies of the year, and ready to hand the Best Actress Oscar […]
Movie Review: Godzilla Minus One
4.5 stars out of 5 It’s the waning days of war in Japan, and Koichi Shikishima is a failed kamikaze pilot; you’d think the situation couldn’t get any worse. Ah, but you forgot about Godzilla, didn’t you? Frankly, no one would blame you. In 1998, the American film conglomerate tried to reboot the big scaly […]
Aquarium Playlist, 12/26/23
EPISODE #570: BEST NEW-TO-ME 2023 PT. 2 The Who — “Happy Jack” [THEME]The Surfrajettes — “Warm Up” American Trappist — “…Rides Again”Loose Wing — “Moving Blankets” Trust Fund — “Cut Me Out” Alien Boy — “The Way I Feel” Annie Blackman — “Drive” Have a Good Season — “Shoulder Blades”Well Wisher — “Need You Around” […]
Aquarium Playlist, 12/19/23
EPISODE #569: HOLIDAY SPECIAL 2023 Darlene Love — “Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)” [ALTERNATE THEME]Los Straitjackets — “Deck the Halls” Ohio Players — “Happy Holidays” [pt. 1]Yo La Tengo w/ Ira Glass & Eugene Mirman — “Toymageddon” Giant Sand — “Thank You, Dreaded Black Ice, Thank You” Student Teachers — “Christmas Weather” Swansea Sound — […]
Jack Silbert, curator