loaded question: what’s the best movie ever about magic?
Define magic however you like: could be supernatural magic, stage magic, or any other definition of the word you can defend.
talk amongst yourselves
loaded question: what does film criticism mean to you in 2022?
What are you looking for in film criticism now… and are you finding it? Do critics still matter, and if so, in what ways?
loaded question: what’s your favorite Oscar Best Picture?
I haven’t even seen this year’s winner, CODA, yet, so that one can’t be my answer…
loaded question: what movie do you most associate with springtime?
Mine is probably Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, the ultimate spring fever movie.
loaded question: how much do Oscar nominations or wins affect your desire to see a film?
Do you pay attention to and seek out the nominees and winners, or does love from the Oscars make little difference to your decision (or not) to view a film? Is there any awards love that you do sit up and take notice of?
loaded question: what comic book or comic-book character deserves a big-screen adaptation?
I think current events warrant my choice: I’d love to see an animated adaptation of Art Spiegelman’s Maus. (He says he has no interest in this, but I can dream.)
loaded question: have apocalyptic movies lulled us into a false sense of security about climate change?
What would human civilization look like after a billions-dead catastrophe? “End of the world” movies almost universally fail to confront that. Do we need to do better?
loaded question: which celebrity would you cast as which current or historical figure in a biopic?
In honor of Daniel Radcliffe as Weird Al Yankovic. Yes, this is happening.
loaded question: what’s the most romantic movie you’ve ever seen?
My choice is easy: the infinitely wise, moving, and — yes — funny Truly, Madly, Deeply, starring Juliet Stevenson and Alan Rickman.
loaded question: what’s the hardest or longest you’ve ever cried at a movie or TV show?
I have lots of answers I could give to this, so I’ll offer the most recent one: Station Eleven, the new postapocalyptic miniseries that is beyond wonderful…
