Gerald Peary

Film Feature: Best of American Film Noir, 1940-1959 — An International Poll

August 4, 2021
Posted in , , ,

The results of a Facebook contest for the Best of American Film Noir, 1940-1959

Read More

Film Commentary: Dorothy Davenport — Neglected American Female Cineaste

July 21, 2021
Posted in , ,

The Road to Ruin is a practically unknown film begging for discovery, and to be championed as a startling example of pre-Code cinema. And as a keystone for creating a directorial reputation for “Mrs. Wallace Reid.”

Read More

Film Commentary: Provincetown Film Festival — A Very Good Year

June 28, 2021
Posted in , , ,

John Waters and I were in sync with our favorite in this year’s festival.

Read More

Book Review: “Shooting Midnight Cowboy” — A Very Good Read

May 14, 2021
Posted in , , ,

What motivated me to read this book? Not for a special love of Midnight Cowboy, a movie which I like but isn’t ultimately important to me. It was to learn about James Leo Herlihy, who has interested me since I was an adolescent.

Read More

Film Review: “A Reckoning in Boston” — Muckraking and Heartbreaking

May 9, 2021
Posted in , ,

A Reckoning in Boston demonstrates that fifty years after the bussing-era failures to improve the lives of Black people, there is, in James Rutenbeck’s telling words, “No justice, no truth, no reconciliation.”

Read More

Arts Remembrance: “Why Not Say What Happened” — Morris Dickstein’s Memoir About Living a Life of the Mind

March 29, 2021
Posted in ,

RIP Morris Dickstein, among the last of the generation of the New York School of Jewish intellectuals, scholar/critics of massive knowledge and intellect who came from humble backgrounds.

Read More

Film Review: “The Inheritance” — Brilliant and Necessary

March 21, 2021
Posted in , ,

In its celebration of current-day Black culture, and of the vitality of Black youth, The Inheritance is an optimistic work.

Read More

Book Review: “This Is Not My Memoir” — André Gregory’s Rich, Plentiful, and Complicated Life

March 12, 2021
Posted in , ,

I have only one criticism of André Gregory’s fabulously entertaining book: I wish it was twice as long, or even three times its 208 pages.

Read More

Book Review: “Second Time Around: From Art House to DVD”

February 23, 2021
Posted in , , ,

The book’s conceit is that D.A. Miller watches films he’s seen earlier in life with enhanced perception because of the possibilities offered him through the DVD lens.

Read More

Film Commentary: What If a Man Insinuates That a Woman Is NOT Attractive? And in Print?

January 31, 2021
Posted in , , ,

Variety is wrong and cowardly to give in to Cary Mulligan’s misguided, damaging accusations.

Read More

Recent Posts