“Bad day? Kill yourself. Heart broken? Kill yourself. Parking ticket? Kill yourself.” When Dean (Nadine Crocker) utters this line in the 2022 film “Cont;nue,” it is with a wry, glib and darkly self-aware gallows humor. In lesser stories, that approach might be a mere stylistic affect, but anyone who has been suicidal, is suicidal and/or knows suicidal people can instantly recognize the...
There is a story that I never managed to get published in an article, even though it's one of the most memorable of my career. I've decided to plow through my latest bout of insomnia by sharing it here. Sneak preview: It's a Val Kilmer story. The tale is set in the summer of 2017. I was just beginning to integrate culture criticism into my writing repertoire and was thrilled when I learned...
Published: Salon (October 17, 2016) Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner reportedly approached a major media investor about setting up a Trump television network after the presidential election. Over the past couple of months, Kushner, who is married to Ivanka Trump, has met with Aryeh Bourkoff, the CEO of a boutique investment bank known as LionTree, theFinancial Times reported Monday....
Published: The Good Men Project (October 11, 2016) While Cady McClain and I first met as potential (and then actual) collaborators, I’m happy to say that I now consider her to be a good friend. With that disclaimer out of the way, I have to also say that I was genuinely thrilled to hear about the new documentary she has coming out, “Seeing Is Believer: Women Direct.” My interview with her makes...
Published: Salon (October 11, 2016) According to a new report, it seems as if Billy Bush’s suspension from “Today” is likely to be permanent. According to the Hollywood Reporter, Bush and the network are negotiating his exit, which could be official as early as this week. Bush’s ouster from the show doesn’t come as a huge shock, since there was alreadytalk of a mutiny from NBC employees outraged...
Published: Salon (October 11, 2016) Blink 182 is well-known for their use of toilet humor, but who knew they were gazing into the stars as well as the sewers? Former lead singer Tom DeLonge wanted to introduce HIllary Clinton’s campaign manager, John Podesta, to some “very interesting” sources on UFOs, according to a report in The Wall Street Journal.DeLonge was referring to either military...
Published: The Good Men Project (October 4, 2016) A brief thought on the kind of person – well, let’s be honest here, the millions of people – who may wind up electing Donald Trump as the next American president. Unflattering things have already been said about them, and deservedly so, because their behavior is frankly deplorable. But let’s start this article on a happier note. Last week I had...
Published: Fusion (September 26, 2016) As millions of Americans prepare to watch one of the most anticipated presidential debates ever, between Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, it’s worthwhile to evaluate previous debates for a sense of what we should look for this year. What have been the best moments? What were the worst? When did our presidents and presidential candidates remind us of the...
Published: The Good Men Project (September 6, 2016) If I’m ever asked to name my favorite movie, I’ll usually select Paddy Chayefsky’s brilliant 1976 satire “Network.” Certainly that movie has shaped me as much as any film I’ve watched; it is a sharply insightful look at how corporations and corporatist logic govern our modern world, although it’s best remembered today for prophesying the...
Published: Salon (September 2, 2016) “Sausage Party” is a surprisingly smart, visually creative comedy that has been rightfully praised for its satirical take on organized religion. This makes it all the more unfortunate that the movie is currently wrapped up in a labor controversy that, if it is grounded in fact, could convince potential viewers to pause before spending their money on the film....