Movies and music. Flicks and tunes. Two great things that go great together. Since the advent of motion pictures, music has played a huge part in cinematic storytelling. In the days of silent movies, pianist, organists and, sometimes, small orchestras would play music along with the movie. Later, after films incorporated recorded sound, music (either… Continue reading 5 Songs That Created Incredible Movie Scenes
One Great Movie, Three Great Scenes: Casablanca (1942)
What makes a great movie great? The talented director Howard Hawks (The Big Sleep, Rio Bravo) provided an excellent answer when he declared that a great movie had "three great scenes, no bad ones." In light of Hawks's definition, today we're looking at three great scenes from what many consider the greatest movie of all… Continue reading One Great Movie, Three Great Scenes: Casablanca (1942)
Struck By A Great Idea
Have you ever had a really great idea, one that came out of the blue and hit you like a thunderbolt? As a writer, I love when a thunderbolt idea strikes. It's like magic. One moment, the idea doesn't exist. Then, next, it appears out of thin air like a rabbit pulled from a hat, bringing… Continue reading Struck By A Great Idea
Journey Before Destination
"Life is a journey, not a destination." Are you familiar with this quote? If you're not, the saying (attributed to Ralph Waldo Emerson -- according to some -- incorrectly) suggest that we are aware of the present rather than focuts on some future outcome or goal. The thought is that, if you base your happiness,… Continue reading Journey Before Destination
A Blight of Typos
I hate typos. I mean it. I really, really f#*king hate typos. There's a special pain that you feel when you've written something you like, perhaps something good, and then later (after publication of course), you find an obvious typo, usually in the first few paragraphs. Typos are like weeds that pop up, marring an… Continue reading A Blight of Typos
Jaws (1975): A July 4th Celebration
This July 4th, I'll be sitting on a beach in Westhampton, NY, looking out at the Atlantic Ocean, and, as I do so, my thoughts will be on those things that represent the holiday to me: America's independence, fireworks, hot dogs, and the movie "Jaws." What? "Jaws" is a July 4th institution? Absolutely. The film is… Continue reading Jaws (1975): A July 4th Celebration
Pilot Episodes: How I Met Your Mother (And Why The Show Was Better than Friends)
About a month ago, I published a column that looked at the pilot episode of "Friends," a hugely popular show about a group of friends living in New York City. Today, we're looking at the pilot for "How I Met Your Mother" (hereinafter "HIMYM" to save my fingers from typing strain), a hugely popular show… Continue reading Pilot Episodes: How I Met Your Mother (And Why The Show Was Better than Friends)
Spinning and Mindfulness
When I relaunched this blog a few months ago, I had a few intentions: 1) publish a new article each week, 2) cover topics that interest me (and hopefully others), and 3) have fun. I have not always been able to meet the first goal, but I have been pretty consistent with the second and… Continue reading Spinning and Mindfulness
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989): Father’s Day with the Jones Boys
This Father's Day weekend, we're taking a look at a movie classic where a father/son relationship is a key component. There are plenty of great movies from which to choose, movies such as "Kramer vs. Kramer," "Nothing in Common," "Field of Dreams," or "The Road" (if you really, really want to feel bummed out). Today,… Continue reading Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989): Father’s Day with the Jones Boys
Silliness, Meaning, and “The Nearness of You.”
In my last Nerdy Dad article, I confessed to being a life-long geek for sci-fi, fantasy and superhero stories. There are a number of reasons that I love these types of stories. Obviously, I enjoy that each genre story presents a reality that is not our own, by small or large degrees. Whether it's a… Continue reading Silliness, Meaning, and “The Nearness of You.”
