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Tench’s Topics
This space features current and recent articles and posts by Naro co-owner Tench Phillips. Tench is a regular columnist for Veer Magazine where he often expands on subjects he is passionate about: social justice, environmental protection, and peace. This page will feature both his Veer columns and additional articles. Please feel free to comment on films or offer your own opinion on posted topics. Please note that comments are moderated for relevancy and civility.
A place with ‘soul’: Naro cinema operators passing business to longtime managers after 49 years
Naro Minded: The Duo Who Defined a Neighborhood
(Tench Phillips and Thom Vourlas share a laugh and popcorn outside the Naro Expanded Cinema. Photo by Jeff Maisey.)
(REPRINTED FROM VEER MAGAZINE)
By Jim Roberts
Tench Phillips III and Thom Vourlas were featured on WTAR News in August of 1977—about two weeks before they opened the Naro Expanded Cinema on Colley Avenue in Norfolk. “We feel like the only place for this type of cinema is in Ghent,” Vourlas said at the time, “because Ghent is growing. … Colley Avenue seems to be coming back alive. 21st Street is going to be rebuilding. We have townhouses going up in the neighborhood. We feel like this is the only place it can happen.” Little did they know the role their theater would play in sustaining that growth—or that 49 years later, they would receive a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Ghent Business Association…
Remembering Tim Cooper
To his many longtime friends and fans of the Naro Video Store, we are sad to inform you that Tim Cooper has passed away after a protracted illness.Passing of Charles Plant
It’s with a heavy heart that we wanted to let our loyal Naro patrons know that Charles Plant, our long-time “box office guy” passed away unexpectedly on April 10th. Charles had been our reliable staff member for over 45 years. Soft spoken yet quite opinionated, Charles was an expert historian, avid reader, and loyal St. Louis Cardinals fan. He will be sorely missed by all. The Naro will never be the same without his presence. May his memory be eternal.
Passing of William Laderberg
Longtime Naro friend and supporter William Laderberg passed this week. William worked for years as a manager of Naro Video and on Sunday mornings he enjoyed his role as one of the Film Forum hosts at Naro Cinema. He had an encyclopedic knowledge of European art films and American independents…
Studio Ghibli awarded the honorary Palme d’or
By Tarik Khaldi, published on 20.05.2024 Festival-Cannes.com Founded and made famous by Hayao Miyazaki, the legendary Studio Ghibli was awarded an honorary Palme d’or today at the Grand Théâtre Lumière, where film-maker and Ghibli head of creative development Gorō...
In ‘Oppenheimer,’ Christopher Nolan builds a thrilling, serious blockbuster for adults
The following article was first published by APNEWS (Associated Press)
Christopher Nolan has never been one to take the easy or straightforward route while making a movie. He shoots on large-format film with large, cumbersome cameras to get the best possible cinematic image. He prefers practical effects over computer-generated ones and real locations over soundstages — even when that means recreating an atomic explosion in the harsh winds of the New Mexico desert in the middle of the night for “Oppenheimer,” out July 21. Though, despite internet rumors, they did not detonate an actual nuclear weapon…
‘Past Lives’ Review: Celine Song’s Transcendent Debut Is Destined to Be One of 2023’s Best Films
The following article was published by IndieWire.com
Virginian-Pilot film critic Mal Vincent lives on through film festival, which starts Monday
(Reprinted from Virginian-Pilot) For nearly two decades, Mal Vincent stood in front of crowds each summer at Norfolk’s Naro Expanded Cinema just before the lights dimmed and classic films rolled onto the screen. The Virginian-Pilot’s movie critic introduced each movie as part of his film festival, “Mal’s Movies,” in an inimitable and rich Southern accent.
Asteroid City Review: Wes Anderson’s Cosmic Grief Comedy Is One of His Very Best Movies Yet
The following article was published by IndieWire.com
Like any movie by Wes Anderson, “Asteroid City” is the epitome of a Wes Anderson movie. A film about a television program about a play within a play “about infinity and I don’t know what else” (as one character describes it), this delightfully profound desert charmer — by far the director’s best effort since “The Grand Budapest Hotel,” and in some respects the most poignant thing he’s ever made…