Naro News & Views

Naro News & Views

Tench’s Topics

Tench PhillipsThis 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.

 

 

Everything Everywhere All at Once – Genre Mix Extraordinaire

Everything Everywhere All at Once – Genre Mix Extraordinaire

There are some interesting back stories behind the surprise smash Everything Everywhere All at Once. It seems that iconic martial arts start Jackie Chan was going to be in the lead role, but the feeling of the directors to pay homage to the strong women in their lives won out, and Michelle Yeoh was casted as the everywoman thrust into a dazzling multiverse of parallel lives.

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An Homage to 70s Era B-Movie Making

An Homage to 70s Era B-Movie Making

The following is an open  letter to movie-goers from filmmaker Ti West, the writer, director, editor and producer of X, currently playing at The Naro. In it he discusses his inspiration for and general thoughts about this unusual film. It is reprinted in its entirety from distributor A24’s website. For more about Ti West’s background, see his Wikipedia entry here.

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Best-Ever Review of The Godfather?

Best-Ever Review of The Godfather?

The 50th anniversary of The Godfather recalls to us that the double-feature of Godfathers I and II were the very first films presented by the new Naro Expanded Cinema in 1977. (45 years ago.) Arguably one of cinema’s most iconic works, we’re pleased to participate in its re-release for a new generation to enjoy on the big screen with the latest in digital projection and sound. (We naturally expect many fellow old-timers to come out too!)

The late great film critic for The New Yorker Pauline Kael reviewed the film back in 1972 and her piece retains its brilliance for its superlative writing and in-depth analysis of various aspects of the film – music, cinematography, themes, and even some of the underlying sociological messages it contains – now more relevant than ever:

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Mal Vincent Has Left the Screening Room

The following essay/ tribute to the late Mal Vincent, long-time cinema and arts critic for The Virginian-Pilot and  the producer and host of the Naro’s summer classics series for 17 years, was submitted to us by Ron Stokes, founder of Norfolk’s Generic Theatre, expanding on earlier remarks he had posted on this site soon after Mal’s death.

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“A Perfect Slice of 70’s Nostalgia”

“A Perfect Slice of 70’s Nostalgia”

REPRINTED FROM INDIEWIRE ‘Licorice Pizza’ Review: Paul Thomas Anderson’s Coming-of-Age Comedy Is a Perfect Slice of ’70s Nostalgia Cooper Hoffman, Alana Haim, and Bradley Cooper all join the pantheon of PTA's greatest performances in a euphorically hilarious ode to...

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