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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.
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…
Nicole Holofcener Keeps Things Streamlined with ‘You Hurt My Feelings’
The following article was published by IndieWire.com
“I wish that so many movies were a half hour shorter”
BY JIM HEMPHILL
“You Hurt My Feelings” is the latest exquisitely mounted comedy from writer-director Nicole Holofcener, the American cinema’s master of marital unease. The premise is classic Holofcener: A writer (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) overhears her husband (Tobias Menzies) saying what he really thinks of her work and reevaluates what she thought she knew about her relationship and, by extension, her own identity.
Judy Blume was banned from the beginning, but says ‘It never stopped me from writing’
…When Blume began writing for pre-teens and teens in the ’70s and ’80s, young readers devoured her novels, which spoke to their hopes and anxieties. Her 1970 book, Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret., told the story of an 11-year-old girl who worried that all the other girls were getting their periods, developing breasts and starting to wear bras — but she wasn’t. (That book, too, has been banned in various outlets, including, in the 1970s, at the primary school that Blume’s own children attended.)…
The Crawleys Are Back! Everything you Need to Know About “Downton Abbey: A New Era”
The following excerpts are taken from an article in Vogue magazine by Hayley Maitland about Downtown Abbey: A New Era which opens at The Naro with an early access presentation on May 18th and a full run starting on Friday, May 20th.
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.
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.
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: