While every other newspaper and magazine in town are popping out “Best of Portland” issues like a Gresham teen makes babies, let’s be honest: How many times
The Best of Estacada
Erik Henriksen
With honor and distinction, Erik Henriksen served as the executive editor of the Portland Mercury from 2004 to 2020. He can now be found at henriksenactual.com.
Posted inMovies & TV
We Don’t Need No Education
Learning Lessons (Or Not) from The Edukators
I’m constantly in a bind with one of my friends when it comes to politics. This is because my friend loves him
Posted inMovies & TV
Wasted Bullets
A Not So Great Raid
There are few genres with as much inherent coolness as war movies. It’s a given you’re going to have interesting characters
Posted inMovies & TV
Carl Spackler, Actor
Bill Murray in Jarmusch’s Broken Flowers
Broken Flowers dir. Jarmusch Opens Fri Aug 5 Fox Tower Normally, a review for a new Jim Jarmusch film would–appropriately enough–deal largely with Jarmusch. The eclectic filmmaker’s movies are damn near events in the arthouse film world, and his latest, Broken Flowers, is no exception. But while Jarmusch (Coffee and Cigarettes, Dead Man, Ghost Dog) […]
Posted inMovies & TV
Go to Hong Kong!
NWFC Brings HK Cinema to Portland
Hong Kong Horizons dirs. Various Fri Aug 5-Sun Aug 21 Whitsell Auditorium Movies from Hong Kong are like movies from nowhere else–stylish, smart, and daring, Hong Kong’s best films possess a verve and mood that’s only slightly less addictive than crack. Since the past few years have boasted some of HK’s best films–action or otherwise–it’s […]
Posted inMovies & TV
I’m Staying Home
The Cinema of Seann William Scott
One of America’s greatest thespians, the young Seann William Scott has forged a striking career with his daring choices, heartfelt portrayals, and keen commentary on the human condition. With his latest masterpiece, The Dukes of Hazzard, opening this week, now’s an excellent time to look at a few choice selections from Mr. Scott’s unique and […]
Posted inMovies & TV
Private Riot
A Videogame Expo that Doesn’t Play Well With Others
Arcades are dead. It’s a sad fact–especially for those of us who remember jamming quarters into games for hours, aiming to finish Area 51, place first in Cruisin’ USA, or take down a trash-talking friend in Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter. But while arcades remain alive and well in Japan, they’re nearly extinct in […]
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“Yeeeeeeee Hawwwwwwww!”
Get Them Duke Boys!
The Dukes of Hazzard dir. Chandrasekhar Opens Fri Aug 5 Various Theaters I’d be a liar if I said The Dukes of Hazzard isn’t a horrible movie. It takes the late-’70s/early-’80s TV show–in which cousins Bo and Luke Duke drove around in their ’69 Dodge Charger, the General Lee, taunting cops and tearin’ ass around […]
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Futuristic Organ Chase!
The Island Rules, Even if Michael Bay’s a Hack
The Island dir. Bay Opens Fri June 22 Various Theaters Of all ill omens–black cats, broken mirrors, Friday the 13th–the only one I steadfastly believe in is that when a film’s credits contain the words “Directed by Michael Bay,” you’re fucked. That’s because Bay is–not to put too fine a point on it–a hack. Whether […]
Posted inMovies & TV
Not So Groovy
The Pain of Man with the Screaming Brain
Man with the Screaming Brain dir. Campbell Opens Fri July 8 Hollywood Theatre Jesus Christ, what a disaster. I mean, I–like anyone else who’s seen the Evil Deads, or Bubba Ho-tep–love Bruce Campbell. He’s funny, likable, and pretty damn cool. But this… man, what a clusterfuck. Campbell’s Man with the Screaming Brain should be a […]
Posted inMovies & TV
Mercury Video Picks
The Popcorn Auteur on DVD
Post-War of the Worlds, I found myself powerless to resist spending money I didn’t have to get Spielberg DVDs I didn’t need. Part of it was that I was still stoked from the dark fun of Worlds, but the other part was I needed to remind myself that Worlds, while pretty cool, is hardly indicative […]