Pullout: The Portland Mercury SAD Issue
Marjorie Skinner
Marjorie Skinner is the Portland Mercury's Managing Editor, author of the weekly Sold Out column chronicling the area's independent fashion and retail industry, and a frequent contributor to the film and other arts and feature sections of the paper. She has been writing about Portland life and culture for the Mercury since 2001, produces one of Portland's largest annual spring fashion shows, and occasionally answers emails.
Posted inMovies & TV
Where’s the Love?
A Cold Countess
The White Countess is the last of the Merchant Ivory collaborations (producer Ismail Merchant passed away in May), and while beautiful, it’s a rather hollow bookend to their legacy. Set in the fascinating tumble of 1930s Shanghai—portrayed here as a colony of refugees and foreigners struggling to make a home of the colorful culture stew […]
Posted inMovies & TV
Mommy Has to Powder Her Nose
Another Lighthearted Drug Romp
And the moral of the story is (yet again)… drugs are bad! The source of this oft-revisited revelation at hand is Down to the Bone, an indie, low budget affair that managed to snag a directing award at Sundance (it’s only Debra Granik’s second directing project). And while harping on the subject of drug addiction […]
Posted inNews
20 Things Not Invited Back to 2006!
As human beings evolve, doesn’t it make sense that things should get better? Then why are there still so many annoying things annoying us? Well, we’re putting an end to all things annoying RIGHT NOW. Here’s our list of things from 2005 that AREN’T invited back to 2006! Vancouver, WA Take a drive up I-5 […]
Posted inNews
Yes, There is a Santa Mob
SantaCon ’05 Conquers Portland
On Saturday, December 17, the noontime shoppers at the Portland Saturday Market were going about their consumption undisturbed, when they began to notice an unusual crowd slowly gathering around Skidmore Fountain. Men and women dressed in Santa Claus outfits were mingling, admiring each other’s costumes, the variety of which was remarkable. Slut Santas in platforms […]
Posted inMovies & TV
Ascendant Queen
Pluto‘s Kitten: Even Hotter than Hedwig
Breakfast on Pluto is a long but attractive film, starring the fabulous cheekbones of Cillian Murphy. While Murphy’s cheekbones (and the rest of him) have appeared as those of a terrorist (Red Eye) and of a supervillain (Batman Begins), Pluto is by far the brightest vehicle for Murphy’s talents—as Patrick “Kitten” Brady, Murphy cross-dresses as […]
Posted inMovies & TV
Nazis, Jack, and… BLECH!
Succinct Reviews for the Discerning Cinephile
Wilby Wonderful is repeatedly described in its press materials as a comedy—albeit a dark comedy, a bittersweet comedy. This is pretty misleading, as the
Posted inMovies & TV
It Ain’t Great, Babe
Cash Biopic Walks the Line
Everyone wants to know if Joaquin “It’s Not a Harelip” Phoenix can pull off Johnny Cash. Physically, the resemblance is striking enough. Likewise, Phoenix’s mannerisms are more than convincing. But when Phoenix opens his mouth, things get dicey. It’s not that his accent is bad, and he’s a credible drunk. What nags are the times […]
Posted inMovies & TV
Terrorists and Rocket Ships
Succinct Reviews for the Discerning Cinephile
Paradise Now dir. Abu-Assad Opens Fri Nov 11 Fox Tower Paradise Now‘s mere premise—the story of two Palestinian men who have been selected for a suicide-bombing mission—raises both expectations and eyebrows by taking on an incredibly tense, controversial subject from a frightening perspective. The film is worth seeing for its apparently realistic portrayal of who […]
Posted inArt
Enteractive Language Festival
2Gyrlz’s Enteractive Language Festival rolls on this week, and you might find yourself wondering, “What the hell is Enteractive Language, anyway?” Well, the 2 Gyrlz define it this way: “A spectrum of live art, music, media, and experience… dedicated to exploring identity, bodies, political environments, dreams, desire, love and nightmares.” Say what? Would it help […]
Posted inMovies & TV
Sex, Blood, and… Uh, Emotions?
Succinct Reviews for the Discerning Cinephile
Where the Truth Lies dir. Egoyan Opens Fri Oct 28 Fox Tower Where the Truth Lies is a whodunit centered around a fictional ’50s comedy duo; an oddly cast (but surprisingly sufficient) Kevin Bacon is paired with Colin Firth, who plays the straight man to Bacon’s jerkier, dirtier half. The mystery: A young woman’s found […]