Author Archives: davetcourt

It’s the halfway point of 2024, which means time to check in with the year that’s been thus far in film. There are some notable changes in my top 12 with Ryûsuke Hamaguchis Evil Does Not Exist working its way into my top 5 with its studied moral dilemma and commitment to the form. TheContinue reading “My Top 12 Films (and more) At The Halfway Point of 2024”

Reading Journal 2024: The One and Only Bob Author: Katherine Applegate The One and Only Ivan is an all timer for me, so I had been reticent about picking up its sequel, which then turned into a trilogy. What inspired me to finally take the plunge was the recent release of a fourth and finalContinue reading “Reading Journal 2024: The One and Only Bob”

Reading Journal 2024: Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder Author: Salman Rushdie On one level this book makes me a kindred mind with Rushdie. I love the way he uses the different events and experiences to draw out his life story as a cohesive and meaning making narrative. I love how he uses the specificityContinue reading “Reading Journal 2024: Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder”

Reading Journal 2024: The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern IrrationalityAuthor: Amanda Montell Near the end of the book the author reflects on the current state of AI, calling back to a menial exercise she did one day out of boredom when she asked AI to describe the difference between its greatest value andContinue reading “Reading Journal 2024: The Age of Magical Overthinking: Notes on Modern Irrationality”

Film Journal 2024: The First Omen Directed by Arkasha Stevenson Wish I had gotten out to see this in theaters. A visually rich and patiently drawn prequel that effectively utilizes setting and atmosphere to elevate the story. Yes, it’s a slow burn, but its smart and effective in how it utilizes that to the benefitContinue reading “Film Journal 2024: The First Omen”

In his book titled Imagined Places: Journey’s into Literary America, Micheal Pearson talks about how people have two basic conceptions of place- the place in which we can live, and the place in which our imaginations are drawn precisely because of the ways in which the place we imagine contrasts with the place in whichContinue reading “The Places That Draw Us, The Places In Which We Live”

Film Journal 2024: The Watchers Ishana Night Shyamalan Where it stumbles a bit in its execution, as an exercise in vision and potential The Watchers proves a worthy effort as a debut. Part of the challenge for Ishana Night Shyamalan is finding ways to reign in what is a large and complex mythology underlying theContinue reading “Film Journal 2024: The Watchers”

Reading Journal 2024: Matter and MemoryAuthor: Henri Bergson A tough read, although altogether fascinating and challenging. The toughness comes in wading through the thought process. The ideas are poignant and profound, but also at times frustratingly allusive in both their nature and their argumentation. The purpose however is clear- “This book affirms the reality ofContinue reading “Reading Journal 2024: Matter and Memory”

Reading Journal 2024: Brewtown Tales: More Stories from Milwaukee and BeyondAuthor: John Gurda Bought this on my visit to Milwauke this past summer, and it didn’t disappoint. I was interested in learning about the character of the city as I was fascinated by its story and its uniqueness as a midsize city center existing inContinue reading “Reading Journal 2024: Brewtown Tales: More Stories from Milwaukee and Beyond”

Film Journal 2024: The Coffee Table Directed by Caye Casas A tight, taught horror indie that uses a simple premise (a couple with a new baby purchases a new coffee table that becomes the center piece of their home) to depict a gradual but persistent unraveling of their once mundane lives. The Director uses aContinue reading “Film Journal 2024: The Coffee Table”