Author Archives: davetcourt

Reading Journal 2023: The Last UnicornAuthor: Peter S. Beagle A fantasy quest novel in classic form. Took me straight back to a childhood filled with the stories like The Never Ending Story, Narnia, The Princess’ Bride and Coopers The Dark is Rising. One thing that distinguishes Beales fantasy epic is just how small it feelsContinue reading “Reading Journal 2023: The Last Unicorn”

Film Journal 2023: Artifice GirlDirected by Franklin Ritch A stunning and sure handed debut that marries the intelligence of its questions with a simple but effective story structure. Best to go in as blind as possible, as I think the way plot unfolds is part of the beauty of the intellectual process at play here.Continue reading “Film Journal 2023: Artifice Girl”

Film Journal 2023: The Little MermaidDirected by Rob Marshall There is a lot to love and much to appreciate in a film that exhibits a few minor issues when it comes to “translation”. Live action remakes tend to demand particular attention to what they want to emphasize and what gets reimagined so to speak withinContinue reading “Film Journal 2023: The Little Mermaid”

Film Journal 2023: You Hurt My FeelingsDirected by Nicole Holofcener The small, indie dramatic comedy is always a welcome aspect of a given film year, and this unassuming effort fits the bill perfectly. It balances genuine laugh out loud moments, built as they are on what is mostly situational comedy, and grounds that with aContinue reading “Film Journal 2023: You Hurt My Feelings”

I love it when two seemingly disassociated current reads, which I’ve only just begun, come together in unexpected ways. I have long been fascinated by the Mississippi, and years back it was a bucket list item to travel the river road from its start close to where I live to its mouth. Didn’t make itContinue reading “From California to the Misssissippi: Competing Stories of America”

I know it’s just a piece of metal. And this happened back before spring break. But there is a whole lot of memories wrapped up in this thing I affectionally called Old Blue. More specifically, my, and our, 2005 Ford Focus. Creeping close to 400,000, I really thought we’d make it to 20 years. JustContinue reading “A Brief Reflection on a Piece of Metal”

Film Journal 2023: Still: A Michael J. Fox MovieDirected by Davis Guggenheim A case study in how to make a documentary proper. Far more than simple details or the dissemination of details and facts, the filmmakers find ways to creatively imagine Fox’s story so as to unearth some surprising revelations. Not only that, but theyContinue reading “Film Journal 2023: Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie”

Film Journal 2023: BlackberryDirected by Matt Johnson The film’s grainy texture compliments the nostalgic vibes, while the hand held camera melds nicely with the real life news footage interspersed throughout the story. The nostalgic vibes run underneath a story that feels, at this point in time, as forgotten as it was the day Apple announcedContinue reading “Film Journal 2023: Blackberry”

Reading Journal 2023: Ultimate Questions; The Story of PhilsophyAuthor: Bryan Magee I paired this with Magee’s The Story of Philosophy. If Philosophy functions as a textbook inviting us to consider philosophy as a means of common wonder rooted in reason, ultimate questions is a heart laid bare autobiography into why Magee values philosophy. One isContinue reading “Reading Journal 2023: Ultimate Questions; The Story of Philosophy”

Film Journal 2023: Master GardenerDirected by Paul Schrader Parallels the plot and structure of Schraders most recent films, almost to the point where you could map whole sequences from one film on to another and have it work seamlessly within that story. There is the man trying to leave a complicated past behind, a journalContinue reading “Film Journal 2023: Master Gardener”