The New Cool

by Peter J. Leithart

The Coens’ hipness isn’t skin deep, but it doesn’t go all the way down either. Continue Reading »

14 Dec 2018

What We've Been Reading—2.26.16

by Editors

Not enough has been said about how Pope Francis—a man of strong intuitions and vivid language—lives in and has been formed by literature. He regularly cites and recommends imaginative works like José Hernández’s Martín Fierro, Robert Hugh Benson’s Lord of the World, and Alessandro Manzoni’s The Betrothed. And he thinks by their patterns. Whereas Benedict strove for a concise, clear scholarly expression, Francis seeks the striking images and strong characterizations of the storyteller. Over here are the good guys, over there the bad. Continue Reading »

26 Feb 2016

Carl’s Rock Songbook #57: The Cheerful Nihilism of Repo Man

by Carl Scott

Repo Man is perhaps the least justifiable entry on my list of pop music films . While punk rockers feature in only so many of its scenes, it nonetheless captures the spirit of early 80s So-Cal punk, a spirit of cheerful nihilism . Besides, its plot is almost incidental. Sure, there’s some yarn . . . . Continue Reading »

14 Jul 2012

Charles Portis v. the Coen Brothers: More True Grit Studies

by Carl Scott

Here’s a very fine essay criticizing the Coen Brother’s film for omitting so much from the original Charles Portis book and adding so much also. It’s the essay our Robert Cheeks wanted to read back in January, when we pomocons went nuts over the film in several threads, and it . . . . Continue Reading »

18 Aug 2011