Preston Sturges

The Alarming Decline Of Expressive Language, In Life and On Film

John Farr | Posted 11.04.2009 | Entertainment


John Farr

Even as today's high school and college students are pushed harder in school, they cannot write an essay or use descriptive language nearly as fluently as their parents and grandparents could.

The Best Train Movies by Farr

John Farr | Posted 02.24.2009 | Entertainment


John Farr

In a host of movies, the train has served as a microcosm of modern society, and the individual's potential risk and conflict within it.

A Lesser Class of Rogue

Allison Silver | Posted 02.05.2009 | Politics


Allison Silver

Though Blagojevich is regularly described as the apotheosis of the shady Illinois politician, he does not come close to the finesse and style embodied by masterful machine politicians. He's no McGinty.

Sarah Palin--The Next "Great McGinty"?

Roger Smith | Posted 11.03.2008 | Politics


Roger Smith

Sarah Palin--The Next "Great McGinty"? By Roger Smith Like most of America, I awoke this morning to read/hear the usual voices of the commentariat...

Mike Leigh, Randy Pausch, Reader's Digest and an End to Miserablism

Margaret Heffernan | Posted 06.20.2008 | Media


Margaret Heffernan

Mike Leigh, who more or less invented miserablism as an art form, has changed his tune. His new film, Happy-Go-Lucky is, as the title suggests, cheerful. What's he doing?