Overstreet's Books

Through a Screen Darkly... Again?

My book Through a Screen Darkly was published in 2007. Martha Bayles' book, grabbing the same title, was published in January 2014. I'm going to take that as a compliment.

Teaching

In Case You Missed It: Personal Highlights of 2013

I am so grateful for evenings, weekends, and coffee breaks. Those are the chances I have to share what I do best. I hope that some of it was useful to you in 2013. Here are some of the highlights of my past year...

Lauren Wilford

Her (2013): a guest review

Guest reviewer Lauren Wilford on Spike Jonze's new film: "Depending on your perspective, Her has either an amazing elevator pitch or an awful one: 'A guy falls in love with his iPhone.'"

Listen Closer

Listen Closer: St. Vincent, Bruce Springsteen, Damien Jurado, Rosanne Cash, and More

It's a good day for fans of St. Vincent, Bruce Springsteen, Damien Jurado, Rosanne Cash, Stephen Malkmus, and Sharon Jones. The new Bruce Springsteen album, High Hopes, is streaming. Where? Why, on CBS's site for The Good Wife, of course. Ranking high among the albums that

The Wolf of Wall Street

The Wolf of Wall Street (2013): a commentary

"What? You liked The Wolf of Wall Street? How could you possibly recommend such a profane movie that revels in so much evil?" Written as a response to messages like that one, this post was originally titled "Respect The Wolf of Wall Street (The Movie, Not the Man)"

Listen Closer

Listen Closer: Peter Gabriel, Joe Henry

A new year of musical invention begins with an all-star lineup of artists celebrating the music of Peter Gabriel. Also: Joe Henry, live at KEXP.

Looking Closer's Annual Favorite Albums Lists

Overstreet's Favorite Recordings: 2013 — Part Two (#10-#1)

What music meant the most to you in 2013? Here are my personal favorite albums of the year— a top ten list for a year that was overflowing with great music.

Looking Closer's Annual Favorite Albums Lists

Overstreet's Favorite Recordings: 2013 — Part One (#25-#11)

I've narrowed this year's list of my favorite records down to 25 titles that I would have happily included in a Top 5 list at the end of a typical year. I invite you to listen to standout tracks, counting down from #25 to #11.

On Movies & Media

Her (2013): a fictional review

This review of Spike Jonze's film "Her" is Part Four of the new fiction series I call "All Thumbs Video."

Inside Llewyn Davis

Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)

His name is Salieri, and in Milos Forman’s beloved film "Amadeus," he is played by F. Murray Abraham. Why am I talking about "Amadeus" when this is supposed to be a review of "Inside Llewyn Davis"? Stay with me. It’s important.

Tania Runyan

Looking Closer's Last-Minute Christmas Gift Recommendations

Many of you are scrambling to pick up gifts for friends and family, and I feel compelled to bring some possibilities to your attention... gifts that would enrich the lives of those who care about excellence, beauty, truth, and the arts.

On Movies & Media

Big Screen 2014: Been There... and Back Again... and Again...

There's a new "Gilligan's Island" movie in the works. What's more, those two sequels you've been dying to see are finally happening: a follow-up to "Rounders" and the mandatory "Shakespeare in Love 2." What will we do while we wait for these grand contributions to cinema? No worries. Here's what H

On Movies & Media

The Abomination of "Desolation": Two Hobbit-Related Lists

"The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" is here. But I didn't attend the press screening. Why? I'll explain. But first, here are five important bits from a review by my favorite movie reviewer...

On Movies & Media

Indiana Jones and the Pirate Muppets of Dagobah

Today, Disney took control of the Indiana Jones franchise. So I challenged my friends to see who could come up with the best title for Indiana Jones V. Here are a few of their suggestions...

On Books & Writing

Can You Do Better Than "It Was a Dark and Stormy Night..."?

The temperature is falling fast. It's windy. There's snow in the rain that's splatting against the windows of my house. What is your neighborhood like on a dark and stormy night? If you were asked to describe it, what would you write? Here’s

On Movies & Media

Let Us Now Praise the Great Voices of the Movies...

Mel Blanc may have been the king of voice actors for cartoons. But who are the great "unseen voices" of live-action moviemaking? James Earl Jones looms large. Is there any voice that gets your attention like Darth Vader's? Christine Cavanaugh gave us the voice of Babe

Thanksgiving

How to Be Rebellious and Have a Better Black Friday

You could go out into traffic, join the long lines at Best Buy and Target and Wal-mart and [name your favorite box store here]. Or...

Frozen

Disney's Frozen Get Chilly Reception (From Some of My Favorite Critics)

"There’s nothing I’d like more than to tell you [that Frozen] is a musical fairy-tale triumph: a throwback to the days of Beauty and the Beast, like many critics are saying." That's how the great Steven Greydanus begins his review of Frozen. Can you sense the pending "But..."? Here it comes.

Creativity

Looking Elsewhere: November 11, 2013

This week, Looking Closer sends a Hi 5 to the Face out to Fast Company, NPR, Todd Fadel, Ridley Scott, Christianity Today, Sam Phillips, Matt Zoller Seitz, James Rocchi, Mike D'Angelo, John Sayles, and more!

On Movies & Media

A Dog Named Inigo, A Cat Named Scully... and Other Pets Named After Movie Characters

A few days ago, I asked people to speak up about the pets that they've named after characters from movies. Then it started raining cats and dogs.

On Movies & Media

U2: Rattle and Hum is 25 Years Old! Share Your Concert Film Memories...

Phil Joanou's groundbreaking concert film U2: Rattle and Hum opened during my senior year of high school, on the birthday of my lifelong friend and musical co-conspirator Todd Fadel. And I was so jealous. Todd would automatically have the most awesome birthday party ever. And he pretty much

Steve McQueen

12 Years a Slave (2013)

It's a film I would encourage every American over the age of 16 (in general) to see. It's important. It's necessary. But it is also, in my opinion, limited and even undermined by certain aspects of McQueen's artistry.

On Movies & Media

What's "The Most Cinematic Movie" Ever Made?

What movies pop into your head if I say the word "cinematic"? Tell us about your favorites, and why they are "cinematic," here.

On Movies & Media

Did You Name Your Pet After a Movie Character?

Do you have a pet named after a movie character? If so, send me a snapshot, the name of the pet, the movie that the name comes from, and your name, and I'll include it in an upcoming post.

On Movies & Media

Farewell to Lou Reed

Rest in peace, Lou Reed. Here's the legend himself, appearing in Wim Wenders' film Faraway So Close, the sequel to my favorite film, Wings of Desire. In this scene, a fallen angel named Cassiel wanders into a club where Reed is performing the song "Why Can&