Roger Ebert was once quoted as saying that movies are like a machine that generates empathy. Lately, it seems like that’s something in short supply, with patience reaching an all-time low. Between the dearly departed Pilot Butte Six and the thriving Tin Pan Theater, I’ve spent five years working at art house movie theaters (and […]
Film
Filmmaking with Your Quaranteam
Taylor Morden never slows down. He’s a multi-instrumentalist musician with a band focused on Weezer covers, a seemingly tireless filmmaker hoping to premiere his latest documentary, “The Last Blockbuster,” at the Tower Theater in July, and a devoted cinephile who consumes movies like water. Even during quarantine Morden has managed to keep multiple projects juggling, […]
What to Watch: “Clementine”
Portland-based filmmaker Lara Jean Gallagher has reason to celebrate. After premiering at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2019, her first feature length film, “Clementine,” is now available to watch digitally thanks to Oscilloscope Pictures. Some of you movie buffs may have already had the treat to see the drama-filled thriller, as it won Best Narrative […]
May the Source Be With You
Man, those of you spending this time watching “Contagion” and “Outbreak” on Netflix are so much more intense than I am. I don’t know, movies about global pandemics are just hitting a little too close to home right now, and my need for “fun” entertainment has been turned up several notches. Don’t get me wrong, […]
Going Viral
Hey, so…anything big happen this week? It’s been a rough one for people all over the world, and it looks like we’re going to have a few weeks of keeping to ourselves in our respective placesโespecially for those of us lucky enough to work from homeโbefore all is said and done. Basically, we’ve got time. […]
Daddy Tissues
If we’ve learned one thing in the 25 years since Pixar released its first film, “Toy Story,” it’s that the studio is master at balancing emotion, comedy and excitement. You’re guaranteed not only a visually stunning cartoon that kids will enjoy, but also a story that will absolutely wreck you as an adult. Whether it’s […]
Invisible Monsters
Horror films help my anxiety. Not in a “Boy, at least I’m not getting chased through the woods by a madman with an axe,” kind of way, but by inverting my existential dread into something I can see and point a finger at. Some people throw on episodes of “The Office” or “Friends,” but my […]
May the Source Be With You
First spring is always something to behold in Central Oregon. Usually nestled snugly in between first and second winter, it’s a lovely few weeks of blue skies, cold nights and possible random snowfall that makes the weather here so truly unpredictable. In case you’re an indoor kid and need a few more things to binge […]
'Parasite' is Just the Beginning
As I’m sure anyone who pays much attention to film has probably noticed, “Parasite,” the South Korean film from master filmmaker Bong Joon-ho, swept the 2020 Oscars by winning the four top awards: Best International Film, Best Director and Best Original Screenplay, while making history as the first-ever foreign Best Picture winner. That’s not including […]
Boarding in Jordan
A statistic floats by early on in local filmmaker Jesse Locke’s new documentary, “7 Hills,” which brings a shock to the system. The country of Jordan has 67,600 displaced humans from Iraq, 671,579 from Syria, 14,457 from Yemen, 793 from Somalia and 6,146 from Sudan. That’s close to 1/10th of the population of the entire country. […]

