Confessions of a Not-So-Dangerous Mind*

Bernard Rose's ingenious adaptation of Clive Barker's 'The Forbidden' greatly expands upon the source material. For those of you watching for the first time, turn out the lights, look into a mirror, and say his name five times. Currently "free" w Amazon Prime and MGM+.

Wes Craven's New Nightmare opens October 14, 1994. It's my first semester at NYU Film School and my favorite academic class ever, 'The Horror Film.'Objectively speaking, the film is ahead of its time, yet I walked out of the theater as angry as I've ever been after a movie, because it should have been an all-timer, as opposed to a frustrating miss.

Even among the countless distinctive talents she worked with, Diane Keaton was still a unicorn. Join me for a look back at her unique magic and the way in which she seems to have left virtually everyone she crossed paths with, better for having met her.

The humorous story of finishing my '24 tax return just before the extended deadline. Dare I say that my dad, the CPA, would be proud.

October9, 1996. Yankee Stadium, The Bronx. Yanks-O's, ALCS Game 1. 13 year-old Jeffrey Maier's blatant interference with O's outfielder Tony Tarasco turns the 2nd out of the 8th inning into a game-tying homer. With no instant replay -- that rule change is still a decade away -- Ump Rich Garcia's inexplicable "miss," stands 😭😂. An hour later, The Yanks walk it off in extras.

Martin Scorsese's strong sequel to 1961's The Hustler opened on October 8, 1986, to critical acclaim and big boxoffice. Join me for a look back at a classic which proved to be a key film for Tom Cruise's upward trajectory.

The Sylvester Stallone/Richard Donner/Wachowskis collab Assassins opened October 6, 1995. A bizarre mix of 90s action and art cinema, the movie bombs in the states, then does well overseas, "Because in Europe, they line up around the block for Stah-Low-Nay." - Robert Sklar, NYU Film Professor.

In a game which began on October 4th, Jim Leyritz' 15th inning walkoff HR at 1:23am gives the Yankees a 7-5 win in Game 2 of the ALDS, in (IMHO) the best game ever played at any iteration of Yankee Stadium.

October 3rd: Bobby Thomson's legendary walkoff HR in 1951. Dave Winfield was literally born the same day. In 1995, the Yanks played their first postseason game in 14 years. Today, the 2025 Yankees prepare for the next round of the postseason. 

50 years ago today, Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier "entered the ring as champions. And left, as old men." Their third and final battle was for Ali's 🥊title, and it remains a devastating showcase of how far they pushed one another beyond rational limits of pain and endurance. Both are gone now. Champions forever.