Confessions of a Not-So-Dangerous Mind*

Jon Avnet's romantic drama Up Close and Personal opened March 1, 1996 to poor critical reviews but big boxoffce, grossing over $100 million... thanks entirely to its glittering stars, Michelle Pfeiffer and Robert Redford.

Joel Schumacher's Falling Down opened February 26, 1993 to mixed reviews and so-so boxoffice. History has been kind to this difficult, challenging film.

Regina King's terrific 2020 film takes a piece of real history -- Jim Brown, Sam Cooke, Malcolm X, and Muhammad Ali were together the night of February 25, 1964 -- and speculates about who might have said what, to whom.

Now nearly 31 years old, Outbreak hits differently in a post-Covid world.

Of Hollywood legends born in 1930 or 1931, Michael Caine and Clint Eastwood are still with us. Steve McQueen was only 50 when Mesothelioma took him. James Dean died at 24. Some things defy explanation, but we can still try to make sense of it all.

The last conventional leading man role Sir Sean Connery would play, 1995's mystery/thriller Just Cause turned a profit, despite getting mostly trashed by critics. This movie 100% deserves a reappraisal for its unusual, twisting plot, colorful performances, and the sheer force of Connery's legendary starpower.

The Monte Carlo, Las Vegas. February 19, 2012. A long-retired blackjack card counter (aka your favorite/least favorite podcaster 😆) successfully navigates a treacherous marathon session at the tables... then promptly re-retires. 14 years later, he shows no signs of ever playing this idiotic game again.

A legend's legend 😢 

A "pet project" for Dan Aykroyd, Nothing But Trouble opened February 15, 1991 to a critical throttling and weak boxoffice. What went wrong?

The passing of James Van Der Beek at just 48 hits hard. Has it really been 28 years since Dawson's Creek premiered? More than 23 years since The Rules of Attraction? A sad day all around.