Gregor von Kallahann

JANE WHITE IS JEJEUNE AND BANAL, July 13 2004

I can't believe the packaging on this DVD actually had a blurb comparing it to BEING THERE. Actually, I can't believe anyone would compare JANE WHITE to much of anything other than maybe some would-be teenage cineaste's awkward first attempt at filmmaking.

Painful to watch! I did not laugh once. My friend only rented it because she likes Colin Mochrie. I've only seen WHOSE LINE IS IT? once and scarcely remember it, so he wasn't a draw for me. And like every other actor in this disaster, he is ill served by the script, by the direction and by the awful cinematography (well, it looks like it was shot on video, so I'm not sure you can talk about genuine "cinematography")… Read more

Go Ask Gracie!, July 6 2004

There are two CDs on the market entitled THE BEST OF GRACE SLICK. The BMG release is a discount offering and should be of interest to those who may be sampling Grace's work for the first time. The other full price version seems to go in and out of print periodically and is more comprehensive (although it still doesn't offer any of the solo stuff).

This sampler does include one solo effort, the title track from her controversial hard rock album WELCOME TO THE WRECKING BALL (a play on words that Neil Young was later to use in a similar, though more mournful context). Grace growls and slashes her way through a more metallic arrangement than anything a Jefferson incarnation ever provided… Read more

Everybody Runs Away...., Jun 29 2004

Todd Solondz' WELCOME TO THE DOLLHOUSE was one of those films that was "on my list" for many years. I had seen his second film HAPPINESS and was intrigued by Solondz dark dark humor. Why it took me so long to take in another of his films is hard to explain. Every review I had read of DOLLHOUSE praised it (and even some reviewers who literally hated HAPPINESS were oddly touched by this debut film). Perhaps it took me a year or so to summon up enough strength to take another Solondz flick. Now that I think about it, such hesitancy only seems natural. As it turns out, however, biting as it is, DOLLHOUSE is still a heck of a lot easier to watch than its follow-up.

Perhaps it's… Read more