By JEFF MACKLER This memorial article was originally published following Stephen Jay Gould's death at age 60 in May 2002.
Stephen Jay Gould, a Man for All Seasons
Category: Arts & Culture
Roger Waters [formerly of Pink Floyd] National Concert Tour Defends Julian Assange
By BRIAN GARVEY From start to finish Waters used his platform to scream out a message to a packed Boston Garden. It was a message that was explicitly anti-war, anti-authoritarian, pro-people, and pro-justice; offering commentary that was not only poignant but also intentionally challenging to a mainstream audience.
A Tale of Two Summits
By RICK STERLING Last week (June 8-10) there were two summits in Los Angeles, California: the Summit of the Americas hosted by the US State Department and the Peoples Summit hosted by US and international activist organizations. The two summits were held in the same city at the same time but could not be otherwise more different.
Mass(ey) Destruction
“The Last Mountain,” a documentary film directed by Bill Haney, featuring Robert Kennedy, Jr.As I walked into the theater to see “The Last Mountain,” the ticket taker said, “Enjoy the movie!” then added, “Oh, well, I guess that’s not the right thing to say about this film.” You don’t go to a movie about the possible … Continue reading Mass(ey) Destruction
“Factory” by Bruce Springsteen
Nowhere to go but up
“Everything Must Go,” starring Will Farrell, Rebecca Hall, and Christopher Gordon Wallace; directed by Dan Rush; adapted by Dan Rush from, “Why Don’t You Dance,” a short story by Raymond Carver. In director Dan Rush’s “Everything Must Go,” an engaging film depicting one man’s quiet desperation, Nick Halsey (Will Ferrell) has a high-paying position at … Continue reading Nowhere to go but up
Where’s Phil Ochs when we need him?
by Gaetana Caldwell-Smith“Phil Ochs: There, But for Fortune,” a documentary film written and directed by Kenneth Bowser.Director Kenneth Bowser’s stirring documentary, “Phil Ochs: There, But for Fortune,” couldn’t have come at a better time. The film leaves you both inspired and depressed.While watching the film, I couldn’t help but feel that we need a protest singer … Continue reading Where’s Phil Ochs when we need him?
Films: The Company Men
by Gaetana Caldwell-SmithThe Company Men, written and directed by John Wells, starring Ben Affleck and Tommy Lee Jones.Emmy-winning TV series director John Wells (“ER”, “The West Wing”) brings us a slickly produced film about high-paid “white-collar” workers in “The Company Men,” featuring Ben Affleck, Tommy Lee Jones, and Chris Cooper. The film illustrates what happens … Continue reading Films: The Company Men
Films: Made in Dagenham
by Gaetana Caldwell-Smith & Michael Schreiber “Made in Dagenham” is one of the best labor-oriented films to open in commercial movie houses in recent years. It is a touching, warm, and often humorous picture of British working-class life in the 1960s. And the struggle it portrays will leave you cheering. The film (directed by Nigel … Continue reading Films: Made in Dagenham
Review of “Fair Game”
by Gaetana Caldwell-Smith Director Doug Liman’s film “Fair Game” is based on Valerie Plame’s eponymous book. The movie stirs up the anger and disbelief we all felt in early spring 2003 when we were fed the lies that led up to Bush’s so-called war. Hopefully, it will spur us once again to act to end … Continue reading Review of “Fair Game”
Great October
by Marlon Pierre-Antoine As the old cliché went, change was in the air. No, I corrected myself, looking down from my princely balcony and down to the crowd of teeming masses below. Change had already come. This was something greater. This was revolution. Revolution, yes - a complete rotation, a total overhaul. The whole world … Continue reading Great October
The Final Stand
“Johnny 99” by Bruce Springsteen
The More Things Change . . .
Bringing Home the Bacon
Scourge of the Ocean
Off With Their Heads
Fun in the Sun
Brothers From Another Mother
Review of “Waltz With Bashir”
[by Gaetana Caldwell-Smith]Though the events illustrated in Israeli director and filmmaker Ari Folman’s extraordinary, animated documentary film, "Waltz With Bashir," occurred in 1982, in Lebanon, they are timely, considering Israel’s recent unleashing of its U.S.-backed war machine on Palestinians in Gaza.Folman made his film in collaboration with art director David Polansky and director of animation … Continue reading Review of “Waltz With Bashir”