Category Archives: Reviews

Revivalism is Here to Save the Internet

Posted on June 8, 2016 by Tom Garrett

I thought I understood podcasting. Then I listened to Revivalism: Busk. The series, from Goat Rodeo DC, a Washington-based audio and podcast network, follows a cross-country road trip that explores a fading but distinctive sliver of American culture: Professional street musicians, … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Music, Reviews | Tagged Busking, Carlisle Sargent, Commentary, Goat Rodeo DC, Ian Enright, Music, Podcasting, Reviews, Revivalism, Revivalism: Busk, Storytelling | 1 Comment

Timely Movie Review: The Force Awakens

Posted on April 8, 2016 by Tom Garrett

We’ve all seen it by now, right? With this week’s blu-ray / digital release of The Force Awakens indicating that a reasonable time has elapsed, and since nobody else in the world has written anything online about Episode VII, I … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Movies, Reviews | Tagged Adam Driver, Commentary, Daisy Ridley, Episode VII, Episode VIII, Finn, JJ Abrams, John Boyega, Kylo Ren, Lawrence Kasdan, Movies, Nerd Alert, Poe Dameron, Rey, Rogue One, Star Wars, The Force Awakens | 5 Comments

Untitled Online Dating Article

Posted on January 29, 2016 by Tom Garrett

I say every year around birthday time that I permit myself one post that actually relates to some aspect of my life. This is a break from my usual, ironclad rule. I think it’s incontrovertible fact that everyday people blogging … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, General Culture and News, Reviews | Tagged Commentary, eHarmony, General Culture and News, Hinge, Humor, Match, OKCupid, Online Dating, Personal, Reviews, Tinder | 8 Comments

Untimely Police Procedure Review: Running Scared

Posted on July 1, 2015 by Tom Garrett

One of the more powerful and sadly ubiquitous stories of the past year has been the strained relationship between local law enforcement and the public, particularly in certain poor, heavily minority communities. Whether due to misguided militarization of police forces, … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Movies, Reviews | Tagged Billy Crystal, Commentary, Gregory Hines, Humor, Law Enforcement, Michael McDonald, Movies, Reviews, Running Scared, Sweet Freedom, Yacht Rock | 3 Comments

Untimely Movie Review: North by Northwest

Posted on May 26, 2015 by Tom Garrett

After the bad taste in my mouth left by the subject of my last untimely review, I had rather high hopes for North by Northwest. It didn’t disappoint. North by Northwest is like a James Bond film, except if James Bond were … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Movies, Reviews | Tagged Alfred Hitchcock, Cary Grant, Commentary, Eva Marie Saint, Movies, North by Northwest, Reviews, Warner Bros., Warner Brothers | 4 Comments

A Last Word on Mad Men

Posted on May 18, 2015 by Tom Garrett

I began to get worried at about 10:58. Realizing there wasn’t much time left in the series, I wondered how Matthew Weiner would be able to conclude Mad Men in a way that made sense and was true to the characters … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Reviews, Television | Tagged AMC, Commentary, Don Draper, Mad Men, Matthew Weiner, Michael Ginsberg, Pete Campbell, Reviews, Roger Sterling, Television | 49 Comments

Untimely Movie Review: Gigi

Posted on April 3, 2015 by Tom Garrett

After watching Gigi, I’m now more irritated than ever before that Saving Private Ryan didn’t win Best Picture. The movie—which did take home the Best Picture Oscar for 1958—begins with a borderline-elderly, thick-accented Parisian breaking the fourth wall to explain that … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Movies, Reviews | Tagged Commentary, Gigi, Leslie Caron, Louis Jourdan, Movies, Reviews, Warner Bros., Warner Brothers | 4 Comments

Timely Movie Review: Whiplash

Posted on February 26, 2015 by Tom Garrett

(Obvious spoiler alert: If you haven’t seen Whiplash, don’t read any further) I saw Birdman last week. Interesting movie. Michael Keaton was terrific. I never need to see it again. The first thing I did after watching Whiplash Monday night was to … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Movies, Reviews | Tagged Andrew Neiman, Bullying, Commentary, Conservatism, Jazz, JK Simmons, Miles Teller, Movies, Paul Reiser, Reviews, Terence Fletcher, Whiplash | 2 Comments

Untimely Movie Review: An American in Paris and Singin’ in the Rain

Posted on October 3, 2014 by Tom Garrett

The next two movies in the Warner Bros. 50 Film Collection are a pair of Gene Kelly musicals I’ll review in tandem: An American in Paris and Singin’ in the Rain. These films present something of a dilemma for me as a … Continue reading →

Posted in Commentary, Movies, Reviews | Tagged An American in Paris, Commentary, Debbie Reynolds, Donald O'Connor, Gene Kelly, George Gershwin, Jean Hagen, Leslie Caron, Movies, Nina Foch, Reviews, Singin' in the Rain, Warner Bros., Warner Brothers | 7 Comments

RAW in Richmond

Posted on July 16, 2014 by Tom Garrett

Due to a last-minute offer of (excellent) tickets, I was able to catch Monday Night RAW in person at the Richmond Coliseum this week. Here, in no particular order, are some observations and live impressions that I’ll jot down before loading up the television … Continue reading →