Coen Brothers plus “The Dude” minus John Wayne equals “True Grit”???

I can’t wait.  ”Lebowski” and “O Brother” are comic masterpieces, and “Fargo” and “Raising Arizona” are just about as great, not to mention “Barton Fink” and “No Country”…what do you think?  Even their non-masterpieces are fascinating and worth your time.  Jeff Bridges as Rooster Cogburn?  I am there–big time.  And it’s kind of cool to see “The Dude” in both “Grit” and “Tron”, two of this December’s biggest hits.

The Film Peddler

First, for these purposes, here’s my idea of what those words mean as they relate to movies.  Art–a movie with special and significant beauty, ideas, or appeal…commerce–making money producing, buying and selling movies…entertainment–movies that audiences can enjoy and escape with.

Just about every movie ever made and played to an audience has all three of these factors working for it.  Sometimes I speak almost disparagingly of so called ‘popcorn’ or ‘summer’ or ‘family’ movies because, to me, they’re all about commerce and entertainment.  Not about art at all.  But when I really burrow down into it, these same films are also about art; maybe just not in the ratio that appeals most to me.  If you had to do a pie chart on movies, current and past, how do you think the three slices of pie would stack up onyour favorite (or least favorite) movies?  Avatar has all three in spades.

Expendables?  Commerce yes, entertainment yes, art?  Maybe.

Actually, yes.  Just in smaller quantities than say, Winter’s Bone or Babette’s Feast. What about most of the indy movies, short and long, being made now in Kansas and Missouri?  Hmmm.  What do you think?  One thing’s for sure. Even Vampire Sucks and Eat Pray Love and The Takers are also art, maybe just sliced rather thin.  It just depends upon the mix. And your opinion of the mix.

The Film Peddler

I’ve been asked to share some of my favorite websites,,,this one’s for movie reviews.

Rottentomatoes.com

Critics from all over send in their reviews to be chewed up and spat out into an overall rating system, the Tomatometer!  Very easy to navigate and to help you determine whether that upcoming movie will be “fresh” or “rotten”.  One of its endearing qualities, for me, is that many of the site’s critics approach each film from a close perspective of its intended audience, so a “family” film and a “horror” film and an “art” film are reviewed accordingly.  Love it!

The Film Peddler

Most people on the coasts know about Kansas City’s musical heritage.  They’ve heard about the barbecue.  They have a vague recollection that someone once told them it’s a nice town.  But it’s still a “flyover,” one of the places they see from the airplane window while traveling between New York and L.A.  The idea that this Midwestern city has a rich cinematic heritage would likely never occur to them.

 It doesn’t always occur to people who live here, either, and the History & Legacy page is designed to change that.  This area has produced famous actors and groundbreaking directors, as well as major advances in film exhibition and distribution.  There are a remarkable number of historic buildings in Kansas City associated with the industry, including some of the country’s most beautiful theaters.  And, of course, there’s a tradition of both independent and Hollywood-based filmmaking here, going back to the silent era.

 Ideas and information are always welcome.  There are hundreds of stories to tell, and I look forward to sharing some of them with you.

Loey Lockerby, CinemaKC Historian

Follow Loey on the History & Legacy page