Author Archives: Ted Hicks

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About Ted Hicks

Iowa farm boy; have lived in NYC for 49 years; worked in motion picture labs, film/video distribution, subtitling, media-awards program; obsessive film-goer all my life.

New York Film Festival Diary – #1

Posted on October 1, 2013 by Ted Hicks

Since moving to New York in 1977, the New York Film Festival has been the big annual film event for me. At my first festival, the 15th NYFF in ’77, I remember seeing Handle with Care (d. Jonathan Demme), The … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Home Video | 1 Comment

“Enough Said” — Sweet, Funny, & Sad

Posted on September 26, 2013 by Ted Hicks

The title of director/writer Nicole Holofcener’s 2001 feature, Lovely & Amazing, is an apt description of her new film, Enough Said, starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus and James Gandolfini. Holofcener’s films, which include Walking and Talking (1996), Friends with Money (2006), and … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Home Video, TV | 2 Comments

My “Butler” Problem

Posted on September 3, 2013 by Ted Hicks

Lee Daniels’ The  Butler – Sunday, August 18 at AMC Loews Lincoln Square. Director: Lee Daniels. Writer: Danny Strong. I had something quite different in mind when I first thought of writing about this film. Though I recognized that the film … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Home Video, TV | 2 Comments

Friction Fiction #4 — “Shucks & Puffer Come to Town”

Posted on September 2, 2013 by Ted Hicks

by Ted Hicks Drive three miles east of Highway 71 on county road 14 and you’ll come to Arcadia (pop. 187), which lies roughly in the southeast corner of northwest Iowa, in the midst of rich farmland that’s slightly rolling … Continue reading →

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Civil Rights Roundtable — a Time Capsule from 1963

Posted on August 30, 2013 by Ted Hicks

August 28th marked the 50th anniversary of what was originally called the March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. In the years since then, the name has lost “Jobs and Freedom,” and most people, myself included, have always thought of … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Film, Home Video, TV | 3 Comments

Breaking Bad — “The Perfect Batch” Panels

Posted on August 13, 2013 by Ted Hicks

To end their week of Breaking Bad events, the Film Society of Lincoln Center hosted “The Perfect Batch: Breaking Bad Cast Favorites” at the Walter Reade Theater on Thursday, August 1, and Friday, August 2. There were two programs each … Continue reading →

Posted in Home Video, TV | Leave a comment

Friction Fiction #3 — “The Return of Doktor Flesh”

Posted on August 12, 2013 by Ted Hicks

I don’t want to offend anyone’s sensibilities, so please be aware that this story would probably get an R-rating if it were a movie. If that’s not a problem, then here you go! ******************************************************************************** THE RETURN OF DOKTOR FLESH by … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction | 2 Comments

“Born in Chicago” — Black & White Blues

Posted on August 9, 2013 by Ted Hicks

************************************************************************************** I recently saw Born in Chicago, a fascinating documentary that lays out how black blues musicians in Chicago during the 1960s, including Howlin’ Wolf (above left), Muddy Waters (above right), Willie Dixon and many others, influenced and mentored hungry … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Home Video, Music | 1 Comment

Breaking Bad — “I Am the Danger”

Posted on August 3, 2013 by Ted Hicks

(Though the term “spoiler alert” is overused, that’s what this is. If you haven’t seen Breaking Bad, or are still in the early seasons, be advised that the links, clips, and interview segments below may contain spoilers. Proceed with caution.) … Continue reading →

Posted in Home Video, TV | 4 Comments

Friction Fiction #2 — “Do Not Be Afraid”

Posted on July 28, 2013 by Ted Hicks

The following story was written some time ago while I was a member of the Riverside Writers’ Group, an excellent fiction workshop led by the equally excellent Bill Roorbach in the late ’80s here in New York City. It’s autobiographical, … Continue reading →

Posted in Fiction | 3 Comments