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.

Just Saw Something Great!

Posted on September 9, 2012 by Ted Hicks

Beauty Is Embarrassing – Saturday, September 8 at the IFC Center. Directed by Neil Berkeley. This is great! Do I mean it’s “great” like  Citizen Kane or Children of Paradise? No, of course not, but I know I loved it. … Continue reading →

Posted in Film | 1 Comment

“Bond… James Bond.” The First Three Films

Posted on September 7, 2012 by Ted Hicks

It’s hard to believe that it’s been 50 years since Dr. No, the first James Bond film, was released. How is that possible? Am I that old? Then again, it feels like Bond has always been on the scene, part of … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Film, Home Video, TV | 4 Comments

What I Saw: Three New Films

Posted on August 28, 2012 by Ted Hicks

The Bourne Legacy – Friday, August 10 at AMC Loews 84th Street. Director/Co-Writer: Tony Gilroy. I’m a big fan of the Bourne films, especially the second and third directed by Paul Greengrass. I find them immensely watchable, repeatedly so. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Home Video | 1 Comment

Smashed: Alcohol and Drugs in Film and TV

Posted on June 8, 2012 by Ted Hicks

The portrayal of alcoholism and drug addiction in film and television has evolved over time. Early depictions of drinking in films tended to be comic and unrealistic. W. C. Fields is one example. Another is The Thin Man series (1934 … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Home Video, TV | 9 Comments

Terrific Documentaries

Posted on May 25, 2012 by Ted Hicks

Earlier this week I finally saw Jiro Dreams of Sushi, a documentary that’s been showing in NYC since early March. I had intended to see it before now, but other films always got in the way. For instance, I saw … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Home Video | 7 Comments

Famous Monsters and Me

Posted on May 17, 2012 by Ted Hicks

I’ve often wondered how and why my interests developed as they did. I grew up on a small farm in Iowa in the 50s, and experienced all that went with that. So maybe it’s odd – or maybe it makes … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Home Video, TV | 117 Comments

What I Saw Last Week – 5/6 to 5/12/12

Posted on May 13, 2012 by Ted Hicks

Sunday, May 6. First Position at the Elinor Bunin Monroe Film Center. Director/Producer: Bess Kargman. This award-winning documentary, which follows six young ballet dancers as they prepare for the final round of the Youth America Grand Prix dance competition, intends … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Home Video | 5 Comments

“Teddy Bear”

Posted on May 10, 2012 by Ted Hicks

I have some hesitancy writing about a film that’s not opening in NYC until late August, but I liked Teddy Bear so much when I saw it this past March at the New Directors/New Films series that I wanted to … Continue reading →

Posted in Film | 3 Comments

What I Saw Last Week – 4/30 to 5/5/12

Posted on May 6, 2012 by Ted Hicks

Monday, April 30. The Raven at AMC Loews 84th Street. Directed by James McTeigue (V for Vendetta, 2006). Not so good. John Cusack is credible as Edgar Allan Poe spending the last several days of his life trying to track … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Home Video | 6 Comments

A Look Back at “The Station Agent”

Posted on May 5, 2012 by Ted Hicks

If you saw The Station Agent when it was released in 2003, you know how special it is. This was Writer-Director Tom McCarthy’s first feature. He has followed up with two strong films since, The Visitor (2008) and Win Win … Continue reading →

Posted in Film, Home Video | 6 Comments