The Couch TamaleWhy Aren’t We Talking About “Rustin?”I have taught a high school course in Peace Studies for over twenty years, and my students and I have come across many inspiring figures…13 min read·Jan 15, 2024--12--12
The Couch TamaleSix of the Biggest Lies in Jason Aldean’s “Try That in a Small Town.”LIE #1: JASON ALDEAN’S SONG PROMOTES ‘SMALL TOWN’ VALUES12 min read·Jul 27, 2023--3--3
The Couch TamaleThe New Wham! Film Speaks Loudly in Careful WhispersGeorge Michael would have turned 60 this year. What if reality could be remixed, and he lived?·15 min read·Jul 18, 2023--11--11
The Couch TamaleSound and Vision: The Day I Got a Personal Concert from David Bowie (and Witnessed His Love for…After a demanding week of teaching high school, I would often treat myself to an afternoon movie matinee. A longtime cinema addict, and an…·15 min read·Jan 13, 2023--19--19
The Couch TamaleOscars 2022 Preview and Ballot ChoicesIf you ‘re here for some predictions to help your Oscar ballot, I’ll list those first, with a deeper-dive discussion following. (Reminder…·9 min read·Mar 27, 2022----
The Couch TamaleTwelve Spiritual Lessons from the Gospel of Adele: A Track-by-Track Reflection on ‘30’If you see someone in public crying softly in a corner, check to see if they have headphones on: they are probably listening to the new…·29 min read·Nov 25, 2021----
The Couch TamaleIn “Spencer,” Kristen Stewart Looks Back to Move ForwardKristen Stewart’s performance in “Spencer” is a stunning rebuke to the dismissals that greeted her earlier in her career. The off-handed…·7 min read·Nov 17, 2021----
The Couch Tamale10 Films that Intersect Latinx Heritage and LGBTQ History MonthsLatinx (or ‘Hispanic’) Heritage Month and LGBTQ History Month intersect (June is Pride Month; October focuses on history) and that brings…·5 min read·Oct 15, 2021----
The Couch TamaleAlternative Oscar Nominations: Who Should Have Been on the Awards Train to Union Station?Steven Soderbergh’s Oscar production immediately looked like it knew how to take the awards ceremony into the contemporary era, freshening…·13 min read·Apr 27, 2021----
The Couch TamaleIn “Tina”, Love Has Everything to Do with It.At one point, towards the end of “Tina”, the beautiful and stirring new documentary about Tina Turner, her longtime partner Erwin Bach…·11 min read·Apr 13, 2021----