Good Eye: Tales From the Quirky Box

More side-eye examination of "quirky" female film roles

"..."'Pretty. Fit. Girl-next-door type.'" Local actor Kaci Beeler (who's also, full disclosure,..."

Feb. 27, 2015 Column by Amy Gentry

The Match Factory Girl

With not even 70 minutes total running time and, seemingly, not more than two dozen total lines of dialogue, The Match Factory Girl spins a compelling narrative, a devastating cultural portrait, and an object lesson in the less-is-more school of storytelling.

"...in Finnish director Kaurismaki's 1990 film The Match Factory Girl. With only 70 minutes running time and, seemingly, not..."

April 2, 1993 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

About a Girl

The art exhibit 'About a Girl' is about music, really, with three young men behind it basing their artwork on a song

"...displayed in a grid, that are based on "The Girl From Ipanema," with letters from the song's text incorporated..."

April 8, 2005 Arts Feature by Jacqueline May

Am I Not Your Girl?

Sinéad O’Connor lays down at the Hogg.

"...feminine stagewear and manage to look as elegant or quirky as their music sounds. O'Connor looked and performed like..."

Oct. 30, 2007 Music Post by Margaret Moser

The Grand Seduction

In this Canadian comedy, a down-on-its-luck fishing village spruces up to try to lure a big-city doctor to town.

"...snugly into the “small town with an abundance of quirky characters attempts to overcome an obstacle via subterfuge” genre...."

July 4, 2014 Movie Review by Josh Kupecki

The Baby-Sitters Club

"...Mayron (thirtysomething) in her big-screen directing debut delivers a quirky little movie that captures a lighter side of the..."

Aug. 18, 1995 Movie Review by Hollis Chacona

Happy-Go-Lucky

British director Mike Leigh's latest is an uncharacteristic story about an indomitably joyful woman – a lovely state of being, perhaps, but not necessarily of dramatic interest.

"...couldn’t help wondering, “Could this perpetually giggling, insanely positive girlish girl of a woman really have sprung from the..."

Oct. 31, 2008 Movie Review by Josh Rosenblatt

Dog Park

"...shy of funny and this side of engaging. The quirky, but ultimately disappointing, romantic comedy tracks the meandering hearts..."

Oct. 1, 1999 Movie Review by Sarah Hepola

Tin Cup

"...Durham had a fabulous, witty script replete with fascinating, quirky characters. Tin Cup doesn't. What Tin Cup does have..."

Aug. 16, 1996 Movie Review by Hollis Chacona

The Hudsucker Proxy

This Coen brothers film is a goofy ode to genres and eras gone by. Although it's a little less “weird” than much of their work, it still retains a mannered and quirky air with performances that walk a line between realism and understated surreality.

"...their previous efforts, it still retains a mannered and quirky air. The set pieces are stunning and create the..."

April 8, 1994 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

Nói Albinói (Nói the Albino)

This bewitching Icelandic film mines frozen veins of resentment and quirky, black-ice humor.

"...greater, whiter North mines frozen veins of resentment and quirky, black-ice humor, but unlike Ágúst Gudmundsson’s Fifties-era morality tale,..."

May 7, 2004 Movie Review by Marc Savlov

My First Mister

"...not the best time to be rolling out another quirky little tale of transgenerational love -- especially when it..."

Oct. 26, 2001 Movie Review by Russell Smith

Ed's Next Move

"...from Wisconsin, moves to New York when his Midwestern girlfriend tosses him over for a less obsessive model. Once..."

Sept. 27, 1996 Movie Review by Marjorie Baumgarten

DVDanger: Appetites

Romantic comedy, serial killer style

"...A girl. A boy. She's home, caring for her brother after..."

Aug. 11, 2015 Screens Post by Richard Whittaker

Get Your Arms Around CLAW

How one quirky hobby became an over-the-top phenomenon

"...priorities for CLAWstin. "We have to really remind our girls that this is about raising money for a local..."

Jan. 31, 2014 Screens Feature by Richard Whittaker

Best Year of Her Life

After her hellish 2012, comedian Tig Notaro is feeling great

"...Eighties pop star Taylor Dane. Those bits highlighted her quirky debut comedy album, Good One, from 2011...."

Oct. 14, 2014 Arts Post by Russ Espinoza

Yann Tiersen's Live Je Ne Sais Quoi

Live Shot of Yann Tiersen at Emo's 5.18.12

"...reputation built on delicate piano tunes tailored for a quirky girl's misadventures even though that doesn't reflect the composer's..."

May 21, 2012 Music Post by Abby Johnston

Best of the Best (With Qualifications)

"...been an elaborate but empty exercise in interior decorating, quirky emotional detachment, verbal preciousness, and soundtrack sequencing. In fact,..."

Oct. 15, 2008 Screens Post by Josh Rosenblatt

aGLIFF: Like a Virgin on the Runway in Trinidad

Onward through aGLIFF, night 2!

"...very few of the typical gay cinema fare – boy/girl coming out of the closet, or even worse, the..."

Sept. 6, 2008 Qmmunity Post by Andy Campbell

Me and Miss Jones

Shirley Jones looks back at playing against type.

"...appeared on the big (or small) screen. Her natural, girl-next-door beauty was exquisitely designed with a velvety innocence; combined..."

Sept. 12, 2007 Music Post by Margaret Moser

Sxsw

"...and probably 12 since his freak, mid-Eighties MTV hit, "Girls." So, yeah, Twilley is due his hit single for..."

March 14, 1997 Music Feature

Picks & Sleepers

Sxsw

"...KMFDM, and the Lollapalooza bassist slot for Elastica. This girl's all about drama, Rocky Horror Picture Show drama, the..."

March 20, 1998 Music Feature

Waitress

Despite a storyline that involves an unplanned pregnancy, various affairs, spousal abuse, maternal ambivalence, and food-service employment, Waitress is an optimistic comedy about getting past your mistakes and making the best of life.

"...weird, even weirder than Rosanna Arquette – squeaky and quirky before squeaky and quirky were cool. It was a..."

May 11, 2007 Movie Review by Marrit Ingman

The Trouble With Ally

"...watching, but couldn't stop. Calista Flockhart has an indelibly quirky charm as the terminally self-absorbed Ally. The show's dancing..."

March 19, 1999 Screens Column by Belinda Acosta

Show and Tell

Spring Previews 2000

"...NC-17 rating by the MPAA, forcing director Toback (Two Girls and a Guy) to cut frames out of the..."

Feb. 25, 2000 Screens Feature by Marjorie Baumgarten

SXSW Picks and Sleepers

"...to be garage punk and too earnest to be quirky, Austin's the American People are best described by an..."

March 14, 2003 Music Feature

Sara Smile

Those teeth, those lips, those songs -- the one and only Sara Hickman

"...was the beginning of a lifelong romance between a girl and her instrument...."

May 11, 2001 Music Feature by Margaret Moser

1999 SXSW Music Festival

"...Kate Jacobs KATE JACOBS: A Hoboken-based "country girl," Kate Jacobs has drawn strong indie press for her..."

March 19, 1999 Music Feature

1999 SXSW Music Festival

"...by combining the hooks of the Standells and the tough-girl va-va-voom of Ronnie Spector. (Emo's Jr., 10pm)-- Greg Beets..."

March 19, 1999 Music Feature

Vengeance

B.J. Novak tells a touching tale of truth, myths, and Texas

"...me, your first reaction to the idea of a quirky little mystery/comedy as the directorial debut of B.J. Novak,..."

July 29, 2022 Movie Review by Trace Sauveur

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