Sam Karnick

Latest by Sam Karnick in Chronicles

• Vital Signs

  October 1988

  Devil Trouble

  When they hear about Prince of Darkness, unsuspecting moviegoers may envision a thrilling story of the occult. Some person will probably release Satan from his underworld domain, either deliberately or unwittingly; the demon will run rampant over the globe for a short time, and finally be sent back—quite unwillingly, of course—to where he belongs.

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• Vital Signs

  April 1987

  Outside the Law

  America's "major" film critics have been very busy—and very worried— lately. They have a lot to worry about; the movies just aren't going their way anymore, which ought to make the rest of us very happy.

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• Vital Signs

  January 1987

  Return of the Fairy Tale

  The mass media have been particularly arid territory for children lately, treating our young as little more than vessels for advertising pitches.

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• Vital Signs

  December 1986

  Star Dreck

  How did America's movies ever get so bad? That seems to be the $99,000 question for American film critics lately, from Siskel and Ebert to American Film to New York Times critic Vincent Canby, right on down to your local small-town newspaper.

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• Vital Signs

  October 1986

  Critic's Choice

  Like any civilized society, America reveres its artists. Unfortunately, in this as in most other things, we tend to go overboard.

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• Vital Signs

  August 1986

  The Virgin and the Paparazzo

  The battle lines are drawn. On one side, Pope John Paul II and the French National Federation of Catholic Family Relations, along with numerous religious groups in this country.

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• Vital Signs

  June 1986

  Material Wealth and Spiritual Poverty

  Down and Out in Beverly Hills has a lot going for it. The film was directed and co-written by Paul Mazursky (Moscow on the Hudson). It has Richard Dreyfuss, Nick Nolte, and Bette Midler in the lead roles, as well as Tracy Nelson and "Little Richard" Penniman in supporting roles.

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