December brings to cinemaphiles its usual array of big rep films. Most this year are over-hyped and overblown. Marketing can get us in the theater but can't make us love one. I use a 5-finger (high-five) rating system where 5 is outstanding, 4 very … [Read more...]
2015 Predictions for Professional Selling
I was recently asked to see what lies ahead in professional selling. Here's what I wrote: Ocean Palmer's Top 5 Predictions for 2015 Demand for Value Creating Salespeople will Significantly Increase As companies continue to focus on top-line revenue … [Read more...]
November Movies: Seven One-Sentence Reviews
As temperatures chill the movie business heats up and this year is no exception. This is "actor and Oscar season," when better films feed into theaters across the nation. These seven films are all playing now and one in particular -- Whiplash -- is … [Read more...]
One Sentence Film Reviews for October: the Lucky 7
As autumn leaves and winter gathers its winds, so change the types of films that arrive in the theater. This is "actor season," when better films supplant the tapestry of summer choices. These seven films are all out now and one in particular is … [Read more...]
Coming Full Circle: A Peek at the Road Not Taken
I recently passed a milestone birthday, a big event for me but I rose that morning wondering if anyone would notice. By sundown I felt like George Bailey in A Wonderful Life. Friends can do that for a man. Mine did. My work has taken me around the … [Read more...]
September’s One Sentence Film Reviews
As autumn arrives and the leaves begin to change, so does the types of films that arrive in the theater. This is the onset of "actor season," when better films supplant the weeds of summer. These five are out now and all five feature great actors. I … [Read more...]
13 Late Summer Movie Reviews — in One Sentence Each
I write screenplays and rarely watch TV but love to go the movies for a very simple reason: All is possible inside a dark theater. In late summer our local cinemas show little films, niche releases, foreign imports, and blow-'em-up, smash 'em up big … [Read more...]
Summer Movies: A Dozen One-Sentence Reviews
I write screenplays and rarely watch TV but love to go the movies. This is the summer season, so our local cinemas are sprinkled with little films, niche releases, foreign imports, and blow-'em-up, smash 'em up big budget action films. The pickings … [Read more...]
Time Stops for Only the Greats: the Loss of Robin Williams
"No man is an island." -- John Donne, 1572-1631 Donne, an English poet and cleric in the Church of England, wrote that famous line in "Meditation XVII," a work whose name seems poignantly appropriate as the world grieves the loss of actor Robin … [Read more...]
My Handsome Chestnut Miracle
About the time Rory McIlroy sank his final putt to win the Open Championship and become the planet's second happiest man, I was preoccupied as the first. Since days drag but years fly, I opted to spend Rory's back nine driving to rural northern … [Read more...]