Brandon Latham
Attorney at Law
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Essays & Columns
The Great Escape: How one reporter made it out of New Ipswich alive
"Clues is what I should have expected, a whole bunch of them. The underlit room was full of askew artwork, detailed papers and more than enough coded writing."
Save Daylight by Keeping DST on
"For the longest time, I was convinced the only practical reason to switch to standard time was to make it dark early enough for trick-or-treat. So when it moved back to November from its original October date, I was baffled. I still am."
The Oscars packed more of a thrilling twist than any of the movies
"I owe an apology. I've been saying for weeks how boring and predictable year-end awards have become, how watching the Oscars is not worth it anymore. I WAS WRONG."
Casey Affleck, Manchester by the Sea and why we make movies
"It's an anti-charisma, accomplished in spite of his good looks and famous sense of humor (and his last name), that makes his performance so special, and why it is so important to celebrate."
All right, I'll buy the theater
"Peterborough's arts community is one of the richest in the country, but would be incomplete without a movie theater."
Inauguration 2017: Crowding the Capitol
"My sister, Allison, is a midshipman at the U.S. Naval Academy and will march with the new president in the inaugural parade."
How the David Ortiz Era changed us as Red Sox fans
"Ortiz was the last member of the 2004 team, which reminded us what it felt like to win. But even more potently, he was the last member of the 2003 team, which reminds us that things usually don't go your way, and that can hurt, a lot."
"This is the best time of year to race, whether to run a personal record or just enjoy some fresh air. The weather gets cool and crisp, and there is no better way to enjoy our scenery than disappearing into the golden woods for a training run."
"I went to my third Springsteen show on Wednesday, my first at an outdoor venue like Gillette, and watched a man nearly three times my age perform his trademark rollicking heartland rock for 4 hours and 2 minutes. He barely broke a sweat."
Learning from the Best: How NOT to write an essay like Spongebob Squarepants
"Be honest: the first thing you thought of when you remembered this episode was a still frame of Spongebob looking at what he had written thus far, and finding an elaborately illustrated “The” alone on the page."
Stop saying awards don't matter
"The beauty is the very debate it inspires, the volume of films it draws people to, and the endorsement it provides the winner. No voting body is perfect — maybe least of all the TV academy — but make no mistake about it: Awards do matter."
Summer Screening: Georgetown Waterfront Sunset Cinema Series
"Only a few feet to my left was the beautiful Potomac River, which really becomes a sight when the day winds down and the water calms from lack of boat traffic. Beyond the river, the views of the Key Bridge and the Arlington Skyline are illuminated by offices of people buring the midnight oil. Beyond them is the fading sun which gives the Sunset Cinema Series event its name."
When Joy turns to Sadness: ‘Inside Out’ and Cinema’s Long Fascination with Nostalgia
"Inside Out is not the first, and is unlikely to be the last, film to explore nostalgia. I’m not talking here of Frederic Jameson’s concept of the nostalgia film, which is essentially a criticism of contemporary movies set in the past for trying to strike an emotional cord with the audience by exposing this helpless vulnerability. No, I’m talking about movies not that use nostalgia, but that are actively about it."
This is a video essay reflecting the legacy of Alfred Hitchcock's curious, seemingly independent camera, set, of course, to Bernard Hermann's iconic score from Psycho.
The New York Times doesn’t want to review your movie
"After years of strain and months of debate, the New York Times has officially changed its film review policy, which previously promised that the paper would cover every film that opens in New York City every week in its Friday Arts section."
"After what amounts to nearly four days worth of viewing, Mad Men‘s audience likely deserves a pay out, something to not only provide closure and neatly tie the bow, but also that actively gives viewers satisfaction and joy, a loving departure to their favorite ad execs."
Mad Men Season 7, Part 1: How Mad Men Took a Page from Alfred Hitchcock
"The fear of falling is front-and-center in Alfred Hitchcock’s 1958 psychological thriller Vertigo. Draper is Mad Men’s Madeleine Elster, its Scottie Ferguson and its Judy Barton. Played by Kim Novak, James Stewart and Kim Novak in the film, this trio demonstrated 57 years ago what Mad Men has masterfully examined throughout its run: That people become who you perceive them to be, no matter what is under the hood."
"He was a TV anchor for the Allen Iverson generation, and don’t underestimate his influence as such. I love Stuart Scott. Too humble to have ever described himself this way, I can say without hesitation that Stuart Scott was “as cool as the other side of the pillow.”"
Why the ‘Boardwalk Empire’ Finale Reminded Us So Much of ‘The Sopranos’ Finale
"It’s clear that these two HBO great Jersey-based crime series have a lot in common, but what made Tony and Nucky’s last stands uncannily similar? (Spoilers for both series abound.)"
How The Leftovers pushed the TV revolution to its breaking point
"HBO’s newest series The Leftovers might not be in the same league as other staples of the Platinum Age, but by hyper-tailoring their adaption of the novel of the same name to these traits, HBO tested just how far the new, darker era of long form storytelling could go. And it worked."
Bruce Springsteen Directed a Video Which Makes Us Ask, What Can’t He Do?
"From intricate character studies like “The River,” to grand narratives like “Jungleland,” the stories crafted by Bruce Springsteen have always had a cinematic quality about them which transcends the songs they fill. Perhaps that is why he is so apt at soundtracks, earning two Golden Globe Awards and an Oscar for “The Streets of Philadelphia” in addition to his 20 Grammys."
Ten Years Later, Looking Back on ‘Friends’
"For 20-somethings of the Clinton era, there was no label. Because of that they were riddled with angst and ambition, helplessness and hope. Friendsembodied this cultural narrative just when it was needed. Once a week, these people could tune in to watch a (fictional) group of their peers march through their trials and tribulations with directedness and ease, and more than enough support from the best friends you could ask for."
Predicting the ‘Mad Men’ Midseason Finale: What Might Happen in ‘Waterloo’?
"Matthew Weiner, creator of “Mad Men,” always makes his decisions carefully and with meaning. This makes it important to consider the implications of naming the midseason finale after the historical battle of “Waterloo.”"