Six Roles That Transformed Ryan Gosling Into One of The Gutsiest A-Listers in Hollywood

Two-thousand-thirteen was a polarizing year for Ryan Gosling, appearing – as he did – in both the best and worst motion pictures of his career. While Gangster Squad represented the shittiest A-List romp of that winter, it also represented the only … Read More

Moving On: When The Summer Leaves Me in September

When the last long week of August bled its way into September and green flies along the beach outnumbered all the worthwhile prey, when hotel balconies ran checkered and weekend vendors closed their kiosks, when short sleeves gave way to … Read More

Running: How I Went From 0 to 70 In Six Weeks (& Medaled In a 5K One Week Later)

SNAP! That is how it sounded, much more like the snapping of a car belt than the friction between fingers. I was sprinting, in mid-stride, and the jolt, it sent me tumbling, a spasm so intense I barely noticed fractured … Read MoreRead More

Joyce Carol Oates on Boxing & Pornography (1987)

“The spectacle of human beings fighting each other for whatever reason, including, at certain well-publicized times, staggering sums of money, is enormously disturbing because it violates a taboo of our civilization. Many men and women, however they steel themselves, cannot … Read More

The Blessing of The Ocean

Click through for full-image gallery. … Read More

Ira Glass’s Advice For Aspiring Writers (2014)

“I’d just say to aspiring journalists or writers – who I meet a lot of – do it now. Don’t wait for permission to make something that’s interesting or amusing to you. Just do it now. Don’t wait. Find a … Read More

Ready-Made Objects

(Good Pictures/Bad Camera is a regular feature on IFB.)

Film Capsule: Child of God

When I originally saw the trailer for James Franco’s Child of God, I thought, Wow! They just might need to nominate that film for an Academy Award. Six months later, having seen the film, I think they just might need … Read More

Greil Marcus on The Desperation of Road Movies (1989)

“We’re all familiar with road movies: not Audrey Hepburn and Albert Finney in Two For the Road, but two men on the lam from this or that, lots of chase scenes. The geography of the country is always a good … Read More

Moving On: 42 Out-of-Context Comments Regarding My Binge Drinking That Regularly Come Back to Haunt Me

“As of this morning, your missing card has run up a little over $3,300 in new charges, leaving you with an available balance of negative 36.” “Do you ever think you’ll stop?” “Do you remember telling my sister to go … Read More