Actor Hal Holbrook with Lucille at Cinema 1 on Friday night after screening of 'That Evening Sun'
Building line for Sunday afternoon showing of superlative Frederick Wiseman documentary 'La Danse' at Film Forum
by Sam Juliano
Congratulations to the New York Yankees for winning their 27th World Championship, and to clutch DH Hideki Matsui for being named MVP. Condolences to David Schleicher and the Phillies fans, but you can be sure they will be in the think of it next year again, as they are a great team, and had an outstanding playoff and World Series run. Kudos to Dave Hicks and his Cincinnati Bengals, who are now 6-2 in NFL play, and to Joel Bocko, whose New England Pats are also 6-2. The Giants are now 5-4, after starting the season at 5-0.
In New Jersey, we elected a new Governor, Republican Chris Christie. As a liberal Democrat I backed Jon Corzine, but let’s see if the new resident of the state house can do something for the dire economy and taxes here in the Garden State.
I am deeply saddened at the announcement by Jon Lanthier that The Powerstrip may be no more, but let’s see where he surfaces next. He’s much too good to go anywhere. Jon is one of the nicest guys you could ever hope to meet anywhere.
I managed to channel some deep emotional (and physical scars) into some torrid movie going, which began on the evening of Election Day – Tuesday – with a screening of the new Peter Greenaway documentary at the Film Forum. I went into high gear over the weekend.
Here is what I saw in theatres this past week:
Rembrandt’s J’Accuse **** 1/2 (Tuesday night; Film Forum)
That Evening Sun **** (Friday night; Cinema 1)
A Christmas Carol *** (Friday afternoon; Paramus multiplex)
The Men Who Stare at Goats * (Friday afternoon; Paramus multiplex)
The Fourth Kind * (Saturday morning; Edgewater multiplex)
Precious *** 1/2 (Saturday night; Union Square Cinemas)
La Danse **** 1/2 (Sunday afternoon; Film Forum)
Metropolitan Opera HD simulcast of ‘Turandot’ (Saturday afternoon, Edgewater multiplex)
The year’s two best documentaries (by luminaries Peter Greenaway and Frederick Wiseman) played in the same week at the Film Forum, and I was thrilled to immerse myself in the artsitic sensibilities of art history and dance on the highest level of sophistication and appreciation. Greenaway’s film calls for an open investigation of Rembrandt’s famed cryptic painting (the fourth most famous of all-time, as he says at the outset, behind Mona Lisa, The Last Supper and The Sistine Chapel. The film will appeal to far more than art lovers, as hopefully will Mr. Wiseman’s stunning look behind the scenes at the Paris Opera Ballet, and some of the most sublime moments the form can ever yield. Wiseman, perhaps the country’s greatest documentarian has crafted one of his greatest works here.
A Sordid study of a grossly obese Harlem teenager, who is sexually and physically abused, and bears two children by her father (one with down syndrome) Precious is often a harrowing film, even if it rather overplays its cards at times. As the girl’s mother, the actress Monique is extraordinary. The film really impressed Lucille and Broadway Bob, but my reaction, while favorable, is a bit more measured.
Lucille and I hit the jackpot on Friday night when we got to chat with actor Hal Holbrook after the screening of That Evening Sun, in which Holbrook gave a superlative performance as an uncompromising old man who refuses to give up his property and his past in a rural setting. I took a picture of Lucille with Holbrook. The film is often beautiful to look at, but the burst of compassion at the end rings false, and some of his psychological insights are rather predictable. Still a reasonably affecting independent film, which received a fantastic review weeks back from Jenny Bee Boulten.
Jim Carrey, fine CGI effects and better-than-average 3 D digital work elevate A Christmas Carol to passable status, but I don’t think I’ll need to see it a second time. The kids seemed to like it well enough.
Both The Men Who Stare at Goats and The Fourth Kind were a waste of time and rank among the worst films of the year, easily. The Clooney film was largely imbecillic, a poorly-written and conceived intended farce which is set (in large measure) in Iraq, while The Fourth Kind, which attempts to cash in on the success of Paranormal Activity is amateurish, preposterous and most unconvincing. My son Danny thought it was pretty good though! Ha!
The HD broadcast of Puccini’s Turandot was riddled with serious pixel and audio problems throughout, yet this final opera from the most popular of all opera composers is always for so many reasons an electrifying experience. I plan to have a review up this week.
Around the blogosphere some excellent work is on display. Here’s some of it:
European traveller and good guy extraordinaire Troy Olson has a full report up on his trip to Italy at his site “The Life and Times of Troy.” Please enage him as this was the trip of a lifetime. He has several links up to the cities he visited. Here’s the first one on Florence, but the others can be easily acessed:
Meanwhile, Troy’s brother Kevin Olson has a terrific interview up at Hugo Stiglitz with director Jeffrey Goodman of The Last Lullaby:
Wonderful Jon Lanthier is suggesting that ‘The Powerstrip’ is winding down as a blog here, but this extraordinarily-talented critic won’t be going anywhere, I’m sure:
At Goodfellas, Dave Hicks is up to 1998 with The Big Lebowski:
John Greco has what appears to be another fantastic review up at Twenty-Four Frames of Fuller’s The Steel Helmut:
Our man Tony d’Ambra has several new post sup at his place, including two on Paris and New York as “noir” cities, but here’s a book that appears to be a must-buy:
Lovely Judy at Movie Classics is still highlighting the classic Mr. Skeffington:
Dee Dee’s corresponding post on Eric Bettner’s book is at Darkness into Light:
A fabulous Chinese film festival is being held at the Walker in Minneapolis and Daniel Getahun is reporting:
Shubhajit, writing from India, has an excellent review up of Michael Jackson’s This is It at Cinemascope:
Our good friend Joel Bocko as of late has been on a writing rampage, and at his place “The Sun’s Not Yellow” his newest post (after several film reviews which should be checked out) is on health care:
I know our friend David is a bit down after the six game World Series loss of his Phillies, but next year may bring a different scenario. Dave is still headlining with “America” by Walker Evans:
Kaleem Hasan’s latest post at Satyamshot is titled “Calcutta’s Roxy:”
Dear Pat of Doodad Kind of Town is still highlighting The Invention of Lying and A Serious Man at her place:
My good friend Craig Kennedy, who posts continuously at “Living in Cinema” has this newest one up on the Cinema Eye nominations:
Lovely Dorothy at Inside the Gold has a post up on Ricky Gervais hosting the Golden Globes:
The ever-prolific Samuel Wilson has a review up at Mondo 70 on Spirited Killer:
The ever-creative and fecund R.D. Finch has one of his greatest posts up at The Movie Projector on “Ghost Images”:
Qalandar has what appears to be a magisterial response to some criticism aimed at the film classic Apu by S. Ray at his blog:
Film Dr. has posted a review on The Box, one film that escaped me this weekend:
The excellent writer Marilyn Ferdinand has what appears to be an excellent review up of The Forest at Ferdy-on-Films:
Ed Howard and Jason Bellamy are still highlighting their latest “Conversations” series post on a Claie Denis vampire film at both Only the Cinema and The Cooler:
One of the net’s best writers (and one that many have apparently not yet discovered) “Just Another Film Buff” has a multi-part cartoon post over at his place that simply must be read. I will do so myself tomorrow at some point:
My long-time friend Alexander Coleman has been dormant as of late, but he still headlines with a most intriguing post, titled “Sleepless Solilogquy” at CCC:
As always, readers are asked to share what they saw in theatres or on DVD, what music they heard, what literature they read, and anything interesting in politics, food or sports (or anything else for that matter).
At Movie Zeal, editor Luke Harrington has penned a superlative review of A Christmas Carol, which typically leaves no stoned unturned. And I fully agree with Luke too:
Thanks a ton Sam for the pointer. Really appreciate it. Looking forward to watching HH in The Evening Sun after his stunner alst year in Into The Wild.
Cheers!
Thanks “Just Another Film Buff.” Holbrook surely gave one of the best performances by an actor in a leading role this year, and depite some relatively minor quibbles, THAT EVENING SUN is a lovely film.
Well, haven’t been on for a few weeks, so here’s the stuff watched at home since then, nearly all obviously reviewings.
Dance of the Seven Veils 1970 Ken Russell
The Way You Wanted Me 1944 Teuvo Tulio
Symptoms 1974 Jose Larraz
The Joyless Street 1925 G.W.Pabst (Filmmuseum restoration)
Maciste in Hell 1925 Guido Brignone
This Sporting Life 1963 Lindsay Anderson
The Day the Earth Caught Fire 1961 Val Guest
Watchmen: Ultimate Cut 2009 Zach Snyder
Five Minutes of Heaven 2009 O Hirschbiegel
Emma 2009 TV BBC
The Thick of It 2009 TV BBC (eps 1-3)
The Girlfriend Experience 2009 Steven Soderbergh
Helena: Parts I & II 1922 Manfred Noa
Death Takes a Holiday 1934 Mitchell Leisen
Au Bonheur des Dames 1930 Julien Duvivier
The Pawnbroker 1964 Sidney Lumet
Help Me Eros 2007 Lee Kang-sheng
The Draughtsman’s Contract 1982 Peter Greenaway
Went the Day Well? 1942 Alberto Cavalcanti
Moulin Rouge 1928 E.A.Dupont
Madame Bovary 1975 BBC TV
Kolberg 1945 Veit Harlan
Mademoiselle 1966 Tony Richardson
The Red House 1947 Delmer Daves
3:10 to Tuma 1957 Delmer Daves
Pitfall 1962 Hiroshi Teshigahara
Samson und Delila 1922 Alexander Korda
A Room for Romeo Brass 1999 Shane Meadows
This Can’t Happen Here 1950 Ingmar Bergman
La Signora di Tutti 1934 Max Ophuls
Public Enemies 2009 Michael Mann
Life at the Top 1965 Ted Kotcheff
Sans Lendemain 1939 Max Ophuls
The Story of Sin 1975 Walerian Borowczyk
Drag Me to Hell 2009 Sam Raimi
Up 2009 Pete Docter, Bob Peterson
Inside 2007 Alexandre Bustillo, Julien Maury
35 Shots of Rum 2008 Claire Denis
Wagner (8 hour version) 1983 Tony Palmer
Halloween 1978 John Carpenter
Nosferatu 1922 F.W.Murnau
The Texas Chain Saw Massacre 1974 Tobe Hooper
That’s all I can remember…
That’s quite a spectacular show there Allan! Curious to know what you thought of the Raimi horror film. Many timeless classics there of course.
OK, *** I suppose.
I’m intrigued by the Ophuls, Pabst, Depont, and Korda as these seem really rare titles. Any masterpieces there?
La Signora di Tutti ****½ ITALIAN DVD R2
Sans Lendemain ****½ DVDR
The Joyless Street ****½ GERMAN FILMMUSEUM DVD R2
Samson und Delila ***
Moulin Rouge ***½
The Korda had no subs, but you could follow it easily enough.
I didn’t know Lucille was performing with hall holbrook!?!!
Cool Beans Lucillle…I’ll bet you acted him under the table!
-Be Well.
Ha Frank! I’m sure Lucille will get a good laugh when she reads what you say!
As Sam has already pointed out, I’m on cloud nine with the Bengals going to 6-2 yesterday! After winning just four games last year, they’re still in first in the division and have looked dominant in the last few weeks. Definitely a good thing for this town and its long-suffering fans (me included… LOL!).
My movie-viewing lately has still been on revisiting upcoming years in my annual countdown to make some final decisions or to see them before I start writing my entries. But this is still great, because it’s meant getting reacquainted with old favorites like The Big Lebowski, The Thin Red Line, Eyes Wide Shut, American Beauty, etc.
Music-wise, surprisingly considering what I usually listen to, I’ve been listening to a lot of Sinatra. In the Wee Small Hours, Songs For Swingin’ Lovers, A Swingin’ Affair… it’s a nice change of pace from the usual rock.
And as a general WITD question… are the countdowns going onto the 2000s next or is to the silent era?
Hey Dave: Sinatra, The Bengals and Malick are a winning combo, no? I know it’s frantic for you as you prepare for the final 10 years of the countdown. Do you have any contigency plans at Goodfellas? Will you take a break? If so, you certainly have earned it, but I have become use to your superlative reviews and coverage of cinematic greatness.
As to your question, Allan plans on going with 100 films for the silent countdown, which will follow the 90’s poll. Sometime around early March we will cover the 2000’s, tentatively.
Sam – I don’t know what I’ll do after the countdown is completed… I don’t necessarily want to take any sort of “hiatus,” so what I was thinking about doing was takin git easy with capsule-like reviews for a little bit before starting up with something else. Maybe some mini-countdowns/series like I did when the blog first started with the series of Cagney gangster films. But, in all honesty, I haven’t completely decided. Some of my all-time favorite movies are coming up in these final 10 years of the countdown though, so I’m looking forward to it.
Very nice to hear about moving into silent films… I don’t know much about silents, but since I’ve recently seen some outstanding ones lately (Sherlock, Jr. still has me amazed) it’ll be a series that will be eye-opening for me.
Dave, I’ll definitely do all I can to assist you with the silent poll. I will be e mailing you as it approaches. I know there a number of ways you can go with Good Fellas, but the ideas you expressed here would be great.
I can’t blame Dave for being excited about the Bengals. They’ve made some turnaround. The Giants defeat yesterday was ugly, but at this point I’m still celebrating the Yankees. Steinbrenner won’t even let them breathe and is asking for another championship next year. Matsui was incredible.
That’s great news about those documentaries Sam. I want to see ‘Precious’ when it crosses the river.
Yeah Joe, I find it amazing that right after they win a championship they are already being held to task about next year. that’s why he’s hated around the country. He makes his intentions obvious and has no misgivings. It’s time to root for somebody else.
Joe, I would speculate that PRECIOUS will be playing at local multiplexes within a week or two at most. Lucille, Bob and I saw it at the Union Square Cinemas right next to the now defunct Virgin Megastore at 14th Street. All performances appeared to be sold-out.
Great news the Yankees being back on top, at least for Yankee fans. Saw the last few minutes of the Giants game and have to agree the ending was just ugly. After a great start, it has been going downhill.
I watched four films this week, an up tick from the previous few weeks.
In the theater, I saw “The Box” based on Richard Matheson’s short story “Button, Button.” Decent enough. I thought Richard Kelly did a good job of stretching out the story yet keeping it within the mood of Matheson’s work. Minor problem that I found more annoying than anything else was the briefcase that was suppose to contain one million dollars in hundred dollars bills looked awfully small to be holding that amount of cash. I hate when they do things like that.
At home I watched or rewatched…
“Murders in the Zoo,” The films starts out good but ultimately I was disappointed. The Charlie Ruggles character almost ruins the film. I did like the opening segment where Lionel Atwill’s character sews up a man’s mouth and leaves him with his hands tied up in the jungle to die. This scene is nicely done.
“Promise Her Anything”, a throw a way Warren Beatty – Leslie Caron sixties comedy.
“The Lady Vanishes” one of Hitchcock’s great films which I will talk about later this week at 24 frames.
On the book front, I am reading John Baxter’s biography on Woody Allen.
Sam – again, thanks for the plug.
LOL on that briefcase John!! Well, to be honest I avoided THE BOX this weekend because of the bad reviews. But I respect you as much as any critic, maybe more so John, so with the Matheson revelation there (which I didn’t know) and your reasonable assessment, I may have to check it out over the coming weekend.
I completely agree with your summary appraisal of ZOO, even with that funny segment, but I haven’t seen the Beatty yet.
I can’t wait to read what you pen on THE LADY VANISHES, which has always been one of my absolute favorite Hitchcocks. It vies with THE 39 STEPS of course as his best British film. i remember your great review for it at 24 Frames!
Baxter is a fantastic biographer, so I bet you are loving that Allan treatment!
‘Button, Button’ was adapted for the ’80s revived ‘Twilight Zone’ too! Would make interesting comparisons one day, for me.
Great that you met Holbrook. He was very good in a movie I didn’t like, “Into the Wild”. I know you didn’t care for it either. I am interested in seeing “Precious” and “That Evening Sun.”
Steinbrenner is an idiot.
True enough Bob, I was no fan of INTO THE WILD, but I took my lumps for it on the net as it has many fans. I predict you will fall for PRECIOUS.
Thanks for the link, Sam. Spirited Killer was one of two DVDs I picked up over the weekend. The other was IL DIVO at quite the bargain price. That made for some interesting viewing, and I’ll probably have a review of Il Divo up tonight. I’ll say here that it was definitely a film directed at the home audience rather than global movie buffs, which will make a fair appraisal a bit of a challenge.
Thanks to you Samuel. I will be sure to read your IL DIVO review after it’s posted. It’s true what you say there about the film being more of a challenge review-wise, but you are one of the best, so I’m sure it will be outstanding.
Thanks for the link, Sam — it’s been fun having a chance to write about my trip, even if I am a little long-winded in the recap
Not a lot of time to watch movies this week. My wife and I used our TV watching time to catch up on this season’s episodes of MAD MEN.
We also watched the 2005 Heath Ledger led, CASANOVA, which we were interested in after being in Venice, but the film was pretty poor, being a light comedy that wasn’t very funny or terribly interesting. Also, the Venice of the film wasn’t terribly recognizable, as there was lots of CGI and studio sets in lieu of actual location shots. Oh, well.
I’m trying to catch up with as many 90’s films as possible, in order to submit my ballot (my lack of movies watched for the 80’s precluded me from submitting a ballot for that poll, so I’m trying to remedy that for this go-round).
With that in mind, I did get a chance to watch THREE COLORS: BLUE, which was a stunning film, beautifully shot and employing striking music by Zbigniew Preisner, put to terrific use by Kieslowski (the blackout technique he uses is simple, but elegant). Juliette Binoche is absolutely pitch perfect in portraying the progression of a person in her situation — her emotions, facial expressions, and body language were able to pull me in and resonate.
Ah Troy, Preisner’s score (as I mentioned to you and Dennis below) is a masterpiece in and of itself, and BLUE was actually my #1 choice for this ongoing 90’s poll. I fully share your acclaim. And likewise I agree with your great description of Binoche’s performance. Have you already seen RED and WHITE?
I must agree with the dismissal of CASANOVA, even if it was pretty to look at. But I can see the tie-in with your setting there. Ha!
You probably have seen a lot more from the 90’s than you think, but you may be focusing on the ones you know you haven’t seen.
So many who have come to WitD are huge MAD MEN fans!
And you are most certainly NOT long-winded on your trip re-cap. Remember that it is the experience of a lifetime.
I have not yet seen RED or WHITE, but they are on the list for this week (I have a marathon movie viewing schedule planned for this weekend, which I’ll write about as soon as I pick the films).
For the 90’s poll, I have a list of 19 movies that I consider shoo-in’s, were I to make my list right now and another 16 that I’d consider for inclusion of those last 6 spots. So I could easily make my list right now. However, I have another 19 movies I’d like to rewatch, as I haven’t seen them since they initially came out, and another 30 or so that I’ve never seen. I doubt I can watch 50 movies in 3 weeks, but I’m at least going to try to see as many as I can…
Well Troy, whatever you do manage to see will make your list that much more comprehensive. I look forward to seeing it. You still have a lot of time.
Hi! Sam Juliano, Allan, and WitD readers,
This week I have a couple of Thank-you, to go around…
…First, Sam Juliano thanks for the mention…as usual. By the way, it looks as if you and Allan had a thoroughly busy week with all the films that you were able to view at the theatre and or at home.
I also want to add that is a nice photograph of Mrs. Sam Juliano, and actor Hal Holbrook, Thanks for sharing the photograph with the readers here at Wonders in the Dark.
Second, thank you once again for allowing me to offer or feature writers Eric Beetner’s and J.B.Kohl’s book contest on your blog.
Third, I also want to take the time to Thank, Joseph “Jon” Lanthier, from over there at the Power Strip for being a very pleasant and congenial host…whenever, I took the time to stop by his BlogSpot to visit him…and rest assured I would continue to read his writings at “The Slant” Magazine and Brightlights After Dark.
Films That I Watched (for the first time) or Rewatched…This Week:
The Bela Lugosi Collection (Murders in the Rue Morgue / The Black Cat / The Raven / The Invisible Ray / Black Friday)
(In this boxset I have only viewed The Black Cat and The Raven.)
Forgotten Noir Collector’s Set, Vol. 2 (The Man from Cairo / Mask of the Dragon / F.B.I. Girl / Tough Assignment / I’ll Get You / Fingerprints Don’t Lie) (In this boxset I have only viewed F.B.I Girl and Tough Assignment.)
Watched:
The Missing Juror
Coming up:
Hunted, and
Suspense.
In the Valley of Elah
Road House with Richard Widmark, Ida Lupino, and Celeste Holms and Cornel Wilde. (Thanks, to Woody Haut)
Films That I plan to purchase…the same three films from last week…
The Glass Web
The Sell-Out,
Highway 301…I also purchased another Lobby card for the film The Sniper.
Literature: Books That I Added To The Bookshelf…
Books on my (book) shelf and they are:
1. One Too Many Blows to the Head by authors Eric Beetner and J.B.Kohl…Shocking!
that Eric and J.B.’s book is no# 1 on my list!
(You would think that an author that just completed a book…would be taking a “breather” and just promote his just completed book, but not author Eric Beetner, already starting on his first draft to his next book. (I guess that is that writer’s ink in his blood…)
Sam Juliano, already “beat me to the punch” no pun intended…when it comes to the book that Tony D’Ambra pointed out over there on his BlogSpot.
2. The Book Thief The Book Thief
3.The Bread Baker’s Apprentice: Mastering the Art of Extraordinary Bread by Peter Reinhart (Author) (edit contributors)
4. author Ken Bruen’s Lost Boulevard
5. “The Thief Maker” by author D.H. Schleicher…
6. The Noir Thriller (Crime Files) by Lee Horsley
7.Denise Mina’s The Dead Hour…recommended to me by writer R.L.Bourges
8.James Ellroy’s “Bloods’ A Rover”
Clute and Edwards has returned to their podcast outofthepast
after a very long hiatus and the film that they are reviewing is The Blue Dahlia…starring A.Ladd, V.Lake and W.Bendix.
outofthepast
Heartbreak & Vine Film Festival…Continues
Heartbreak & Vine Film Festival
Day 15…Woody Haut’s focus is on actress
Arlene Dahl in“Wicked As They Come”…directed by Ken Hughes in 1956…according to Woody Haut…“And to think she appeared regularly as a panelist on What’s My Line?”
Three books that Woody Haut mentioned on his blogspot that I have to check-out!
9.Neon Noir: Contemporary American Crime Fiction
10. Pulp Culture: Hardboiled Fiction and the Cold War
11.Heartbreak and Vine: The Fate of Hardboiled Writers in Hollywood
Arts…No comment
Theatre, No comment…
Music…No Comment
Food … Hmmm…a very light touch…as usual.
Sports… No Comment…
Politics…No Comment
I guess that about wrap up my week in review for this week.
DeeDee
Once again a Monday Morning Diary response for the ages, Dee Dee. It is simply astounding how much energy you muster up week after week, but it’s magnificent, i must say.
Yes that was a major surprise there (LOL!!!) that you added Eric Beetner’s “Too Many Blows to the Heart” to your bookshelf. In any case your post on Mr. Beetner, as I’m sure you know was a spectacular success, as it has already received about 60 comments, and many have enthusiastically listed their favorite boxing movies. It was fabulous to hear from Mr. Beetner himself too!
Thanks for the compliment on the Holbrook photo. I will let Lucille know. I was happy she managed a pretty good smile there.
Jon Lanthier is a prince among men. I will be looking ahead to his newest projects and blogs.
Hope you liked Ulmer’s THE BLACK CAT, which boast stunning sets, and the classic dup in top-form. Love teh classical score too. THE RAVEN wasn’t as good, but still more than watchable. Also hoped you had a positive reaction to THE MISSING JUROR.
Yes, I answered fast on that Film Noir Encyclopedia at Tony’s site. It looks like a great volume, but I will have it soon enough. The Forgotten Noir Collector’s Set looks most interesting too. I may pick this up at Christmas.
I’m afraid I am not a big fan of THE BLUE DAHLIA, but I will now check out the blog site “Out of the Past.”
Thanks again for this remarkable round-up, my good friend.
Terrific photos there Sam. I’ve read a lot about Precious, and something tells me that your estimation will pan out. There is always a tendency with that kind of realiam to push the envelope too far. But I understand the girl’s mother was brilliantly played. The Holbrook film and those two docs look like winners.
As I implied Frank, I have some issues with PRECIOUS qwhich I will discuss if I can get around to writing a review, but it certainly has some strengths. You may like it even more than I did.
Better watch Sam, the way Lucille is hob-knobbing with the stars you may come home one day to find you’re a single parent. Holbrook and Lucille make a nice team. She always did go for OLDER men.
Ha Dennis! I will be sure to keep my eyes open at all times!
Hello all.
This week (mostly weekend) I watched quite a few: ‘Cleo 5 to 7′ (fantastic, wonder WiTD’s collective feelings as it never came up during the 60’s countdowns), ‘Johnny Guitar’ (saw this at a revival house on the big screen, I was so exciting after seeing this on the big screen I almost floated home… one of the better moods I’ve been in in quite some time), ‘The Piano’ (sort of surprisingly I had never seen this, it was something. I plan on watching it again as soon as I can, I left my initial thoughts in that thread), ‘The Girl on the Bridge’ (pretty fantastic film see my reply in that thread as well), ‘A Short Film About Love’ (I had seen this in ‘The Decalogue’, but this is the longer 83 minute version, loved it even more), ‘More Then A Game’ (LeBron James fandom aside, this was pretty enjoyable).
Music has been more or less varied, not one band or artist played more so then another. I’d say The Pixies ‘Doolittle’ has received quite a bit of airplay. ‘La La Love You’ can cure any foul mood I find myself in, even if it’s just for 2 minutes and 44 seconds.
Books, still finishing G. Marcus ‘Lipstick Traces’ it continues to impress, I also finished Rainer Maria Rilke’s ‘Letters to a Young Poet’ midweek as it’s just a series of 7 letters so it’s very short. Though it’s a quick read it requires lengthy thought and I recommend anyone and everyone read it.
I should also say this weekend I enjoyed a 65 and 70 degree day on Saturday and Sunday respectively. First week of November in Chicago!? I’ll take it. Saturday night I was also happy to learn the Health Care Bill eased through the House onto the Senate. Some important things have been stripped but I still feel it’s worthy of celebration.
As of right now, I’m about to run out– Liverpool is about to take the pitch!
Ah Jamie, I can only speak for myself, but I have never been a fan of Varda, this film included. I have made my case before, but not recently. I have always found her work oppressively static, and at time tedious, yet you are with the extreme majority here, so I respect and applaud your unbridled enthusiasm. At some point I will give this film another shot, as of course I do own this and VAGABOND on Criterion DVDs.
I love JOHNNY GUITAR (you have been on a Ray tear as of late and that’s wonderful) and the Kieslowki is a masterwork, only second to A SHORT FILM ABOUT KILLING among the DECALOGUE segments. I will definitely your submissions on THE GIRL ON THE BRIDGE (very good film, I agree) and on Campion’s THE PIANO, a film I absolutely adore and have on my own 90’s list. I have not seen MORE THAN A GAME, so there’s one to get to at some point, and the Rilke I must admit seems like a must-read. I will defer to Kevin Olson to comment on your music choices there as I must plead ignorance, but our considerable age difference of course speaks volumes. But I’m certain your taste in music parallels your taste in movies, so you are no doubt listening to great stuff.
Hey, we’ve had the same weather here in New York, so Nocember has been quite appealing so far. But we better not get too comfortable. What “Liverpool” are you referring to there, though if Allan reads this I know I’ll hear the music.
Extraordinary wrap-up here Jamie!
Liverpool is my favorite club soccer team in the English Premier League. They just tied a game I thought they’d win, oh well they are still trying to get fully healthy and a tie is better then a loss right? BTW Steven Gerrard is my favorite player.
Agree on ‘A Short Film about Killing’ it is great. I may like the 83 minute ‘Love’ over ‘Killing’ but I’ll have to watch ‘Killing’ again to give a final answer. They both are masterpieces this we can agree on.
And Sam since you are unaware with the song I mention here ya go: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RnfH-tLIac
Perhaps having this at your disposal with combat any Hal Holbrook advances on Lucille? If anything it will provide a boost.
I also forgot to mention in my last post that these past two weeks I’ve visited the Chicago Institute of Art twice to view the new Caravaggio on loan from London. It’s great to see face to face(s). Here’s a link for that information:
http://www.artic.edu/aic/exhibitions/exhibition/Caravaggio%27sSupper
He’s not my favorite painter (as I said countless times before I like modern stuff), but he was definitely a master and these things should receive there due. Some of the paintings coupled with this are beautiful as well. For some reason I’ve chosen the Sex Pistols ‘Never Mind…’ and then Jonathan Richman’s ‘I’m So Confused’ as my iPod soundtrack for the two trips. Not sure why.
The reviews fot PRECIOUS have been, mostly, pretty resoundingly favorable. Monique, as the battering mother is already being touted as this years lock for BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS at the Oscars. I must admit, the reviews I’ve read have me wanting to see this. But, what I’m truly salivating for is the Greenaway documentary. If you recall, you and I went absolutely ape-shit last decade for another documantary pertaining to fine art. A little ditty called CRUMB.
Dennis, what is really a “lock” anymore at the Oscars these days when it comes to acting performances? We’ve learned time and again that what “seems” doesn’t happen maybe half the time. There are a number of others supporting performances that are being praised.
That Rembrandt documentary directed by Peter Greenaway really sound excellent. I hope it will runs somewhere else, as I see you saw it there on it’s final night. That painting is one of my favorites. I’m not exactly sure that the ballet film will float my boat, by I greatly respect Wiseman.
As to the others, I’ll take a pass on the Jim Carey rendition of Scrooge, but may check out ‘Precious’ and ‘That Evening Sun.’
Sue and I saw ‘The Box’ which was a complete waste of time. I see you avoided it. But we ate is a great Japanese restaurant on Lexington Avenue uptown. Don’t think you like raw fish though if memory serves me well. Great dumplings.
Hope you are doing much better this week Sam.
Peter you will absolutely love the Greenaway, of that I am certain.
I avoided THE BOX, but instead got one that is probably worse, THE FOURTH KIND!
LOL. Thank you Sir.
TROY OLSON-hitting the nail on the head with Keislowski’s BLUE. The use of Preisners music is indicative of Julie’s inner torment and, ultimately, her strength. Like AMADEUS, the cuing of musical passages is effective as it illustrates the creative construction of the piece. Notice that when we do hear pieces of the score its usually only a “part” or “section” that will, when all put together, result in a final symphony. This is a metaphor for Julie taking individual pieces of her dismayed life and bringing them together in the end to find a finalizing peace of mind. BLUE was, IMO, the best film of 1994, Kieslowski’s best film, and THE BEST FILM OF THE DECADE. Binoche is haunting in her turn as Julie, her career best work (and she has admitted that fact), so perfectly emotionless to illustrate her despair.
It’s funny Dennis. Not so long ago I wrote on Ed Howard’s blog, ONLY THE CINEMA that Kieslowski’s RED was a greater film than BLUE. While they are both supreme masterpieces that rank among the best films of the 90’s and of all-time in fact, I re-watched BLUE and have come to agree with you, Ed and Troy on it6s pre-eminence, and in large measure for the score that Troy and yourself are rightly praising here. It’s one of the greatest scores in cinema, and again you and Troy have brilliantly stated exactly why.
Dennis — Your point about the pieces of the symphony being put together as Julie pieces her life together — it so simply describes what’s so moving about the film that it has me enjoying it even more!
3 things related to my watching of BLUE that I’ve noticed in regards to my evolution as a film viewer.
1) It’s fascinating how a movie can be great when you watch it, then a day later, after the images and sounds really sink-in, it can be even better, and finally, after you read and think about it and the full impact of it settles in, it becomes perfect to you.
2) While I’m typically drawn to more action/plot oriented films, I’ve found as I watch the quieter films that linger more on moments in time than on plot-development, that they tend to have a much greater effect on me.
3) I think that just as it takes some learning to get the most out of certain types of music (jazz/classical) or art, it’s taken some learning to get the most out of a non-plot driven film like this. I’m glad I’ve stuck with films like BLUE, as I continue to be rewarded for it. The Troy of even one year ago may have just started tuning out in the middle of it
Brilliant stuff here Troy! I look forward to your responses on RED and WHITE!
Thanks for all the love here and at the Powerstrip, guys (and gal). Great to see Lucille finally, too! What a treat to have chatted with Hal.
And, quickly, I must agree on the lyrical “Blue”…I confess that the remainder of Kieslowski’s tri-colour always struck me as lacking substance (though I’m not as violently opposed to “Red” as my hero Phillip Lopate). Plus, I shamefully admit that I’ve always harbored a bit of a crush on Juliette Binoche (though there’s absolutely nothing wrong with Irene Jacob).
Hope you’re healing well, Sam.
Thanks so much Jon. I definitely will be e mailing you soon to praie you of the domestic situation here. Things are slowly moving forward though.
I am thrilled to hear that you will still be on the movie reviewing beat, and that another blog will soon have the ‘home’ sign up and visible. I liked RED more, but admit WHITE is way behind the other two. I am with you on Lopate too.
I have been AWOL for a month as I have been reading a stack of old British thrillers circa 1920-50 and watched only a few movies:
Moontide (1944) Resplendent pairing of Jean Gabin and Ida Lupino in a moody (noirish) melodrama by the sea aching with love, humor, fog, and angst. A nice reversal of noir motifs: a guy with a past, a dame with no future, and an homme-fatale. Gabin in his first Hollywood picture oozes Gallic charm. Lupino you have to fall in love with! Cameron Mitchell is great as a low-life homme-fatale, with Claude Rains out-of-place as an enigmatic intellectual-cum-nightwatchman. Camp elements like Mitchell flicking Raines’ naked butt -with a towel – in a communal shower – behind a low wall of course
; Gabin a $2 a day fish bait-seller dressed for his aboard-barge wedding in the most elegant suit this side of Paris; and Raines advising Lupino on her wedding night on the erotic obligations of a wife! Wonderful expressionist revenge climax on a dark pier at night. Archie Mayo directed with cinematography from Charles Clarke and Lucien Ballard (uncredited).
A Colt is My Passport (Japan 1967) Hip acid Nikkatsu noir with surreal spaghetti-western score.
Highway 301 (1950) Taut crime-doesn’t-pay b. Steve Cochran dominates as a savage hood. A drawn-out tour-de-force climax on dark city streets.
Obsession (1948 UK) Macabre and sardonic Brit noir. Psychopath shrink plans perfect murder. Taut direction from Edward Dmytryk with a Nino Rota score!
The Black Cat (1934) Edgar G. Elmar’s elegant camp thriller. A1 art deco set & costume design. Ravishingly erotic expressionist masterpiece!
The Phenix City Story (1955) 50s expose confidential based on true story. Unrelenting and chilling portrayal of decent people fighting crime.
The Insider (1999) Not as good as I recalled. Crowe annoys while Pacino is a pulp powerhouse.
Enemy of the State (1998) Still entertaining pulp with a serious undercurrent.
Well Tony, needless to say you were missed at this thread the past weeks, but the good part about the short wait is always accumulative. And we all need a break from film watching, but ain’t I the hypocrite?!?
I was never much of a fan of ENEMY OF THE STATE, but interesting that you found it so entertaining. A fellow teacher at my school loves it.
Agreed that THE INSIDER diminished with repeat viewing. Plummer was very good though, as I recall.
Is that the new Nikatsu Noir set that you saw A COLT IS MY PASSPORT from? Most intriguing. i will have that set soon.
OBSESSION is indeed an ultra-suspenseful yarn, and I am a lifelong THE BLACK CAT fanatic. Karloff and Lugosi were superb together, the expressionistic set design was ahead of its time, and the use of classical music quite captivating.
I must catch up with those others there. The dark pier sequence in MOONTIDE really intrigues! You could really bring that scene to life in words!
TROY-I know exactly what you speak of in regards to allowing QUIET films like BLUE settle in and devastate. For me, however, each one of the three films that make up this trilogy were immediately apparent. I LOVE THESE FILMS. Sam and I saw WHITE and RED in the city when they were released and (particularly with RED) WERE BLOWN AWAY. I hadn’t seen BLUE at that point and good ole Schmulee called it right: “I know your tastes, I know your love for music. Trust me, BLUE will be your favorite..” Sammy then lent me his Laserdisc copy of BLUE and, after the sun went down, allowed this film to wash over me. Very few films can make me cry tears of ellated joy, but BLUE is one of those films that borders on cinematic perfection. The final musical montage, revisting Julie’s the principles of her new found peaceful rebirth and, of course, her satisfaction of the revenge she quietly wrecked on her husbands memory, set to one of the greatest scores in cinema history, left my jaw on the floor. Its a perfect film. REALLY.
Sam – great pic of Lucille and Hal! I am sorry to hear “Goats” was so bad…I had been looking forward to that on Clooney and Title alone…but something did seem “off” in the previews with regards to tone and purpose.
Here’s my roundup:
“Out and About” I caught the Bill Maher tour stop at the Borgata in AC (what a great birthday gift from my brother and sister-in-law!) and then we had a very fine meal at Fornelletto’s — possibly the best dining experience I’ve ever had in AC.
At the theaters, I caught Richard Kelly’s THE BOX. Despite the fact it was utterly preposterous, maudlin and silly for most of its run-time, it oddly held my interest throughout (something about Cameron Diaz in 70’s getups doing a bad fake limp and laughable Southern accent) and I find myself typing *** against all better judgment. There were so many things wrong with this movie (like constant snow in Richmond, VA) but it was so loony it almost worked.
“On DVD” I watched the newly released THE DEAD from 1987 and award it **** despite the fact LionsGate accidentally chopped off ten minutes from the runtime (and are allegedly issuing a recall and restoring the original cut). This was an at times stilted, but reverently faithful adaptation of James Joyce’s short story (one of my favorite short stories of all time) and a fitting final film for John Huston. The final ten minutes are perfect and haunting.
“On TV” I was bowled over by the season finale of MAD MEN. For a show many claim is about nothing (and at certain times during this and last season I would not argue with that)….a whole lot of something happened in this last two episodes that are among the finest examples of writing for television this side of “The Sopranos”. The JFK assassination, crumbling marriages, and corporate gerrymandering made for an exciting and invigorating close to the season. I can’t wait for next season.
Schleicher Over and Out.
David: It’s possible that you will find GOATS better than we did, but I still feel it was overhyped by a few comparing it to the Coens. The humor was strained, the situation frankly ludicrous, and the characters uninteresting. Some critics liked the film though.
Ah, THE DEAD, one of the best films of 1987 and the decade in fact. Yes I agree that snow scene at the conclusion is one of cinema’s most haunting and atmospheric segments, and like you I consider both this story and THE DUBLINERS in general as among the best in short fiction. Sorry to hear about that unintended 10 minute cut, but frankly that is completely unacceptable, hence the recall is warranted.
THE BOX was the one film I did not see over the weekend that was in the tentative plans. Seems like the critics are sharply divided with a few more naysayers. But you and Ed Howard (who I see reviewed it at his site) seem a bit more tolerant, so next wekend for sure.
Fornelletto’s eh? I bet you had a great Italian meal there. And sounds like you had a great present there–the Bill Maher Tour Stop– perhaps you will be writing something up at The Schleicher Spin.
It really is amazing how many people love MAD MEN at this site, but as a writer David, I am more than persuaded at this point.
Thanks for this fabulous round-up.
hey Sam…..hope you are faring better.
this week I was away but saw/heard…
JLB – The Man who Saw the Future** – BBC doc about John Logie Baird and his powerful influence in creating the technology for a certain type of tv. It seems a bit of a laudatory championing of the inventor and fails to mentionb that despite his visions (3D colour tv), he was working in a cul-de-sac. It really required to bring in the exciting race between the competing teams as work. It’s not a patch on Ken Burns doc about the invention of radio.
The Civil War**** – Ken burns masterly and magnificent classic.
Dr Mabuse (1923) – got through 90 minutes of this 280 film. It was stutifying dull for me. It’s hokumish plot of a mastermind behind the scenes pulling the strings is a precusor of Fu Manchu and Bond and doesn’t come near them. I’d much rather watch Karoff or Lee from the ’30s and ’60s.
Roman Criminale (2005) – watched it because BBC4 is doing a foriegn film season. It was a pretty empty psuedo -’Goodfellas’ attempt but without a character to empathise. Cockroaches killing other cockraoches getting mighty boring fast.
The Campbell Playhouse* – late ’30s/early ’40s radio plays. A small select are very good, but others are not a patch on their film versions, like ‘Dodsworth’.
Thanks very much Bobby! Yes, i am slowly coming around, I’m back at work (and have been for a some time) and am immersing myself in family and interests. (And have been going to the movies quite a bit)
I agree that Burns’s THE CIVIL WAR is an unquestionable masterpiece, and one of the greatest documentaries ever made. I can watch that over and over, and have indeed seen it several times over the years. I would say BASEBALL would be Burns’s second-best work, followed by THE WEST and JAZZ.
I can’t say I’m all that familiar with the Campbell Playhouse stuff, but I see what you are saying with the modest recommendation, even with the negative comparison to DODSWORTH.
Based on what you say I think I’ll take a pass on ROMAN CRIMINALE! Ha! I wonder if Allan knows this one? The Baird BBC doc is really not my cup of tea based on what you relate there, but I guess you never know.
Dr. MABUSE of course requires discipline and patience, not that you didn’t give it either, but I am a bit more favorable on it that you. But I know this has always divided silent film fans and historians.
Terrific wrap-up as always my very good friend.
My mum and brother both loved ‘Goats’ – they saw it at the London Film Festival with a Q&A from George Clooney, which might have helped! – so I’m a bit disappointed to hear you thought it was so bad, Sam. Not sure now whether to see it or not. Today I saw ‘Bright Star’ which I admired very much – it has me now wanting to read Andrew Motion’s Keats biography. It was an added bonus that Ben Whishaw reads a long poem over the closing credits – one of the things that impressed me most was how much of the poetry is included in the film.
I’ve also seen ‘Nosferatu’ on TV, with the red and blue washes included to indicate day and night… and perhaps blood too? The red-washed scene of the death ship moving through the water is a haunting image. Despite being struck by some scenes, I must admit I found the movie very slow, especially in the first half hour. Another old film I watched was Wellman’s ‘Other Men’s Women’ , starring Mary Astor and Grant Withers, with a tiny part for James Cagney – I’d only seen this previously in a dodgy recording off TV, and as soon as I saw it in a proper restored print on DVD I thought it was a much better film than I’d realised.
Many thanks as ever for the plug, Sam.
Judy, don’t let my sour reaction dampen the enthusiasm that was built on your mum and brother’s love for GOATS! My opinion is just that–my opinion, and no more. The film received divided notices from the critics, so it does have it’s champions. I admit I found it tedious and preposterous, but others have felt otherwise. That Q and A must have been fantastic!
I am really smiling from ear to ear over your reaction to BRIGHT STAR! It did indeed feature a generous sampling of poetry from one of the greatest poets who ever lived, and I thought both leads were outstanding, and the story arc ravishing. Ms. Campion was on top of her game here. I might even consider it the best film of the year to this point. Like you the urge to read further on Keats is a strong one.
Judy I must ask Allan if he has seen the Wellman film there, which I have not, but the stars there are irrefutable.
I love NOSFERATU, but you are absolutely 100% right that the first half hour is extremely slow and difficult to sit through. While one can allow for the style of silent cinema, there’s no doubt that is a lamentable flaw in a film with such a high reputation.
Thanks so much for the marvelous re-cap!
Just a short addendum. The season finale for Mad Men was a new peak for American TV drama. The episode written and directed by Creator Matthew Weiner deftly established a new beginning from a take no prisoners break from the past. Brilliant television!
Tony – agreed! I was blown away by it. Amazing stuff.
I’m freezing my ass off out here. Will you c’mon..