by Sam Juliano
Saturday morning temperatures in the northern New Jersey/NYC region plummeted into the 30’s bringing with it a real sense of the approaching holiday season. If not for anything else it provided an appropriate winter underpinning for our annual car ride into rural Sussex County in the northwestern corner of the state near the borders of Pennsylvania and New York State. The mission, as always was to purchase a freshly cut Christmas tree from a specious pine quary. As per tradition, my lifelong friend and Spruce Street neighbor Louis Aveta (the world’s biggest John Wayne fan in every way imaginable) and his wife Mary and son David made the trip with the same goal at hand, and to boot convinced us to visit his horse stable in an especially secluded woody area near High Point, where the kids had a ball interacting with his two stallions. The trip lasted well into the afternoon and included a stop at a famed bagel shop on Route 10 near Sparta, where the gathering gourged themselves with all kinds of high-quality items, including the best chili east of the Missisippi and thick chocolate iced cookies that are unlike any I’ve ever had my life. Needless to say however, I stayed clear of all these temptations and settled for some scrambled eggs. We arrived home around 2:00 P.M., enabling me to proceed with my plans to see the first feature in the Film Forum’s Takemitsu Festival, Hiroshi Teshigahara’s masterpiece, Woman in the Dunes.
I owe my friend Marilyn Ferdinand an apology. Mind you, I don’t think I said anything that could remotely be considered as insulting, but in a comment I made under her ultimately telling review of Darren Aronofsky’s colossal misfire, Black Swan, I “implied” before I actually watched the film that her views were in an extreme minority in critical circles. As I have placed Aronofsky on a pedestal since 2006 (the year his spectacular The Fountain released) I was hopeful lightning would strike twice, and Marilyn’s near-pan had me heartbroken and in a state of denial. Alas, Black Swan was (as I stated in my comment) a “thinly veiled (exploitative) genre piece, that failed to connect emotionally, resorting to slasher flick grotesqueries, jarring and scattered hand held camera tricks, and an unforgivable trivializing of one of music’s most glorious compositions by one of the form’s most beloved composers. Aronofsky has sunk lower than he ever has, and I am frankly aghast at the reactions of those who are finding metaphorical value, in this vapid and pretentious film. I simply cannot come to terms with the fact that this is the same artist who created The Fountain.
At Wonders in the Dark Stephen Russell-Gebbett has reached the home-stretch of his amazing animation countdown that for many has served the same purpose as a college course on the subject. Over the past week, the talented Brit has penned some eye-opening descriptive entries from a wide range of types from around the world, with a telling emphasis on Eastern European works. Lest some be frustrated with his blunt omission of some revered American studio work, his most recent choice shows he’s always there to give every type it’s due. I can’t applaud this tireless and dedicated writer enough for all he’s done for so many of us. His top 50 will be a continual source of reference for me. (and hopefully for many others.) Joel Bocko continues to impress greatly with Sunday Matinee postings, and Bob Clark has penned as prolifically and as superbly as ever with three posts up for this week alone. And both Jamie Uhler and Maurizio Roca have examined music in essential essays that accentuate the site’s wide diversity. And Allan Fish, who has suffered through a nasty period with the flu bug and it’s implications, has been well-represented with his always-reliable “The Fish Obscuro” series that continues an astute examination of some gems of Japanese cinema.
I managed to see four films in theatres this week (actually six, if you count two rare “repeats” to accomodate Dennis and my cousin Bobby McCartney):
Black Swan ** (Saturday night) Chelsea Cinemas
Woman in the Dunes ***** (Saturday Afternoon) Takemitsu Festival
The Ceremony ***** (Sunday evening) Takemitsu Festival
Antonio Gaudi **** 1/2 (Sunday evening) Takemitsu Festival
My less-than-enthused reaction to BLACK SWAN appears above in Paragraph 2. I am hoping others see it over the coming weeks, so we can heighten some worthwhile discussion.
The Toru Takemitsu Festival at the Film Forum, which is running for two weeks, pays tribute to Japan’s most celebrated (and accomplished) film composer, and the many masterpieces in the festival (directed by the likes of Kurosawa, Teshigahara, Shinoda, Ichikawa, and Kobayashi among others) represnt Takemitsu’s most venerated scores. It’s a great catalyst at any rate and a programming coup for Film Forum head honcho Bruce Goldstein, who includes the heavy hitters with some hard-to-find prints of a few films not yet released on DVD. Hiroshi Teshigahara’s extraordinary Woman in the Dunes was a great choice to launch the event, and the follow-up double feature on Sunday of another Teshigahara film, Antonio Gaudi, and Oshima’s most beloved film, The Ceremony gave this festival quite a second day boost. Lamentably, I couldn’t make the one screening of the rare Kobayashi film Youth of Japan (1968), which played later on Saturday night, as it occupied a time slot that I had reserved for Black Swan. Still, I am figuring to see about a dozen films in total during the duration of this festival’s run, inluding viewings later this week of The Face of Another, Pitfall, Pale Flower, Harakiri, Samurai Rebellion, Kwaidan, Empire of Passion and Ran. Many of us of course have seen these films multiple times on DVD, but it’s always a special treat to see them on the big screen. I plan to have a round-up of this festival down the road as well, but at this point I have all I can do with trying to get a piece on the Ozu Festival to fruition, not to mention some plans for the “Lang in Hollywood” Festival inlate January. Speaking o Antonio Gaudi, our Canadian friend and artist Terrill Welch expressed some hig regard for this film a few weeks back on a previous diary thread!
I watched the animated Tangled again on Wednesday(discount) night in Edgewater with Dennis, (and the two kids who hadn’t yet seen it) and The Grapes of Wrath with Bobby on the final day of it’s one-week run at the Film Forum. Seeing this masterpiece twice in seven days inthis fashion (with a beautiful print, to boot) was cinematic nirvana.
Animation guru Stephen Russell-Gebbet continues to raise the bar no matter what he writes and no matter where it appears. His latest master-class essay on whether or not films need music has inspired a marvelous comment section at Checking on My Sausages: http://checkingonmysausages.blogspot.com/2010/11/do-films-need-music.html
At Twenty Four Frames John Greco continues to explore films that may have fallen off the radar for many, and there’s a refreshingly superb review up now on Otto Preminger’s Angel Face: http://twentyfourframes.wordpress.com/2010/12/04/angel-face-1952-otto-preminger/
Meanwhile, Greco’s other site Watching Shadows on the Wall is headling some breathtaking photos from his recent New Mexico trip, that for me recalls Hitchcock’s Vertigo: http://watchingshadowsonthewall.wordpress.com/2010/12/04/my-photography-taos-pueblo/
Laurie Buchanan continues her lettered coverage of a healthy and spiritially fullfilling life with one of hr mos popular and profound essays, “P is for Perspective” at Speaking From the Heart: http://holessence.wordpress.com/2010/12/04/p-is-for-perspective/
Tony d’Ambra has authored an especially fecund essay on Graham Greene’s The Green Cockatoo (a film the writer, scripted, actually) at FilmsNoir.net: http://filmsnoir.net/film_noir/the-green-cockatoo-uk-1937-65min-the-seeds-of-british-noir.html
Our beloved Dee Dee is back at Darkness Into Light with a post promoting and celebrating the Film Preservation Fundraiser being coordinated by Marilyn Ferdinand, Greg Ferrara and The Self-Styled Siren. It’s thrilling to have Dee Dee posting there again!: http://noirishcity.blogspot.com/2010/11/for-love-of-film-noir-for-love-of-films.html
Wellman fans rejoice! Judy Geater has returned to her favorite subject, with a deftly written essay on The Robin Hood of El Dorado, a 1936 feature starring Warner Baxter, which has not as of yet received a DVD release. It’s leading the way at Movie Classics: http://movieclassics.wordpress.com/2010/12/05/the-robin-hood-of-el-dorado-1936/
Troy and Trisha Olson are as pleased as pink at their Thanksgiving celebration with their daughter Madelyn (her first in the Olson household!) while the talented scribe ponders what director will win his sidebar polling to receive the royal Olson Treatment. It seems like a neck and neck battle beween Bresson and Powell & Pressburger. How about casting your own ballot?: http://troyolson.blogspot.com/2010/11/happy-thanksgiving.html
The other part of the Olson equation is educator and author supremo Kevin J. Olson, who is gearing up for his Ken Russell blogothon at Hugo Stiglitz Makes Movies. Kevin takes a short break to give thanks to other bloggers, and what a beautifully magnanimous post he offers up for Thanksgiving. Kevin is quite a guy, but I’ve known this for a very long time: http://kolson-kevinsblog.blogspot.com/2010/11/thanks.html
Our friend in Tokyo, “Murderous Ink” has penned an utterly brilliant essay on a “Japanese World War II propaganda film” from 1937, The Fighting Soldier, at “Vermillion and One Nights.”: http://vermillionandonenights.blogspot.com/2010/11/exhausted-soldier.html
More deserved kudos for Jeffrey Goodman at “The Last Lullaby,” home of one of the nivest people anyway on line could hope to break bread with. But it doesn’t hurt either that he’s a super-talented filmmaker, and a voracious movie watcher to boot: http://cahierspositif.blogspot.com/2010/12/last-lullaby-in-screenshot.html
Jason Marshall, film, politics, theatre and literature specialist extraordinaire, continues on with his essential survey of the cinema since 1930, with a focus at present on 1937, where he has just unveiled the #1 film of that year, a beloved favorite: http://moviesovermatter.wordpress.com/2010/12/04/best-picture-of-1937-1-make-way-for-tomorrow/
At Ferdy-on-Films, Roderick Heath has written another landmark review, this time for one of 1010’s most critically-praised films, the inde Winter’s Bone: http://www.ferdyonfilms.com/?p=7328
Jaime Grijalba has featured a superlative review heading up at “Exodus 8:2” on a 1902 feature, George Melias’ A Trip to the Moon. It’s the latest in a line of diverse posts over the past week at his busy blogsite: http://exodus8-2.blogspot.com/2010/12/le-voyage-dans-la-lune-1902.html
And Ms. Ferdinand herself has written a gem of a review on Aronofsky’s Black Swan, that has inspired quite the comment section: http://www.ferdyonfilms.com/?p=7328
Samuel Wilson continues to examine films that are rarely given attention on review blogs, and what with his dazzling style and commanding backgroud in this genre, it always yields that underestimated work, as in the case with this Spanish film: http://mondo70.blogspot.com/2010/12/devils-possessed-el-mariscal-del.html
Terrill Welch’s third original oil painting, “Far Shore” is up for sale. You need to see this one to understand the level of artistry she has achieved and continues to. It’s over at the Creative Potager’s blogsite: http://creativepotager.wordpress.com/2010/12/05/third-original-terrill-welch-oil-painting-in-sale-far-shore/
Another one with some Black Swan issues is Andrew Wyatt at “Gateway Cinephiles”: http://gatewaycinephiles.com/2010/11/20/stliff-2010-day-nine/
Michael Harford has authored one of his most moving posts this week at his Coffee Messiah blogsite that will truly resonate with everyone: http://coffeemessiah.blogspot.com/2010/11/max.html
Myshkin’s Nandalala is under the ever-scrutinying eye of one of the net’s finest writers, Just Another Film Buff, who records his incomparable work at “The Seventh Art”: http://cahierspositif.blogspot.com/2010/12/last-lullaby-in-screenshot.html
Shubhajit continues with his stellar capsules of the Humprey Bogart DVD box set at “Cinemascope” with his treatment of San Quentin (1937): http://cliched-monologues.blogspot.com/2010/12/san-quentin-1937.html
Craig Kennedy is headlining with a post examining the week’s DVD releases including the critical hits, Restrepo and Inception at “Living in Cinema”: http://livingincinema.com/2010/12/04/dvd-pipeline-inception-restrepo-and-more/
Adam Zanzie is gearing up for his Steven Spielberg blogothon at “Icebox Movies” which will launch later this month: http://iceboxmovies.blogspot.com/2010/11/pledge-to-quit-blogging-for-month.html
Ed Howard has authored his typically magisterial piece on a little-seen film by Edwat Dmytryk, The Sniper: http://seul-le-cinema.blogspot.com/2010/12/sniper.html
Hokahey at “Little Worlds” is headlining with a great review of Danny Boyle’s 127 Hours: http://hokahey-littleworlds.blogspot.com/2010/11/oops-127-hours.html
David Schleicher is still beating the Boardwalk Empire drums at “The Scheicher Spin” with another splendid feature: http://theschleicherspin.com/2010/11/28/boardwalk-empire-paris–green/
Anu in involved with a special film project called Metanoia, and he’s asking for some help while providing some links at The Confidential Report: http://theconfidentialreport.wordpress.com/2010/11/29/metanoia-needs-help/
At Doodad Kind of Town, our good friend Pat takes a close look at two films that star ‘Jennifers’ – Lopez and Anniston. It’s a creative piece that examines common ground in both: http://doodadkindoftown.wordpress.com/2010/10/02/whos-your-daddy-a-tale-of-two-jennifers/
At “The Blue Vial” Drew McIntosh takes a pictorial look at Bug (2006): http://thebluevial.blogspot.com/2010/12/five-from-favorite-bug-2006.html
J.D. at “Radiator Heaven” has penned another authoritative essay on 2000’s Waking the Dead: http://rheaven.blogspot.com/2010/12/waking-dead.html
Writing machine Jake Cole continues penning one marathon review after another at his place. The latest is on an Indiana Jones film: http://armchairc.blogspot.com/2010/12/steven-spielberg-indiana-jones-and-last.html
Dan Getahun has announced a “Melody Gilbert” movie marathon in South Minneapolis at “Getafilm.”: http://getafilm.blogspot.com/2010/12/melody-gilbert-movie-marathon-dec-3-5.html
Jason Bellamy has penned another of his standard gems with his stellar essay on Olivier Assayas’ 319 minute Carlos at “The Cooler”: http://coolercinema.blogspot.com/2010/12/devil-in-details-carlos.html
Dave Van Poppel considers Kelly Reichart’s Meek’s Cutoff as his latest stellar review of ‘realist cinema’ at Visions of Non-Fiction: http://visionsofnonfiction.blogspot.com/2010/09/meeks-cutoff.html
R.D. Finch has connected a pair of superbly-written essays on Italian cinema (De Sica and Antonioni) at “The Movie Projector”: http://themovieprojector.blogspot.com/2010/11/two-first-films-by-italian-masters.html
Jeopardy Girl has a very interesting position on the true meaning of ‘Christmas Charity’ at her home, The Continuing Saga of Jeopardy Girl: http://jeopardygirl.wordpress.com/2010/11/21/christmascharity/
“Robert Cumbow revisits Vertigo and other links” is the lead piece at the Film Doctor’s place: http://filmdr.blogspot.com/2010/12/robert-cumbow-revisits-vertigo-and.html
Dave Van Poppel considers Kelly Reichart’s Meek’s Cutoff as his latest stellar review of ‘realist cinema’ at Visions of Non-Fiction: http://visionsofnonfiction.blogspot.com/2010/09/meeks-cutoff.html
R.D. Finch has connected a pair of superbly-written essays on Italian cinema (De Sica and Antonioni) at “The Movie Projector”: http://themovieprojector.blogspot.com/2010/11/two-first-films-by-italian-masters.html
Tony Dayoub has penned a fecund (and appreciative) appraisal of Black Swan at “Cinema Viewfinder”: http://www.cinemaviewfinder.com/2010/12/movie-review-black-swan-2010.html
Hello to my good friend Longman Oz in Dublin!
Anyway, as always this thread is here to encourage reports of your own activities, which I do hope and anticipate will be special this week:
Sam I was so excited when I saw mention of Hiroshi Teshigahara’s “Antonio Gaudi” and I could hardly contain myself to read the article so I could say “do you remember? I watch it a couple of weeks ago?” But as I was reading along – there you were, remembering just that. As you know, I have had a full a delightful weekend with the special 3 paintings over 3 days event. Monday’s post is a bit of a wrap up starting with a new sandstone, sea and blue sky photograph.
We did get to see a great movie. TALK TO HER (2002) by Pedro Almodovar. This came our way on your recommendation off your best of the 2000’s list. Thank you. And thank you for your wonderful mention as well Sam.
Terrill! I was actually thinking of you while I was sitting in the Film Forum solo last night, for ANTONIO GAUDI. I had indeed remembered well that you had mentioned it gleefully weeks back on a previous diary thread, and knew just how much you of all people would revere this magnificent film. I’ll have more to say down the road in a wrap, though I still need to keep my word on the Ozu Festival round-up first.
Yes, the paintings on display now are stunningly beautiful, and I have long had an affinity for that centerpiece work. I urge all readers to click on the Creative Potager link below to view this priceless art masterpieces!
I adore TALK TO HER indeed, and see is as Almodovar’s greatest film. In an emotional sense, no film by the great Spaniard reaches this level.
Thanks as always my great friend!
I had planned to attend those two Teshigahara films, but was busy this weekend catching up with other flicks. “127 Hours” had cool visuals from Danny Boyle, but James Franco came off as a grotesque hipster clown to me. “Dogtooth” just might be my favorite movie of the year, except for the fact that it came out in 2009 originally.
Bob: As I discussed with you months ago on a past Monday Morning Diary, DOGTOOTH was not something I could not rally behind, but the vast majority of critics and cineastes seem to be on your side. I am wondering if you are thinking about reviewing it here, though you do have your plate full with the upcoming science-fiction countdown. I liked Franco much more than you did, but it’s always interesting and worthwhile to see this work from another angle. There are still two more essential Teshigaharas to be screened this week at the Film Forum on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week: PITFALL and THE FACE OF ANOTHER, which I am planning to attend myself.
Thanks very much my very good friend!
Thanks for the link! I’m surprised by your reaction to Black Swan. Was it that bad?
You know Film Dr., it’s very difficult to be so decisively dismissive, especially when there are many who will go to the mat for it (many whom I have so much respect for) but I may as well confess the truth. I found the entire idea frudulent in concept and execution, and this is from a director I previously praised to high heaven (for THE FOUNTAIN). This was an especially nasty and overbearing film, that went no further than a number of third rate slashers that aspired to much less. Portman was impressive, but really to no avail.
Thanks very much for stopping by my friend!
Sam your reservation for Black Swan are not unique. I have noticed many critics have mentioned the outlandish and ludicrous elements of Arnovosky’s film (even some who enjoy it). I was never a big fan of this director before you inspired me to watch The Fountain (a movie which while great is also somewhat messy and annoying in spots). I think Requiem and The Wrestler are both overrated. Pi is nothing special. I’m starting to think my apathy for previous Arnovosky films will be realized in Black Swan as well. I will still go see it, as maybe our opinions might differ, but the bloom is somewhat off the rose.
Maurizio: I am figuring you will not be a fan here, but let’s see………..
Hey Sam. You have given me a double-link 😮 DeeDee’s link has been hijacked. Thanks and thanks 😉
Speaking of Christmas trees, and I surely envy your escapade to Sussex county, I more prosaically helped my 20yo daughter (who is VERY sentimental) put up our fake tree this hot humid afternoon, while listening to my vinyl copy of the Sinatra Christmas album. Surreal!
Apart from The Green Cockatoo, I watched only one other movie this week, and it was a delight. An Italian comic gem from 1933 titled ‘Treno popolare’, the first feature of director Raffaello Matarazzo, and the first movie scored by Nino Rota! It was utterly charming and speaks to an innocence and love of common humanity lost forever. The story of a Sunday pic-nic visit to a regional village on a special train by denizens of Rome is told with elegance and panache, with Rota’s music and title song integral to the experience. Alas, the joy for a modern viewer is bitter-sweet watching simple lives oblivious to the sinister undertow of facism and the cataclysm to come. Essential.
Ha Tony! My typical PC carelessness rears its ugly head again! I just rectified the releated link, and I’m sure Dee Dee will understand. In any case that great post you authored deserves multiple links if you want to know the truth.
Yes, the Christmas tree venture as always was terrific. The kids had a ball, and I can only regret not bringing along one or both of our labs. The wide open estate quary would have been a perfect place for them to run with abandon. The tree is still leaning against the house on our front porch, though I’m hoping we’ll set it up over the next day or two.
An artifical tree and Frank Sinatra on vinyl? Well, what could be better than that? I grew up in a household where real trees was shunned, for a number of valid reasons. I always think of you Tony, enjoying Christmas in the middle of summer! I can’t imagine it, being used to cold and snow, but I bet you have your own seasonal chemistry at play there, one you have gleefully navigated your entire life Down Under.
The first movie scored by Nino Rota? Wow! I’ll surely have to see it, especially with your high praise in every sense! I have never come across this, and it’s a special treat to know there is a rare Italian film of this quality from that early period!
Your review of THE GREEN COCKATOO of course is a keeper, and I’ve already committed to check this out in the near future!
Thanks as always my excellent friend!
Sam,
Thanks again for the mention (actually for the double mention). Sounds like you all had a great time in your family’s traditional search for the perfect Christmas tree. My wife and I were also busy putting up our own (artificial) tree and outdoor lights. I just finished reading Marc Elliot’s new bio “Paul Simon: A Life” which if you or anyone is a fan of SImon’s work would enjoy. He spends much fascinating (at least to me) periods of the book going over Simon’s slow methodical creative process as well as his thorny relationship with Art Garfunkel. Movie wise we got to the theater twice. Of the two “127 Hours” was the strong winner.
127 Hours (Danny Boyle) ****1/2 – Nerve-racking, exciting, visually stunning work from Danny Boyle and a fantastic cocky performance from James Franco. Boyle manages visually to get inside the character’s head as he struggle to survive for five and half days. The music, the editing strongly added to the tense gut wrenching scenes.
Love and Other Drugs (Edward Zwick) *** This seems to be the kind of film that wants to be everything…love story, coarse comedy, love story, drama dealing with a serious illness. and tear jerker. The film rises and falls depending on which segment Zwick is going for. Jake Gyllenhaal and Anne Hathaway make a charming couple and are well supported by Oliver Platt and Josh Gad. The problem is with a script that starts of fine and later on loses focus. Plenty of background is given on Jake’s ambitions and family yet Hathaway’s character, we know nothing about. She come across as a more cynical version of Ali MacGraw’s character in the tear wrenching, soapy “Love Story,” only here we know what disease is killing her. Not a bad film, you just wish the second half lived up to the promise of the first.
Bigger Than Life (Nick Ray)****1/2 **** Ozzie Nelson goes bonkers in Nick Ray’s drug induced destruction of a “perfect” suburban 1950’s family. Ray the rebel takes another swipe at breaking America’s illusions about post war life in America. I will be doing a full review at 24frames.
It Happened on Fifth Avenue (Roy Del Ruth)***1/2 Charming Christmas movie about a kindly homeless man who make himself at home in a millionaire’s mansion while the owners are away. He invites a flock of others to live with him, that is until the owner unexpectedly comes home. In the course of the film he changes the lives of everyone. The film is light, entertaining with delightful performances from Victor Moore and Charlie Ruggles highlighting this little known holiday treat.
Deconstructing Harry (Woody Allen) **** Underrated Woody. Allen is Harry Block a self hating, womanizing, morally bankrupt neurotic who cheats on his wives and cannot commit to any type of relationship. Allen’s use of jump cuts, which I generally found annoying in other films of his, actually contributes well to the style of his character’s disjointed life. Much of the humor is laugh out loud funny (a bit more off color than usual) especially his Felliniquese vision of hell toward late in the film. He also pays tribute to Bergman (again) when Death, mistaking him for someone else, comes a knocking.
I’ve made no secret during my blogging “career” that John Greco is one of my favorite people, and his weekly submission at this thread are among my most revered. Yet I always make him wait for my response! Well, as John’s comment is always as comprehensive as any submitted here, I always want to make sure I afford them full justice and attention it deserves.
John, as I posed to Tony d’Ambra yesterday, I can’t think of Christmas being celebated amidst moderate weather, but heck we’ve had warmer holiday weather even here in the NYC region, as you yourself know from your many years living in these parts. Yep, this past weekend seems to be the time for all to visit their attics! Ha! I am a huge Paul Simon fan (as is Tony in fact, who penned a review of S & G’s recent Australian tour last year at this site) and consider both “Bookends” and “Bridge Over Troubled Water” as two of the greatest albums of the rock era. But I adore Simon’s solo “Graceland” too. I’d say he’s among the five greatest writers in rock history, with Lennon, Dylan, Townshend as sure entries too. The volume sounds like a very great one!
I forget who, (maybe Ed Howard?) but someone else not too long ago argued at this site that DECONSTRUCTING HARRY was seriously underrated Woody. I have never embraced it particularly, but maybe it’s time to give it another go. I never disliked it, but found its style somewhat disconcerting. Your assessment here is food for thought though.
I couldn’t agree more with you on 127 HOURS, and your superb description of what makes it pulsate should motivate readers who haven’t seen it yet to do so. I am finding that the film is adored especially among the blogger critics.
Yes indeed on Ray’s BIGGER THAN LIFE, a classic (great Criterion DVD release on blu-ray too!) and I am in agreement with your words and rating on that holiday Del Ruth, which I haven’t seen in years. Now is the time to pay a return visit! I must stop over-dosing on MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET and IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE! Ha!
Alas I haven’t seen Zwick’s film, but you offer a fair enough recommendation, even with the second half fallout. Lucille and my eldest daughter Melanie did see it though, and came away entertained at the very least.
Thanks as always my very good friend for the utterly spectacular wrap! It a real cornerstone here!
Yes, I have been seriously under the weather for some time now and indeed still am (18th day of quarantine at the mo). It would seem that my dose of flu has led to laryngitis which has left me virtually unable to speak, still coughing badly and totally without energy (not helped by not sleeping for more than 3-4 consecutive hours for the last fortnight). Hence I have been quiet on every front. I finally got to see see Enter the Void on Blu Ray after having to wait until I felt well enough. Then found I wasn’t well enough and had to rewatch it a day or so later. Thoughts will follow sometime. I am grateful to Jamie and Tony who I know are both preparing parcels to send on to me soon and they should hopefully brighten up a Christmas that, unless I find a miracle cure, seems to have been taken off the rails before it has even begun.
Sam and the rest of you, I hope somehow you can find me some screeners/downloads of some of the major films released around this time. Needless to say I’ll get them on BR eventually, but it would be nice to see some of them before my New Year deadline.
I will be in touch when I can, but it has been a very depressing, frustrating time.
Sorry to hear you are ill.
Here’s hoping for a speedy recovery Allan…
Allan,
Sorry to hear of your frustrating time!!Best wishes for a speedier recovery than you are anticipating…
Cheers!
Yes, I know you have had as bad a time as you ever have. When you are stricken with this infernal bug, you seem to be out of commission for lengthy intervals. I have my fingers crossed that the worst stage is behind you, and hope you will soon be back to normal in every sense. This has really been a terrible year for so many of us health-wise.
Feel better Mr Fish. I actually got the flu a few days before I left for Florida. I was still under the weather for the first few days of the trip. While I cursed God at every turn, my ailments were not as severe as yours. I can only imagine your annoyance at not being able to indulge in your love of cinema during the height of your illness.
Sorry to hear you are ill, Allan. It sounds horrible – hope you are feeling better soon.
Thanks, guys. I think the flu isn’t the problem now. I have coughed so much and so violently, I now have laryngitis, so I have effectively no voice at all save for squeaking, and of course still the dry coughing fits and I still haven’t slept more than 3 hours in a row for nearly a fortnight. I am just to weary to hell and begin to feel I will never get better. I just want to hibernate and tell the cruel world to piss off and die.
Sounds like something I get every three or four years Allan old fish. For me, once the laryngitis passes (keep your gob shut sonny) it’s pretty much over besides some subsequent weakness. Get as much rest as you can and drink water.
Pip pip, cheerio, and all other sorts of rot…
SAM-While I am one to side with you on calling Aronofsky’s THE FOUNTAIN one of the colossal films of this decade, I never understood what all the hub-bub over this director was for. Frankly, I have found him 50/50 in his success rate and, even then, the successes for this director are only in keeping with praise coming from those that “get” his film. His first venture into feature film making is the overly complicated and confusing PI. That film, while tending a die-hard fan base, is severly uneven and, to most, hard to decipher. Granted, his REQUIEM FOR A DREAM is a tremendous film that is pumping on all cylinders, it has its detractors that find it slow and hard to take (I, personally, find the film dazzling on many levels and think that Ellen Burstyn gave the best performance of the year as the TV show obsessed prescription drug abuser). THE WRESTLER, which won raves by many, is a poorly disguised love letter to the main actor, Mickey Rourke, and becomes a monotonous vehicle that attempts to jump-start the troubled actors career after years of self abuse (yeah, it really worked too… So far, Rourke has added turns in both the monumental IRON MAN 2 and that gathering of great Shakespearean thespians that shows guys like Olivier and Brando up called THE EXPENDABLES). It comes as no surprize to me that Aronofsky has flubbed the ball again with THE BLACK SWAN and I find his penchant for gore and grotesquery tiresome and needless more times than not. I heard rumors that he is planning to re-jump-start his plans of remaking Paul Verhoevan’s ROBOCOP. Gee, I can’t wait to see how many buckets of blood and guts he can add to a film that pushed the limits of gore to new heights.
TANGLED, the newest fairy tale spin from Disney is a mixed bag. After pondering this film upon seeing it last Wednesday, I have conflicting feelings about it. While the animation is top notch and the application of style that was inherent in the traditional hand-drawn films of the old school animators working for Uncle Walt is applied now to computer rendered imagery, I found the plot a little plodding and the attempt to recapture the glory of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST somewhat forced. In it’s favor, the film is dotted with some wonderful songs and a terrific score by veteran Disney composer Alan Menken (who won Oscars for THE LITTLE MERMAID, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST and ALADDIN). The film did strike gold with several of its big visual set pieces and none more stunning than a beautiful passage involving floating lanterns in tribute to a lost Princess.
I did, however, have one MAJOR beef with the film.
In order to heighten the drama of the story (and I feel would have added an extra dimension to it that would have been a true first for these types of films), the screenwriters had an opportunity to wrench up a potential tragedy by killing off one of its main characters to add a depth of emotion that rarely sees the light day in a “disneyfied” fairy-tale adapatation. By killing this character, I honestly felt the emotional core of the film would have taken on a greater dimension and held truer to the kinds of tales that Grimm and Aesop and Anderson penned. I felt the lack of this emotional moment was a serious blunder by the writers of the film and a “safe” bet for those that only want to make money by sending a happy ending. TANGLED is a really GOOD film. However, its flaws are to evident to put it in a leaque with the likes of something like TOY STORY 3 that didn’t make a wrong step in its entire running time.
THE WALKING DEAD saw its last episode of the season and in a mere 45 minutes went from blisteringly exciting action/horror/fantasy/adventure to a very logical and realistic look at what might just happen to us if the end of the world were to present itself like this. The episode used the ticking of a count-down clock as the major metaphor for a world running out of time at the hands of the people that started the clock ticking in the first place and, accompanied with a marvelous final moment with Bob Dylan’s music playing in the background, faded out to leave me salivating for next season. The show has done so incredibly well in the mere 6 episodes of its “trial” season that AMC has ordered two more seasons worth of episode and I cannot wait to see where the show will go…
STEPHEN has produced some amazing essays in the animation count over the past week and I’m teething at the bit to see where he’ll ne going as he gets closer to his finale and wrap up…
On a personal note (and this goes out to DEE DEE particularly), my brother David went into Sloan Kettering Hospital for his Cancer operation last Tuesday. The operation took a little longer than the surgeons expected (5 hours to the predicted 2), however the surgeons successfully removed both the Thyroid gland and the tumor embedded in it and they expect a full and clean recovery. David will have to succumb to an IODINE treatment that (as it was explained to me) will effectively seal off and clean out any remaining malignancy in the area that was infected by the cancer. They expect David to stay completely cancer free and they all resoundingly concurred that he will live a long and healthy life.
Whew!!!!!
With all that said, I will now shuffle off to see where Stephen takes us on the animation thread.
Thank you all for expressing your concern and good wishes for my brother and THANK YOU SO MUCH to DEE DEE for the kind words of encouragement a few days past.
Dennis,
great to hear about your brother’s recovery. Will make for a happy holiday season this year I am sure.
JOHN-Yes, Davis IS expected to make a full recovery and his spirits are high. He had some trouble talking and swallowing anything but luke warm water for the first two days. However, the pain subsided by the end of the third day and he wolfed down a cheeseburger that night as he had been craving solid food. The kids (my two nephews) were perplexed by the scar across there fathers neck (he looks like a victim straight out of SWEENY TODD) but I told them that he was away on a pirate ship where he was caught in a swordfight and that his scar was part of the duel (they bought it). My sister-in-law shook her head at my explaination and told the kids that their uncle should be weaving baskets and painting the lawn furniture at Bergen Pines New Jersey State Mental Hospital!!!!! :-p
Thank you so much for the kind words John!!!!!
I echo everyone else’s best wishes for your brothers speedy recovery.
Dennis,
Great news about your brother’s recovery and prognosis…what a relief!Sloan Kettering is the best!! Our niece is a surgeon there–yup, they even hire Canadians :-))
Thank you so much JIM!!!!!!
We started with Hackensack Hospital (my sister-in-law, David’s wife, is one of the head RN’s there) as they are ranked one of the best in the country for Cancer. However, the doctor there recommended his mentor at Sloan Kettering and felt that David would feel even safer knowing that the guy that taught his doctor would be taking charge. The thinking was correct and he went through the operation and procedures like a champ.
They were slightly concerned when the tumor turned out to be a quarter bigger than they had thought, but the removal of both the Thyroid Gland and the tumor, once exposed to the hands of the surgeons was sait to “peel” off the way perferated paper clothing “pops” off the page of a little girls paper doll book.
The tumor and the gland were studied after the operation and the area that was cleaned by the glands removal showed absolutely no signs of spreading cancer. Literally, David is clean as a whistle and cancer free….
I’ve been able to sleep now since the verdict came in and aside from a massive anxiety attack I had the night of the operation (that I, at first, thought was a stress induced heart attack) that nearly saw me call for an ambulance, I am breathing a big sigh of relief.
When it comes to the health and happiness of my family and people like Sam and Lucille and their kids, I can be fit to be tied. I’m a classic worrier and panicker when it comes to stuff like this and I heard that I was going to be winning the Woody Allen award for most neurosis this year.
Well Dennis, we’ve discussed TANGLED at length in the car on the way home from the theatre, and while I like dit more than you, I understand comparatively why you’d be inclined to grade it a bit lower. Still, I can appreciate your special mention of the engaging Menken score and the lantern scene in particular. As I said below to Jason, I thought the happy ending was merely following the source material, as did Paul Zelinsky in his Caldecott Medal-winning “Rapunzel” about ten years ago.
I MUST see THE WALKING DEAD, but the best way would be for me to wait for the DVD release, as I’ve missed too much (as I have of BOARDWALK EMPIRE).
The most important matter of course by a thousand miles is the situation with your brother. When you first told me this I was alarmed and shocked (as I know David is a lifelong non-smoker) but as this nerve-wracking episode has played out, the reports are back and David will be living a long life. It’s awful he’s had to endure all this, and I know full well the grief it’s caused your mother and father especially, but he’s in the best of hands, and will fully recover, as the doctors have promised. As I have found out myself over the past months, there are some things that are impossible to gage or predict, and David was just unlucky. He’s had to go through a lot, but in the end he’ll be their for his lovely family. To say my heart goes out to him is understating the situation, but I say knowing full well he’ll be out and about, enjoying all that life offers him in no time!
Thanks as always me very good friend!
Glad to hear that your brother is doing well, Dennis, and wishing all the best for his recovery.
Sam –
Good morning from the frozen midwest – a whopping ten degrees out as I write this. Brrrrr!
I am in complete agreement with both you and Marilyn on “Black Swan.” Still scratching my head over the near-unanimous critical hosannas being bestowed on this one. Did they see the same film I saw?
Pat – No they did not. They saw a horror movie.
Hey Pat! Yep, Marilyn’s response here is for my money, dead-on. It is being seem and regarded as horror, and not in a very good sense I’m afraid. But for you the proof is in the pudding, as you found out out firsthand. I know you aren’t such a big fan of the director, so you had some further handicaps here. I think this might be Aronofsky’s “homage” to Argento.
10 degrees? Geez. We thought it was cold here in the high 20’s, but I know this is just the beginning. Stay warm, and save a time slot for THE KING’S SPEECH! I’d bet money you gonna love that one my friend!
Thanks as always!
Sam –
Well, my problem may well be that I’ve never seen any of Dario Argento’s films so I wouldn’t know an homage if I saw one. I’m not a horror fan in general, although I’m reasonably confident that I can appreciate a great horror film if I’m presented with one, but “Black Swan” ain’t it. Interestingly enough, the one film that “Black Swan” put me in mind of – which I’ve not seen referenced in any review so far – was “Carrie.” (Frightened, virginal heroine; controlling monster mom, etc. Only instead of telekinesis, the heroine’s special power is her dancing. A stretch maybe, but I think there are some similarities…)
As for “The King’s Speech,” I am eagerly anticipating it!
Sam, thanks so much for the awesome mention and words.
I am extremely interested to follow your threads on the Takemitsu series, as well as the upcoming Lang in Hollywood festival. I wish I were in New York and could attend some of these with you. It also sounds like you had a wonderful weekend with the family and friends out in Sussex County. That sounds like a great tradition and excursion.
This week, I was able to take in a decent number of films. I saw: I CONFESS, DANGEROUS WHEN WET, THE QUIET MAN, MOGAMBO, I VITELLONI, KANSAS CITY CONFIDENTIAL, and PEGGY SUE GOT MARRIED. I really enjoyed them all, but would have to say, even though it’s not the majority opinion, that MOGAMBO affected me the most. I found Kelly, of course, ravishing as ever. But I also found the way that Ford handled the suspense between the animals and Gable’s group, and the complexity of the emotions the film explored, all to be top-tier Ford. Knowing some of Ford’s struggles with his feelings towards Katherine Hepburn, I responded strongly to the personal aspect of the film, as well.
Thanks, Sam, for all the incredible work. Here’s to another awesome week.
Oh I wish you were here too Jeffrey! I know you have a particular veneration of both Lang and Takemitsu’s work, and these two festivals are simply too tempting to ignore. Over the next two days it’s Teshigahara’s PITFALL and THE FACE OF ANOTHER, and then Kobayashi’s HARAKIRI and KWAIDAN later in the week, with Takemitsu’s crowing score for Kurosawa’s RAN over the weekend.
As I’ve stated above, yes the Sussex County trip is one we look forward to every year! I was thrilled we weren’t disappointed in any sense.
MOGAMBO is definitely an excellent choice of that group, though I might slightly favor Fellini’s I VITTELLONI and Hichcock’s I CONFESS. But it’s apples and oranges, and you do make a great point about ahving a special connection to the ‘personal’ aspects the film. Needless to say I am a huge Ford fan, and am hoping the Film Forum decides on a full retrospective on this work in the future.
You know my friend, if you ever get up top the Big Apple, you’ll get the red carpet!
Thanks as always for your many kindnesses!
Sam – the family Christmas tree/stallion/bagel/chili/cookie adventure sounds like a blast!
TANGLED has been placed front and center on my must-see film list. And although I haven’t even thought of THE GRAPES OF WRATH in years (and years), because of your brief reminder, I’ve placed it on my re-see list.
I watched MADAME BUTTERFLY last night (Puccini, 2002) and was pulled into an emotional tug-of-war: anger by Lieutenant Pinkerton – a horse’s patoot, and sadness by the ever-shifting facial expressions (from hope to despair) on Madame Butterfly’s face.
It’s been said that if a storyline can make you laugh, cry, or piss you off – then the writer did his/her job. I was fairly steamed at the outcome (that I could see coming), so it was a job well done.
Ha! I love that opening sentence Laurie! You packed the entire essence of our experience there! And I know how much you approve and promote this kind of family get-together. It’s a cliche to say it I know, but nothing in life comparaes to it, a conviction I must remember when I go off to movies solo. But we often take rides and do things as a family, and in the summer we have our vacation time too.
I am sure you will like TANGLED as much (or nearly as much) as you loved HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON! And THE GRAPES OF WRATH (70 years old this year) can never fail to weave its power. A repeat viewing always seems to unearth new revelations too.
I am really thrilled that you watched the film version of MADAME BUTTERFLY and you really said it all there. All those feelings and emotions swirl around, and that music (especially the extended love duet and “Un Bel Di”) floors you every time with its soaring lyricism and impassioned melody. God, I want to watch it again right now!
Thanks as always my excellent friend!
The horror film angle in Black Swan has always seemed like a risky proposition. Yet so many have bought into it.
Glad to hear you guys had a great time securing the tree. Nice tradition.
Thanks Frank.
Well, I’ll say this for Aronofsky. He’s as diverse a director as we have, and he segues seamlessly through styles and genres, with a noteworthy dearth of redundancy. I just felt this one was all wrong from the starting gate.
The tree exbidition was one of life’s real joys of course.
Thanks as always my very good friend!
So I guess you’re just about ready to post your ten best list, right Sam? I’m trying to figure the top choice, but this year there just isn’t any single film that seems to stand so far ahead of the field. I remember a few that I think you gave high marks to….Carlos, Shutter Island, Un Prophete, Dog Pound. What am I missing?
I would most definately guess VINCERE and JEAN MICHELE BASQUIAT will make SCHMULEE’s TOP TEN of the year. HOWEVER, there is one choice most wouldn’t expect Sam to make but will ABSOLUTELY make his top ten and most likely break the top 5!
That film is certainly going to be TOY STORY 3
Yeah, Dennis I forgot “Toy Story 3” I know he loves that. The one with the dragon in the title he promoted too.
I promote it as well Frederick. The film, whether on first or tenth viewing very nary steps wrong. The emotion is genuione and heartfelt and the conclusion to the film sums up the perfect circle that Lassiter set into spinning motion with the first film way back in 1995.
The word around Hollywood is that not only is PIXAR promoting the film as DISNEY’s main selection for nominations at this years Academy Awards but that they are launching an all-out take-no-prisoners campaign to not only get the film nominated for BEST ANIMATED FEATURE and BEST PICTURE OF THE YEAR but push it hard for the WIN in the top category.
Lasseter and company seem to think that it is high time the Academy acknowledges the importance and the validity of animation for the grand prize and it is rumored that they will stop at nothing to push TOY STORY 3 into the faces of the voters as hard as they can to have it prevail as the big winner. The TOY STORY films are beloved by billions of filmgoers of every age the world over and PIXAR really thinks the film has the stuff (call it a cumulative win for the three films in total-alot like THE RETURN OF THE KING as a representative for THE LORD OF THE RINGS films) to go all the way.
Personally, I think it’s time. TOY STORY has a near perfect critical rating (one of the highest, if not THE highest in ROTTEN TOMATOES history) and it’s one of the years big box office champs. PIXAR has a near perfect track record with the films that they have presented since 1995 and, frankly, the stuffy voters should finally loosen their flies and collars and admit that, more often than not, their live-action offerings look miniscule next to the creativity, imagination and detail that the guys and gals at PIXAR drum up EVERY time out the gate.
TOY STORY
A BUGS LIFE
MONSTERS INC
TOY STORY 2
FINDING NEMO
THE INCREDIBLES
CARS
RATATOUILLE
WALL-E
UP
TOY STORY 3
Honestly, look at that roster of films and ask yourselves if it isn’t time to honor and concede to the excelence that PIXAR is effortlessly churning out. Sure, many poo-poo the films as fluff. I say they are just unwilling to admit that “cartoons” can be smarter, hipper, more imaginative and BETTER than what most of todays live action films are TRYING MISERABLY to be.
TOY STORY 3 was EASILY one of 2010’s Ten Best Films…
Well Dennis (and Frederick) I am presently putting my list together. I still need to see INSIDE JOB and the yet-to-be-released TRUE GRIT, but I have an idea of how it will all come together.
Believe it or not I am still unsure of what film I will place in poll position! Rarely, have I ever had such difficulty.
As always, thanks for the shout out, Sam. Wow, I am really surprised you didn’t like BLACK SWAN which I’ve heard is a fusion of early Polanski and Argento. But then again, Aronofsky’s films are nothing but polarizing. You either like ’em or you hate ’em. I am definitely curious to check this one out and see which side of the fence I land on.
J.D.: No one is as surprised about the film as I was! I went in expecting (and wanting) to love it, so my disappointment was ten-fold. I remain completely smitten with THE FOUNTAIN, but I found this latest film a bad misfire. Let’s see what you think. I know other bologgers like Craig Kennedy and Tony Dayoub have issues considerable praise.
Thanks as always my very good friend!
It was wonderful to be drawn back, by your report, to Woman in the Dunes, a brilliant study of sensuality and social pitfalls. Thanks Sam!
And I bet you’d do a magisterial job with this director Jim! He resonates with you in a big way! I have a few more to see this week that rank among his best work!
Thanks as always my very good friend!
Thanks again, Sam, for the copious mentions of my and Rod’s work. And “Antonio Gaudi” plays at the Siskel Center every Christmas, I think for the architecture students at the School of the Art Institute, of which the Film Center is a part.
I had a very curious experience yesterday – watching Capra’s “Lost Horizon” and the Joaquin Phoenix/Casey Afflect mockumentary “I’m Still Here” back to back. When seen that way, the similar themes come through. I’m planning to write a duo review of the two, which is either genius or a fool’s errand, most likely the latter.
I met James Uhler this weekend, and a very, very pleasant experience it was, too. We dined with Jon Lanthier and his wonderful girlfriend Rachel McCain.
The snow cancelled plans to go to Indiana and see the sandhill cranes, but it was a nice weekend in all other respects.
That film plays every year at the Siskel Center Marilyn? Well, it’s reputation has risen for sure, and that lovely Criterion release has accentauted it’s appeal (especially to those architecture students you mention there).
That is absolutely fantastic news that you broke bread with Jamie, Jon and Rachel over the weekend. It was a meeting that geography prevented me from attending, but I can imagine and appreciate what a great time you all had. I could imagine the terrific conversation too, as this was a unique meeting of great minds! And I bet the food was to die for too!
I hear about that snow, and what with Pat’s admission to plummeting temperatures, I can’t say I’m looking forward to the same here in the upcoming weeks! Ha! Sorry it dashed your Hoosier State visit though.
That is indeed a bizarre mix of films, but if anyone can make the correlation my friend, it’s YOU! I have adored Capra’s LOST HORIZON for my entire life.
Thanks as always Marilyn!
Thanks for the pita, Marilyn! Now I need to make some falafel… And yes, dinner with you and Jamie was a delightfully cinephiliac (and vegan) evening. I also happen to love two-fisted reviews that take on ostensibly dissimilar films, so I’ll be waiting for that…apophenia is a marvelously useful rhetorical strategy.
Glad to hear, Sam, that you haven’t bought into BLACK SWAN’s foolishness. I thought the film had moments of strength, but it’s overall rather pointlessly mean-spirited and metaphorically messy. I was talking to a friend on Facebook and said this about it (which is about as close as I’m going to bother coming to a review):
“…you’re certainly correct in that BLACK SWAN seemed strangely and offensively concrete (the transformation scene, which really doesn’t make any particular sense either as an alternate reality or as fantasy fulfillment, is the best example of this). The way I like to put it is that Aronofsky can’t help but corporealize EVERYthing (buzzers through elbows, staples through pecks, etc in previous films), which lends itself to visceral potency but tends to traffic very simple and grandiose ideas. I didn’t mind the clunking thesis of REQUIEM FOR A DREAM, even in its most reductive form (addiction is BAD, kids!), but with WRESTLER/SWAN Aronofsky treads emotional terrain that requires more nuance (and fewer Judeo-Christian tropes). SWAN’s psychological vagueness (is this real or not? oh golly I wonder) proves itself a vapid tension mechanism with the muddled payoff, and the film’s central distaff dichotomy seems both arbitrary and misogynistic (repressed and calculated versus, urrr, promiscuous and garish? what?).
Not that I didn’t enjoy the movie at all (it has a handful of strong moments) but for me the thing completely fell apart in the 3rd act – Portman’s dance as the Black Swan was anything but sexy, despite the audience’s raving (it seemed rather possessed with confident, seam-showing exactitude where it should have been organic and earthily seductive). And the final flourish of (still, curiously, corporealized) martyrdom looks selfish and tawdry next to, say, THE RED SHOES’ last sacrifice (but then, that’s about the most lyrical paean to the art life we have). I have friends who really dig this and they’ve got some persuasive arguments, but I’ll take Powell, Pressburger, and Polanski over this ersatz-camp any day…”
Hello Sam and everyone that looks into this page looking for knowledge and fun.
First, many thanks to be featured once more on your imprescindible blogroll, it’s one of the moments I look forward the most ‘heh… if he doesn’t feature me I guess I’ll have to work harder’, those kinda moments, you know? You have been one of the best blog promotors out there and now that MovieMan’s time is coming to feature and spotlight forgotten entries, I think this has been a good year for me in that area.
My week… my week… well we spent again about more than six hours a day tuesday and wednesday editing the documentary so we could present it on Friday. Monday I had an oral exam and a pitch, but those are fuzzy now. We presented the documentary the Friday and it was liked through, even if they found issues with the start and the end of it, but I think I passed that damn thing.
Friday was also a swell day, I had a date… I don’t know why I tell you this, but I can say why it was swell, it’s the first one I’ve had in my life (I know, lame being 20 and all, almost 21). She’s swell too.
On contrast, Saturday and Sunday were boring days, so I’m now giving my curriculum to my local cinema to work as projector, see how that goes.
We had the Teleton this weekend, 27 hours of love as they call it, Friday and Saturday of music, getting money for the kids with special habilities. Didn’t see as much as other years, but the final act was good.
About your week Sam, well that sounds like a fun Saturday, trees, kids and stuff, sounds good, here we haven’t even started with the tree, we gotta take out our plastic tree (yeah, we’re cheap and ecological, how’s that).
About the movies you saw, I haven’t seen any of them and I want to see them all. I’m actually surprised by the recent hate towards “Black Swan”, my most awaited movie of the whole year, a movie I’m going nuts since it’s going to premiere January the 27th here. I’m going NUTS!
Movies I saw:
– Delicatessen (1991, Marc Caro, Jean-Pierre Jeunet) ***1/2 Style over plot sometimes works, this time there are far too many plot holes and confusing stories, as well as unnecessary characters to be really recommendable.
– Firebreather (2010, Peter Chung) *** This I saw before reading Bob Clark’s somewhat positive review. I just gave it three stars because the story was hooking enough, even if plagued with clichés, and it also felt overlong. The animation sucked too.
– Triangle (1982, Priit Parn) ***1/2 Funny, inventive, interesting, but what was behind it, for me, was awful and not really commendable.
– November Christmas (2010, Robert Hammon) *** From the director of the film “The Hitcher” comes this sweet little fable plagues with clichés and not so good performances that somehow ends up being watchable but a bit crincheworthy.
– Pleasures of War (1998, Ruth Lingford) ***1/2 It was good, but kinda… don’t know.
– The Battle of Kerzhenets (1971, Ivan Ivanov-Vano, Yuriy Norshteyn) **** Oh so good! This was a real surprise, and a very good short.
– Unstoppable (2010, Tony Scott) *** You were right, it was kinda meh, don’t know what the fuzz is about.
Music wise, the last act of Teleton had the pleasure of having Faith No More, a band my brothers likes a lot, and I find not that good. But it was good to see this band on my TV, singing two songs, on their last per one show in their existance (the last show was also in Chile, with Primus).
So yeah, good day everyone have fun, and wish me luck on this future second date… (WHY I’M EVEN TELLING THIS? GOD)
PS: how did you like the video Sam?
Speaking about the date here Jaime? To be honest, (and this may fly in the face of those dogmatists in the blogging ranks who always seem to think the ‘film’s the thing’) it is precisely those matters that mean the most here at this blog, and the recent appearances here of health care professionals and nature lovers have made me believe that our hobbies are wonderful, but our social interaction is really what is the most rewarding and ultimately the most lasting. I’ll get off my soap box now, and say that’s terrific that you had your first experience in that regard. (my first date wasn’t until my late 30’s? How’s that for embarrassing admissions? And the date was with none other than my Lucille!) Even better too that you had a wonderful time, and are now (as per your sneaking that follow-up in at the end!) planning a second rendezvous. Jaime, this is great! How bout guys and girls? Isn’t it great to be young and to dig up our most treasured moments? Jaime, you’re the best!
I will give you my opinion on that documentary you tube by e mail (I know I have been delayed in that regard, but it’s all the fault of a Japanese film composer named Toru Takemitsu! He’s the culprit here!) In any case I am well-aware of the time and effort you’ve expended weekly, and know how eager you are (as I would be) to get some feedback. Let’s just say here you’ve done a great job with it!
Sorry about the lousy report on BLACK SWAN, but I am a minority voice, and you may well realize your aspirations for it later in January. I must say as a past Aronofsky admirer (I adored THE FOUNTAIN most of all of course) I was disappointed greatly, as no late year entry had me more excited. Now I am thinking ahead to Malick’s THE TREE OF LIFE, as have been for many months.
Glad you saw the issues at hand with the overrated UNSTOPPABLE, and even more thrilled that some of Stephen’s wonderful animated countdown entries have been favorably assessed by you, particularly that stunning
“The Battle of Kerzhenets.”
Bummer with FIREBREATHER, and though I would go with **** of 5 on DELICATESSEN, I can at least partically agree with some of what you say there about style over substance (which is really a trademark of these directors) I loved the “impregnated tomato scene” near the start!!!
Can’t blame you guys for favoring artificial Christmas trees; they are more economical and they do help in an ecological sense, even if the annual experience we have (as you duly note) is worth the sacrifices.
I don’t know that group you speak of at the end there (the one your brother likes more) but I’m still grateful to have the report here!
And yes, Movie Man’s “Remebering the Movies” series is truly awesome, and instilled with passion and diversity!
What a frank, engaging, endearing and heartfelt wrap my very good friend! I’m floored!
Thanks Sam for the mention and for championing my writing here and there.
I’ll be digging into the links soon. As always MONDAY MORNING DIARY is a great resource.
Thanks so much Stephen. You deserved all the praise for the amazing work you’ve done!
I didn’t see Black Swan as a horror movie at all, but a psychological thriller with horror undertones and a very good one. I found Portman’s performance to be fantastic. A new level for her. She’s always been a promising actress, but here she fully lives up to her potential.
The first half of the film for me was problematic… it was way too blunt and obvious, but the final 20 minutes transformed it.
I’d be really curious to hear your interpretation of the 3rd act, Craig; I found it indefensibly inept.
Jon, mainly what grabbed me was Nina’s transformation and most of that was in Portman’s mostly dialogue free performance. There’s that section where she’s starting to come alive and she’s back stage strutting around feeding off the reaction of the audience. Then she comes back out confident and exhilarated as she gives herself over to the performance and the audience goes crazy. All through that up until where she grabs the director and plants one on him. I thought that whole thing was fantastic. ***spoiler*** follow that with the conclusion and the sadness of the culmination of her dreams basically leading to her destruction and I found it all very powerful. ***end spoiler*** The first half of the film lumbered around kind of bluntly and awkwardly though entertainingly, but the end really grabbed me.
I’m not sure if I’m saying too much or not enough or answering your question. Perhaps you could help me out by saying what you thought was inept about it.
Thanks very much for diving in here Craig, and for respresnting the yay-sayers, a group which admittedly far outnumbers those who have issues with the film. At LIC and here you have presented a vigorous defense, as you do with every instance of disagreement. It seems to always come down to taste and alternating sensibilities. For me this film is suggestive, rather than revealing, and this doesn’t serve this kind of genre very well. As I just opined at LIC:
“Well Craig, to be perfectly blunt, after I watched the film, I was thinking that those who have deliriously embraced it were doing so with the shallowest of misconceptions. The film (for me) was both frustrating and reliant on slasher film theatrics to draw attention from its failure to consumate this bizarre premise (an obvious throwback to Powell and Pressburger’s THE RED SHOES) but only implying that some shady things were going on in the back rooms. Polanski has done this kind of thing far better, and Aronfsky failed at something that was practically handed to him on a silver platter: wringing emotion from the likes of Tchaikovsky’s ravishing “Swan Lake.” To be sure there were some stunning images and some choreographic brilliance, but this exasperating film is far more tedious, inconclusive and inchesive than it really has a right to be. When one comes away feeling nothing at all for the Portman character, one is inclined to believe this is a cold and distant drama, when it isn’t busy trying to offer up jolting shocks.
So what of it? The latest numbers at RT show that 86% of the critics like it, with only 14% in the minority. While I am certainly with the naysayers, I can understand precisely what the appeal is here, and you for one have (as always) presented an excellent defense.
I went in to this film WANTING to like it, and EXPECTING to like it, as Aronofsky’s THE FOUNTAIN is one of my favorite films of recent years. Craig, I am truthfully envious for your love here.”
The vision was half-baked, from my perspective.
I’m just copying my response to from the Black Swan review thread at LiC:
“Sam, the slasher film theatrics weren’t intended to distract attention rather to illustrate Nina’s state of mind as she descended into a sexual panic. Red Shoes really doesn’t have much of a connection to Black Swan other than a theme of artistic obsession and the dancing itself. The Polanski connection I’ll buy. To me Black Swan had more in common with Repulsion than it did Red Shoes, but even then Nina’s psychosis was only one aspect of a film that was about much more than just that.
As for what Aronofsky did to Swan Lake, I don’t see how this is relevant. This was not a ballet film. It was a film that used ballet as a means to amplify the issue at hand which is the arc of a young woman’s life from girlhood to maturity to being whisked off the stage because she’s now past her prime. The ideas in the folk tale behind Swan Lake were neatly folded into Black Swan’s story, but Tchaikovsky doesn’t even enter into it.
How you could avoid feeling anything for Portman’s character is a complete mystery to me, but one I can’t really argue with. Perhaps that is the key difference between the films fans and its detractors.”
Sam, for good or ill it looks increasingly as if The Fountain is the exceptional in Aronofsky’s filmography. I say that having thought very highly of both Requiem For A Dream and The Wrestler, but also as a reserved admirer of the exceptional film. I haven’t been sure what to make of the reviews for Black Swan so far; there seems to be a consensus that the film strikes a hysterical note too often, and it may be that the manner that was appropriate to wrestling comes across as camp when applied to ballet. I’ll probably give it a look anyway, but your criticisms are duly noted.
I had a family emergency last week so I didn’t do much beyond my self-assigned obligations to the Paul Naschy blogathon, but with the emergency safely passed I got back to movie watching over the weekend. I saw Imamura’s The Pornographers which struck me as a surprisingly mild comedy, and Otakar Vavra’s hellacious Witches’ Hammer, a film whose production and release in 1970 Czechoslovakia is a wonder to me. I also finished Tino Balio’s Foreign Film Renaissance, which means the Open City essay should be up sometime this week.
Happy shopping to everyone!
(Pi) was a great Aronofsky film as well…you know pi…3.14.
Aye Samuel! I see THE FOUNTAIN as the one legitimate masterpiece in Aronofsky’s diverse arsenal, though there are some out there who trash it mercilessly. I can honest say I am pretty much with you on everything you say in evaluating his work here, and I am more than intrigued to know what you’ll think of BLACK SWAN. A number of bloggers (including my friend Craig Kennedy) have defended the film with exceptional insight and erudition, but I see the deceit here, and feel it’s a cheap slasher film parading around as something far more meaningful. But, we’ll see.
I am relieved here to know that your emergency has passed with no bad repercussions, and that you were able to watch that Imamura and Vavra, two films I have seen and know very well. I like the former, but LOVE the latter Czechoslovakian film, which was first brought to my attention by Allan, who later send me an uncut version a bit longer than the Region 1 released by Facets. That soundtrack continues to haunt me! Ha!
Great news that you will be posting a piece on OPEN CITY. I’ll definitely want to check that one out!
And merry shopping to you my very good friend!
Now it’s on to Manhattan to catch a 7:50 P.M. showing of Teshigahara’s PITFALL and a 10:00 P.M. of Shinoda’s PALE FLOWER in yet another double at the Film Forum’s Takemitsu Festival.
I still need to respond here to Judy, David S. and Dee Dee, and I will as soon as I can. My apologies for this delay, but this daily festival schedule is the culprit.
Re: Frogs ex machina, Tom Cruise & the F-bomb
Snowed in with “Magnolia”
Couldn’t make it to see “The King’s Speech” due to a surprise snowstorm here in beautiful O-H-I-O, so….for some perverse reason PT Anderson made it to my DVD player – a movie I didn’t care for the first time I saw it and like even less now. Though one performance looks sharper than ever.
“Magnolia,” with its erotically suggestive title, contains some of the “bluest” language I can recall in a mainstream American film. I counted 25 “fucks” in the first 10 minutes alone, with crude nicknames for genitalia liberally sprinkled throughout. It’s as if Anderson couldn’t shake off the slime of “Boogie Nights,” a film which may owe a debt to Terry Southern’s satiric (and hilarious) novel “Blue Movie,” a filth-encrusted gem.
In fact, the “Battle of the Bush” sex seminar, with its heavy dose of profanity and theatrical lighting, plays like a cross between Southern and Bob Fosse, and Cruise vocalizes the obscenities in great clean snaps.
The DVD liner notes describe “Magnolia” as a series of “comic and poignant vignettes,” but I never laughed (unlike the very funny “Boogie Nights”) and wasn’t pierced by any sharp feelings of either pain or pleasure. This movie’s too crass — overwrought and overlong.
But there’s Tom Cruise giving yet another underappreciated performance. I don’t get the bias against Cruise. His acting never seems fully admired. Even when he’s nominated for an award, the respect seems grudging. Maybe it’s his all-American good looks, his extroverted self-confidence, his fast-track success especially in the jingoistic “Top Gun,” his Scientology beliefs, who knows.
But in “Magnolia” he’s absolutely first-class, his cock ‘o the walk performance the best reason to see the movie. As the manic sex evangelist he struts and writhes in an X-rated parody of Tom Jones in Vegas. He revels in lewdness and has the looks to get away with it. And his deathbed scene with Robards compares favorably with Nicholson berating his mute father then breaking down in “Five Easy Pieces” (there’s also an echo of Brando excoriating his dead wife in “Tango”).
I wish Cruise would quit making junk like “Mission Impossible” and “Knight and Day” and turn to more serious work. When he’s good, like here and “Rain Man” and “Born on the Fourth of July” and “War of the Worlds”, he’s among the best we’ve got, and I know that’s a minority opinion.
And thanks, Sam, for the skinny on “Black Swan,” a movie I had planned to see.
Tomorrow, Dec. 7, Pearl Harbor Day, always reminds me of the old FDR chestnut: “I hate war, my wife Eleanor hates war, and I hate my wife Eleanor.” Sorry, but bad taste in jokes runs through my veins.
Mark: I am not surprised to hear about the white stuff in the Buckeye state, as others here in your proximity have informed me of similar conditions, namely in northern Illinois. I am sorry though that it waylayed your plans to see THE KING’S SPEECH, though we know it’s a temporary setback. I do have my fingers crossed that you’ll eventually be singing the praises of Mssrs. Firth and Rush, and being ravished by Mr. Desplat.
P.T. Anderson is a great choice for the DVD player, and MAGNOLIA is my own favorite among his films. Still, I know for many both this film and BOOGIE NIGHTS have not held up (will the same thing happen with the currently adored THERE WILL BE BLOOD?) and I must tip my cap to you for that hysterical satiric thrashing! Some will also take issue with that bizarre Biblical storm. I am no fan of Tom Cruise, and see him as a tinny-voiced and shallow actor, but I did like two performances in his entire career. One was here and the other was as the lead in Stone’s BORN ON THE FOURTH OF JULY. I completely agree with you that his looks are often used against him though, and that he is excellent in MAGNOLIA.
I really love your no-holds-barred way method of analysis, and for presenting a fascinating point of view.
Yes, Pearl Harbor was with us again this week, and definitely count me in for appreciating that Eleanor/FDR joke!
While I appreciate your confidence in me, Mark, I would still be curious as to how BLACK SWAN works for you, or for that matter why it might not.
Thanks ever so much for your excellent submission at this thread my friend!
Message to John Greco, Samuel Wilson, Jaimie Grijalba, Maurizio, Dennis, Frederick, Mark S. and a few others:
(I always seem to save John, Bobby J. and Jaimie for near the end every week so I can commit the time they truly deserves for their amazing comments, and this week is no different)
I am leaving the house now for a rare Monday night off-Broadway play at the Pearl on St. Mark’s Place. This means I can’t get to at least a few of these until later tonight. My apologies for the delay, but I will be looking forward to responding to these great submissions!
Sam – whoa, your drubbing of BLACK SWAN makes me want to see it all the more! It, along with WHITE MATERIAL, are opening in Philly this upcoming weekend and I plan to make time for them both!
The season finale of BOARDWALK EMPIRE did not disappoint…I just love the show – the writing, the period detail, the music, the acting, the storyline, the setting…I could go on and on. But it will be nice to have my blog take a break from it. I still wonder if Scorsese has any plans to return and direct an episode next season or if he will still be too busy with HUGO CABRET.
On DVD, I watched:
CAIRO TIME – **** – Though there are a lot of heavy-hitters coming out this month, I really think this has a shot to make my top ten for the year. It was an absolute charming surprise…great music score, subtle acting (Patricia Clarkson was perfect) and I’ve never seen Cairo presented like this – such a wondrous sense of place…alienation mixed with awe and curiosity…fabulous…the best movie of this ilk since LOST IN TRANSLATION.
SABOTEUR – ****1/2 – Loved the off beat nature of this Hitchcock pulse-pounder…and all those great set pieces. He really was in his golden era in the early 1940’s.
VALHALLA RISING – ** – A ponderously vapid but cinematographically interesting piece about…well, I don’t even know what…Vikings? The Crusades? You tell me. WTF.
David, I am completely with you on CAIRO TIME (and negatively on VALHALLA RISING) and I certainly would give that Hitchcock a ****, so we are pretty much in full agreement with this week’s viewings. One day I will be able to say something on BOARDWALK EMPIRE, and you my friend have been the shining light from the very start (though John greco and Kevin Olson are right there too, and always have been). I could have swore you didn’t care for LOST IN TRANSLATION, but maybe I’m wrong. I would say CAIRO TIME is one of the very greatest African films ever made, and stands with a few by Ouseme Sembene.
I must say I am more than eager to learn of your experience with BLACK SWAN (and of course WHITE MATERIAL) i will be looking for reviews at THE SCHLEICHER SPIN!
Thanks as always my very good friend!
Thanks, Sam, for the mention.
You are one of the only two people that I know who’ve disliked Aronofsky’s film (the other being one of my favorite critics, Michael Sicinski). Can’t wait to see that film though.
Cheers!
Ah JAFB, there are others, (and some highly regarded professional critics have trashed it as you’ll see at the summary sites) but it seems the yay-sayers have won the numbers game resoundingly! I was terribly disappointed at this aborted and nasty vision, which lacks focus and cohesion, but you may well think otherwise.
Thanks as always my friend!
Hi! Sam Juliano, Allan, Dennis, and WitD readers…
@ Allan:
Allan, here wishing and hoping that you, have a speedy recovery…In order to continue writing.
@ Dennis
Dennis said,”On a personal note (and this goes out to DEE DEE particularly)…however the surgeons successfully removed both the Thyroid gland and the tumor embedded in it and they expect a full and clean recovery.”
…Dennis, Thank-you, for the mention and I’am so very happy to read and hear the very good news about your brother David too!
(On a personal note…all Of us have experience the kind Of anxiety Of which you speak…whenever a love one or friend(s) is/are experiencing a medical crisis…Therefore, you aren’t alone in going through the emotions that you have experienced.)
Dennis said, “On a personal note (and this goes out to DEE DEE particularly), my brother David went into Sloan Kettering Hospital for his Cancer operation last Tuesday. The operation took a little longer than the surgeons expected (5 hours to the predicted 2)…
I truly hate when that happens…Because I had to undergo an operation a couple of years ago was told by the nurse that I will be in there (The Hospital) for 3-4 days…27 days later she was ducking around corners in order to avoid making eye contact with me…Go figure?!?
However, here wishing Allan, David, (and his family) the best and both of them a…speedy recovery (or recoveries) too!
Cont…
Dee Dee: That is a lovely note of friendship and concern that is emblematic of your essence my friend, and I’m sure both Dennis and Allan deeply appreciate your humanity. We have both had our health scares, so this kind of affliction brings back memories. It does seem that this year has been awful for many I know, and on a personal level I’ve never gone through anything like what I’ve experiences in the past eight months. The bottom line though is that Dennis’ brother will be fine, and Allan will soon return to himself.
Cont…
Hi! again, Sam Juliano, Allan, and this time Tony…
Sam Juliano@
Sam Juliano said,”I managed to see four films in theatres this week (actually six, if you count two rare “repeats” to accomodate Dennis and my cousin Bobby McCartney…”)
The Black Swan
Sam Juliano, somehow I knew that this film would be the “weakest” link…especially, after reading your comment over there on Marilyn’s blog.
I see that Woman in the Dunes and
The Takemitsu Festival were the strongest links this week…Unfortunately, I’am not familiar with Takemitsu, yet…with “yet” being the operative word, but I’am quite sure that his films are worthy of the high ranking that you have bestowed on them…Thanks, for sharing the films that you viewed this week.
Sam Juliano said, “I just rectified the repeated link, and I’m sure Dee Dee will understand.
Most definitely…
Tony@
Tony said,”Hey Sam. You have given me a double-link DeeDee’s link has been hijacked. Thanks and thanks”
Ha! Ha!…The way you write and with your very keen, very insightful, very honest, and no-hold bars writings about film noir…if a link was considered a “Queen” who denounced her throne, then I most definitely, would relinqish my “crown” Oops!…I mean link to you, anyday. 🙂
Sam Juliano,
Thanks, for the package (or gift)…after I explore the contents…I hope to discuss what I have watched and what books that I have read next week…Thanks, for the mention and your generosity toward your fellow man and womankind…as usual!
DeeDee 😉 🙂
Well Dee Dee, you don’t mention here the incredible generosity you’ve shown me right along, and the packages that have arrived at my doorstep courtesy of your amazing kindness. I do hope you’ll find some time to watch some of those, though I know you are busy helping out your fellow bloggers regularly.
Yes, I knew you had seen the comment I made at Marilyn’s place, hence I had tipped my sentiments on BLACK SWAN. I tried hard to appreciate where Aronofsky was going with this, but I can’t embrace the mean-spirited attempt to bring together various artistic elements, and though some others felt otherwise, I remain convinced it’s serious misfire. Even bringing it up with the likes of THE RED SHOES (as some have done) seems way off the mark.
Yes, the Takemitsu Festival (as expected) is yielded some great films. No matter that I (and others) have seen a good number of these films -there are rarities though that not even Allan has seen that I’ll be attending – seeing them on the big screen is something always hankered for by movie fans in the proximity of the Film Forum and other restrospective houses.
Thanks too, for posting the tremendous interview with Michael B. Druxman!!!! And many thanks to him for his own brand of generosity!!!
I can’t thank you enough my very good friend!
Thanks as always for the plug Sam! Too bad about BLACK SWAN. I will be seeing it soon so I’ll let you know what I think, though I trust your judgment plus I’ve disliked other Aronofsky movies. For me, I have had a particularly busy week. I’ll just point out the highlights:
For new releases I made it out to THE KING’S SPEECH which I think I will talk about a bit more on my own site. I also saw TANGLED which I thought was hit-and-miss. I completely agree with Dennis above that it would have been a much better movie if it had the courage to kill off a character. It could have gone in a thoughtful and unexpected way — really about independence instead of the usual Disney/fairy tale message to little girls. Inexplicably I also saw FASTER (well, maybe “inexplicable” is the wrong word considering my appreciation for Dwayne Johnson’s … attributes). The movie is pretty awful, even Johnson who should be able to waltz through material like this, moves awkwardly, as though he wasn’t sure the cameras were actually running.
On other fronts, I just got back from Las Vegas where I completed the marathon there, my second in six weeks. I actually had a better race this time around finishing with a time of 5:15 — a slow, but still personal best time. It was great fun as Vegas always is. Lots of ridiculously excessive buffets — which I visited repeatedly both pre- and post-race. There’s nothing like all-you-can-eat crab legs after running 26.2 miles. (And if anyone will be in Vegas soon, the buffet at the Wynn is the way to go.)
The crab legs are your just reward Jason after that kind of performance!!! And I can well imagine that in every sense you are having a fabulous time in Vegas! I must say you are one movie lover, who doesn’t neglect physical activity, something I can no wappreciate after some nasty health scares. Best wishes for the last days of the trip there!
If you have had previous difficulty with Aronofsky, I would stronly speculate you won’t go with BLACK SWAN, but we’ll have to wait and see. I took no prisoners with my blunt reaction, and you may find some aspects worth issuing praise for. I’ll be looking for your sentiments when you get around to it as I will for THE KING’S SPEECH (which you don’t tip your hand with here! Ha) I remain glowingly enamored of that film, which is among my year’s very best. But again, I’ll wait for the essay. Yes, Dennis (and you) do make good points there with TANGLED, though of course the narrative arc was faithful to the original source. Still, for me, TOY STORY 3 was the year’s top animated feature. You dismissal of FASTER doesn’t surprise me, and I suspect I may feel the same way when I see it.
Have a great time and an enjoyable trip back my very good friend!
Temperature in the low 30s? You lucky bastard, that’s tropical.
We are at -9°C (which is 14°F) and will drop to -14°C (7°C) tomorrow night.
Jesus, it’s only -7°C in Moscow. And you wonder why my flu won’t go away, it’s being cryogenically preserved.
Yes, you are indeed being held, and I feel for you deeply. You always seem to get hit for long periods, and am hoping that this malady is in its death throws. We will speak on the phone over the next few days! Be well soon, please.
Sam, thank you again for the link…
Takemitsu festival must be a very fascinating occasion. You must have had quite a rewarding experience. I can only envy ….
I missed to post response last week, but TOKYO STORY and THE GRAPE OF WRATH in the same week must have been a marvelous experience. I love THE GRAPE OF WRATH, especially the way John Ford and Gregg Toland tell the story. The view of the camp from the Joad’s battered truck, slowly moving forward, is simply breathtaking. Until recently, people outside of U.S. saw America as a land of opportunities. For example, my parents generation in Japan naively imagined U.S. had anything you want, everybody was living a life like “Bewitched”. (THE GRAPE OF WRATH was first shown in Japan in 60s). Even though it was during Depression, they realized there were another side of America. And the film did not give any easy consoling answer, either.
And you saw it twice. I can only envy…
MI
And thank you my friend! I was also late getting over to your most recent (fascinating) essay on that Japanese propaganda film. I just read it all the way through, and find it essential.
Yes, the Takemitsu Festival examines Japan’s greatest film composer by bringing together some of the country’s greatest directors: Kurosawa, Teshigahara, Kobayashi, Shinoda, Ichikawa and two ultra-rare film by Hani (BAD BOYS and HE AND SHE). While I have always regarded the composer’s electrifying operatic score for RAN as his masterpiece, I am experiencing some of his most brilliant work here including the score for Oshima’s THE CEREMONY, which had me ravished on Sunday evening. (I will be seeing RAN on Sunday afternoon of this coming week, and even though I (like you and many others) have seen this a number of times over the years, the big-screen experience is too exciting to resist. Tonight I will be watching (and listening to!) Teshigahara’s PITFALL and Shinoda’s CHINMOKU, and I have double features lined up for tomorrow and Thursday, which include THE FACE OF ANOTHER and HIMATSURI (Yanagimachi). There is nobody I would like to have going with me to see these more than you my friend!
Thanks so much for that telling anecdote about the way America is perceived aboard and of the particular conceptions of your parents. If any film could ever dispel those misconceptions it is indeed THE GRAPES OF WRATH, which you’ve beautifully framed here!
And I did think of you while watching TOKYO STORY and of the incomparable work you’ve done to appreciate the film artistically and historically.
Thanks as always my very good friend!
Thank you for the kindest words!
Oh, I would like to sit through the whole festival with you!
SO then, we can expect your Takemitsu review in the near future! That is a very good news. Oshima’s “CEREMONY” is a good one, but it has been many many years since I saw it, my memory is a bit hazy…
By the way, I am planning to see Rex Ingram’s “THE MAGICIAN” on screen. They got this 16mm print and they will show it only for three days in a small theater in Tokyo. His films are very hard to come by, even on DVD. This is the rarest opportunity for a long time to come.
MI
Yes my friend, I will have a report on Takemitsu after the Ozu appears, and it’s been by and large a wonderful experience. Last night I must say I was’t all that enamored with a 1985 film called HITMATSURI, but I had fun with Ichikawa’s ALONE ACROSS THE PACIFIC. It seems that Glenn Kenny was a bit too high on it, but I have always considered Ichikawa’s THE BURMESE HARP as a masterpiece of Japanese cinema, and FIRE ON THE PLAIN as masterful as well.
I recently purchased Ingram’s THE MAGICIAN from Warner Archives (Region 1 DVD) but what you have there in Tokyo is truly fantastic and a thousand times better than a DVD!!! I don’t remember if the silent classic was ever offered in NYC, and I am certain you will find it to be an unforgettable experience. Please, my friend, do let me know about the print and the screening!
Hi! Sam Juliano…
Sam Juliano said,”Saturday morning temperatures in the northern New Jersey/NYC region plummeted into the 30′s bringing with it a real sense of the approaching holiday season. If not for anything else it provided an appropriate winter underpinning for our annual car ride into rural Sussex County in the northwestern corner of the state near the borders of Pennsylvania and New York State. The mission, as always was to purchase a freshly cut Christmas tree from a specious pine quary…
I came online too late yesterday…Therefore, I had to return this afternoon in order to response to your tradition family selection of the family Christmas tree…Which seems like it was a very pleasant experience [again] in every sense of the word…
As per tradition, my lifelong friend and Spruce Street neighbor Louis Aveta (the world’s biggest John Wayne fan in every way imaginable) and his wife Mary and son David made the trip with the same goal at hand, and to boot convinced us to visit his horse stable in an especially secluded woody area near High Point, where the kids had a ball interacting with his two stallions.
…It seems along with your wife, children and friend Louis Aveta,and his family that a great time was has by all…Sam Juliano, thanks for sharing too!
“…The trip lasted well into the afternoon and included a stop at a famed bagel shop on Route 10 near Sparta, where the gathering gourged themselves with all kinds of high-quality items, including the best chili east of the Missisippi and thick chocolate iced cookies that are unlike any I’ve ever had my life. Needless to say however, I stayed clear of all these temptations and settled for some scrambled eggs.”
Great! to read that you can fight temptation or being tempted by high-quality goodies!
DeeDee 😉 🙂
As always Dee Dee, thanks so much for remembering the most valuable part of my own wrap up, and for highlighting the way you did. I try to inject my weekend reports with what is going on in my personal life, even though I know at least a few bloggers find that kind of thing interesting and/or distasteful. But I think you and I (and most here at WitD) see the ultimate worth of interaction, and in sharing life’s joys and disappointments. As I’ve stated a number of times at this blog, meeting you almost three years ago was one of the supreme joys that has in large measure motivated me to go forward. You are a true gift to humanity.
Thanks very much for the plug, Sam, and for all your support of my reviews of obscure Wellman films – I never cease to be amazed by just how many films he made in the 1930s and how high the standard is even in ones which have been almost completely forgotten. I had a cold this week and was off work amid the snow, taking some holiday time owed, so I had more time to watch films than usual… and, talking of relatively obscure older films, this week I saw two which I thought were brilliant, both featuring another of my current obsessions, the Barrymores:
None but the Lonely Heart (Clifford Odets, 1944). Thanks for putting me on to this one, Sam – it’s right up my street, with great performances by both Ethel Barrymore and Cary Grant as a mother and son in the East End of London just before the war. Some scenes are absolutely heartbreaking.
Counsellor at Law (William Wyler, 1933). An incredibly fast-moving pre-Code, blending comedy and melodrama – this one is on DVD from Kino. People hurtle in and out of a lawyer’s office talking so quickly that I had to keep pausing the DVD to try to make out what they were saying! John Barrymore is great in the lead role, as a lawyer who is usually having at least three conversations at once. I definitely need to watch this early Wyler classic again to pick up all the bits I missed first time around.
I also saw a disappointing 1930s comedy-drama, Front Page Woman (Michael Curtiz, 1935), with Bette Davis and George Brent as sweethearts and rival newspaper reporters – I love Bette Davis, but this must be the sort of role that persuaded her to sue Warner, and it’s also pretty run-of-the-mill stuff from Curtiz. I’m getting the impression the quality of his work varied a lot more than with some other famous directors of the period.
Back in the present day, I went and saw the new animated film ‘Megaman’ with my son – we both thought it was good fun, though I was a bit fed up that he sweet-talked me into going to the 3-D version once again! Oh yes, and I also saw Hugh Grant’s movie from last year, ‘Did You Hear About the Morgans?’ – not a classic, but I thought it was quite a sweet romantic comedy and a lot better than some of the critics made out, even though he has done it all before.
Yep, Judy, it is true that Wellman’s output is incredible, and that’s why your comprehensive study of him is gleefully prolonged. Your presentation over many months has given bloggers and movie fans conclusive proof that Wellman may be the most undervalued of all American directors, and every new discovery furthers the point. In any case, you have been remarkable active in examining 30’s and 40’s cinema aside from Wellman as well.
The Hugh Grant is not one of my favorites, but I would imagine many would find joy there, as you did. I don’t recall MEGAMAN opening here (am I losing it?) but your reaction -and your son’s- are duly noted.
I am thrilled to hear of your reaction to NONE BUT THE LONELY HEART, and agree with those specific observations, and I have long been a fan of Wyler’s early masterwork COUNCELOR-AT -LAW (another great one is THE GOOD FAIRY) and well understand Judy that it definitely benefits from re-viewing!
Didn’t see the Curtiz, but would probably feel close to the way you do. Of course,!
Thanks as always my very good friend for the superb and effervescent wrap!
Sorry, Sam, I meant ‘Megamind’ – I’m the one who’s losing it, I’m afraid! Thanks for recommending ‘The Good Fairy’, yet another one for the ever-growing list – and for the kind comments, of course.:)
DEE DEE-Thank you ever so much for the kind words and heartfelt concern. I actually brought my brothers attention to your and everyones comments of concern and well wishes through an email link. As David is a dunce with computers and still weak from the surgery, he also wanted to convey thanks for the wonderful well wishes. He went on to relay to me that he thought it was wonderful that his brother (me) had found such a terrific community of friends for me to communicate with on a daily basis when I have now begun a schedule that sees his brother with a lot of alone time (I work nights now). Again, to all here, my brother and I thank you. To DEE DEE, all I can say is, you are a saint….
Aye Dennis, she is precisely that and more.
Hello! Dennis and David…
Dennis said, “DEE DEE-Thank you ever so much for the kind words and heartfelt concern.”
…You both are very welcome! and once again, here wishing David and Allan Fish, both speedy recover(ies).
Dennis said,”To DEE DEE, all I can say is, you are a saint…
Dennis, I’am still working on sainthood…not quite there yet, but your heartfelt response to all of the commenters here at Wonders in the Dark that express their concern for your brother David, is dutifully, noted and very much appreciated too!
Thank-you,
DeeDee 😉
Dee Dee:
You have attained the level of sainthood as I see it.
Sue and I are planning to put up our tree this weekend. I should have done the outside decorating before this cold spell set in, but I am hearing it may warm up this weekend.
Whatever happened to the Jets this past weekend? Still I like their chances for the playoffs.
Wish I could attend Ran (Takemitsu Festival) with you, but it doesn’t look good for Sunday for the reasons I just discussed.
Peter:
I’m sure the Jets are playoff-bound, though Joel Bocko’s Pats are the REAL thing, and are to be feared. Ryan must tone down, and this loss may have broughts the Jets down to earth.
Great that you are in the spirit too.
If plans change let me know. RAN is Takemitsu’s greatest moment as a composer, and Kurosawa’s masterpiece is one of the greatest of all Japanese films! Would love having you come along.
Thanks my very good friend!
Sam, I found Black Swan quite stunning. Don’t believe I’ve seen a better film this year.
Kaleem, I wish I could agree with you, and I have loved Arnofsky’s work exceedingly in the past, but this one rung false for me since the beginning. I found it mean-spirited and reliant on shock value, and rather metaphorically simple-minded.
I have seen some truly great films this year (Lourdes, Carlos, Un Prophete, The King’s Speech, Toy Story 3, White Material, Winter’s Bone, Mademoiselle Chambon, Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child, Shutter Island, Dog Pound among them) but Aronofsky on this occasion won’t be entering my winner’s circle.
So what of it? The film blew you away, and you are a long-time friend with excellent taste You have seen how some others on this thread have defended the film impressively and passionately, and the professional critics were predominantly favorable. It’s just a case where I saw a different film, and no one was more surprised than I was. I can’t say how fanatical I was in promoting THE FOUNTAIN. Go figure.
Thanks as always for stopping in my very good friend!
Not a knock on Tchaikovsky but the Fountain remains my favorite Aronovsky score. And of course I love the film as much as you do. Interestingly Malick is now doing Tree of Life (you must have seen the preview with Black Swan).
In terms of visiting the blog I’m been remiss but hope to be more regular going forward. I haven’t seen a few of the films on your list. Hope to get to them soon.
Toy Story 3 was I think the best of the franchise. Liked A Prophet though didn’t find it as stupendous as many of the critics did. Nothing was as good here as the first half hour or so. I preferred Ajami (another well-rated film) quite a bit. Not sure if you reviewed this one.
i love christmas…