by Sam Juliano
The comedy countdown is nearing conclusion of it’s first stage – the compilation of the 32 ballots that were cast over a six-week period. The results will soon be announced by Voting Tabulator Extraordinaire Angelo A. D’Arminio Jr., at which point they will be forwarded to the e mail fraternity who were part of the ‘ballot e mail chain.’ Discussion at that point will immediately commence to ascertain which writers will be covering which films. A final decision was reached this week to follow the musical countdown with an off-beat total of places, this time, 85. Hence, sometime later in July a full schedule will be sent out, with the finalized day by day assignments. The countdown will run Monday through Friday (unlike the musical countdown, which ran six days a week) and is estimated at this allocation to conclude sometime in early November. I have already received several requests from a few writers, and have happily agreed to the proposals, even with a final tabulation still uncertain. But, it’s clear enough after the ballots distribution by e mail that certain films are obviously a shoo-in to be named in D’Arminio’s tabulation. Note: The final results have been sent to the network, after the full report by D’Arminio, who worked his tail off the past few days! Any readers here who may be writing some essays I urge you to check your email ASAP.
R.D. Finch’s William Wyler blogathon concluded over a week ago, but the glow can still be felt by anyone clicking on The Movie Projector link. A personal e mail latter from Melanie Wyler, the director’s daughter, and a comment at the site from the director’s son David have confirmed what just about everyone already knew – that this was one of the greatest ventures ever staged, and that Finch has orchestrated a definitive study of one of America’s greatest ever film artists. Some of the finest reviews on-line were no doubt inspired by Finch’s tireless enthusiasm and meticulous attention to the survey specific guidelines and incomparable support for every participant.
Intense heat has driven many indoors, with triple digit figures reported by many living in the northeast and midwest. The advice from those in the know (and those not in the know for that matter) is to drink plenty of water and restrict outdoor activity to a bare minimum. The PC is alas a popular refuge for those in the heat zone.
Lucille and I (and the kids for the latest Peter Parker adventure, Sammy for all but the Chinese documentary) and Broadway Bob and Bob Clark for the latter, attended four films in theatres this week:
The Amazing Spiderman *** 1/2 (Wednesday afternoon) Edgewater
To Rome With Love **** (Friday night) Edgewater multiplex
Savages ** (Friday night) Edgewater multiplex
China Heavyweight ** (Saturday night) IFC Film Center
As I noted under Bob Clark’s review of THE AMAZING SPIDERMAN, the director employs restrait and an excellent performance and physical presence of Andrew Garfield to great effect; in a major surprise TO ROME WITH LOVE was the best Woody Allen film of the last several outings. A buffo opera/shower gag and a satiric strain featuring Robert Benigni hit the mark as does Woody himself, in splendid comedic form. The settings can’t miss either. SAVAGES is Oliver Stone in vapid ans sadistic mode, and a ludicrous ending to boot; the Chinese-Canadien director of UP THE YANGTSE, appeared at the IFC Film Center after the screening of CHINA HEAVYWEIGHT, an unfocused, and distancing film that’s a far cry from the earlier work.
The comedy polling prevented me from updating the links, but I will try to change some over the next day:
I was able to update a few of the links:
At The Movie Projector the incomparable R.D. Finch, who just completed stewardship of one of the net’s greatest-ever projects on William Wyler, the Maestro has written a stupendous piece on two vital Wyler wartime documentaries: http://themovieprojector.blogspot.com/2012/06/complete-reality-war-documentaries-of.html
Judy Geater of Movie Classics is that rarest of combinations: a great lady and a stupendous writer. Her review on Wuthering Heights for R.D.’s Wyler blogathon is a master class essay: http://movieclassics.wordpress.com/2012/06/27/wuthering-heights-william-wyler-1939/
John Greco’s definitive essay on Wyler’s “The Best Years of Our Lives” is another in the project that stands as a towering achievement. It’s posted up at Twenty Four Frames: http://twentyfourframes.wordpress.com/2012/06/29/the-best-years-of-our-lives-1946-william-wyler
Tony d’Ambra has written a brilliantly-observed piece on Anthony Mann’s “The Great Flamarion” at FilmsNoir.net: http://filmsnoir.net/film_noir/the-great-flamarion-1945-love-is-a-gun.html
Laurie Buchanan ponders “The Deadly Dash” in her perceptive new post at Speaking From The Heart: http://holessence.wordpress.com/2012/06/26/the-deadly-dash/
Marilyn Ferdinand has penned a superlative review on Mia Hansen-Love’s deeply moving first-love movie, “Goodbye First Love” at Ferdy-on-Films: http://www.ferdyonfilms.com/2012/goodbye-first-love-un-amour-de-jeunesse-2011/14952/
David Schleicher features ‘The Pros and Cons of Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter’ at The Schleicher Spin: http://theschleicherspin.com/2012/06/27/the-pros-and-cons-of-abraham-lincoln-vampire-hunter/
Samuel Wilson has penned a terrific review of a stunning find with his essay on “Su Excelencia” with Cantinflas at Mondo 70: http://mondo70.blogspot.com/2012/07/great-diplomat-cantinflas-in-su.html
Jon Warner’s buffo contribution to the Wyler blogothon is a magnificent review of “Dodsworth” at Films Woorth Watching: http://filmsworthwatching.blogspot.com/2012/06/dodsworth-1936-directed-by-william.html
Joel Bocko’s latest post at The Dancing Image is a fascinating hodgepodge titled “Fragments of Cinephilia”: http://thedancingimage.blogspot.com/2012/06/fragments-of-cinephilia-pt-ii.html
Jaime Grijalba takes a penetrating look at the Chilean film “Efectos Especiales” at Exodus 8:2, which he considers a flat-out masterpiece. Grijalba writes here with much passion: http://exodus8-2.blogspot.com/2012/06/cine-chileno-del-2012-7-efectos.html
Terrill Welch presents ’Squared to the Sea,’ a beautiful new series at the Creativepotager’s blog: http://creativepotager.wordpress.com/2012/06/23/3845/
Jason Marshall names “Aniki Bobo” #2 film of 1942 in a stellar review at Movies Over Matter: http://moviesovermatter.com/2012/06/20/aniki-bobo-best-pictures-of-1942-2/
Roderick Heath has posted a fantastic and comprehensive essay on the beloved swashbuckling Errol Flynn adventure epic “The Sea Hawk” at Ferdy-on-Films: http://www.ferdyonfilms.com/2012/the-sea-hawk-1940/14810/
At Scribbles and Ramblings Sachin Gandhi has some great movie match-ups, set in football terms: http://likhna.blogspot.com/2012/06/euro-2012-group-standings-quarter-final.html
Craig Kennedy has announced the winners of the Los Angeles Film Festival at Living in Cinema in a marvelous report: http://livingincinema.com/2012/06/24/laff-awards-jury-and-audiences-prizes-all-is-well-drought-beasts-of-the-southern-wild-birth-story-and-searching-for-sugar-man-honored/
Roderick Heath has posted a terrific review on the Scandinavian slice-of-life drama “Turn me on, Dammit” at This Island Rod: http://thisislandrod.blogspot.com/2012/06/turn-me-on-dammit-fa-meg-pa-for-faen.html
Ed Howard has penned another fantastic piece at Only the Cinema, this time on “The Last Command”: http://seul-le-cinema.blogspot.com/2012/06/last-command.html
Richard R.D. Finch has posted a superlative review on Fassbinder’s “Fox and His Friends” at The Movie Projector: http://themovieprojector.blogspot.com/2012/06/fox-and-his-friends-1975.html
Patricia at Patricia’s Wisdom offers up the perfect “beach novel” with “The Brevity of Roses”: http://patriciaswisdom.com/2012/06/the-brevity-of-roses-linda-cassidy-lewis/
At Cinemascope the amazingly prolific and resilient Shubhajit Laheri keeps up the pace with a provocative capsule review on “Hiroshima Mon Amour”: http://cliched-monologues.blogspot.com/2012/06/hiroshima-mon-amour-1959.html
Craig Kennedy has penned a terrific essay on “Prometheus” at Living in Cinema: http://livingincinema.com/2012/06/07/prometheus-2012/
At Doodad Kind of Town Pat Perry’s splendid contribution to the For the Love of Film Preservation blogothon is on Hitch’s “Mr. & Mrs. Smith”: http://doodadkindoftown.blogspot.com/2012/05/hitch-does-rom-com-for-love-of-film.html
Just Another Film Buff has penned a terrific capsule on Satoshi Kon’s 1997 “Perfect Blue” at The Seventh Art: http://theseventhart.info/2012/05/19/ellipsis-61/
At The Blue Vial Drew McIntosh leads up with “off the Wall” which brings “Silver Load” and the great John Alton into focus: http://thebluevial.blogspot.com/2012/06/off-wall.html
J.D. takes on Sidney Lumet’s 1986 feature “Power” in a captivaing essay at Radiator Heaven: http://rheaven.blogspot.com/2012/06/power.html
At The Last Lullaby, the ever delightful filmmaker Jeffrey Goodman takes a look at part sixteen of his long running quartet series: http://cahierspositif.blogspot.com/2012/04/favorite-four-part-sixteen.html
At Vermillion and One Nights Murderous Ink has written an extraordinary scholarly piece on gender roles in post-war Japan, making compelling reference to 1949′s “Green Mountains”: http://vermillionandonenights.blogspot.com/2012/05/someone-who-looks-like-gary-cooper.html
There’s plenty of good stuff up at The Long Voyage Home by way of capsules and screen caps courtesy of Peter Lenihan: http://thelongvoyagehome.blogspot.com/
Stephen Russell-Gebbett at Checking on my Sausages again offers up a thoughtful post, this one on the film “Super 8″:http://checkingonmysausages.blogspot.com/2012/05/unearthing-grief-and-love-in-super-8.html h
Greg Ferrara at Cinema Styles has written a splendid essay on ‘The Ranking of Rock’: http://cinemastyles.blogspot.com/2012/06/insincerity-insecurity-and-self.html
A notable artistic collaboration leads the way at Michael Harford’s heartening Coffee Messiah’s blog: http://coffeemessiah.blogspot.com/2012/05/collaborations.html
Hokahey has penned a terrific takedown of “Battleship” at Little Worlds: http://hokahey-littleworlds.blogspot.com/2012/05/boom.html
At The Cooler Jason Bellamy and Ed Howard discuss two-time Cannes winner Michael Haneke for the latest phenomenal ‘Conversations’ dialogue: http://coolercinema.blogspot.com/2012/05/conversations-michael-haneke.html
Adam Zanzie has posted a superlative review of Lawrence Kasdan’s “Dreamcatcher” at Icebox Movies: http://www.iceboxmovies.blogspot.com/2012/05/dreamcatcher-2003-lawrence-kasdans.html
Dave Van Poppel has a tremendous batch of short reviews up at Visions of Non Fiction on the Toronto Film Festival: http://visionsofnonfiction.blogspot.com
Hey, Sam – I liked TO ROME WITH LOVE a lot more than I thought given the critical reaction. I just posted my thoughts on The Spin. I think I would give it ***1/2. Still think it pales compared to VICKY CRISTINA BARCELONA, MATCH POINT and MIDNIGHT IN PARIS when looking at latter-day Woody, but it’s far better than it’s been given credit for so far.
I also watched SHAME – ***1/2 and Samuel Fuller’s THE NAKED KISS (which I loved and would give ****).
David, I will definitely check out that essay of yours at THE SCHLEICHER SPIN tonight. I have fallen behind a few days with the diary because of all the frenzy surrounding the comedy countdown. I was only a fan of MATCH POINT of those other three, though I well know I am in an extreme minority. But yes, ROME is way better than some would have you believe. The opera-shower gag is a hoot for one! I like SHAME to the tune of 4.5 myself, but fair enough. I also like THE NAKED KISS. Thanks as always my friend!
I am hoping that movie watching was a cool experience to go along with the 4th heat up of the country. We are finally having some summer weather – after the 4th and things in the garden are looking lush and yummy.
I appreciate the shout out and I am hoping you will venture over and check out my book review on the 5th —The President’s Club by Nancy Gibb and Michael Duffy – an amazing book about a fraternity with only 44 members and so well worth the read- I could hardly put it down. Between the great read, the heat, and not having internet for several days – I rather missed everyone last week. We seem to be up and running again, but no one can figure out the loss. So much company, retirement parties, my partner turning 65, bike tours, and a holiday and actually the internet was not missed in the hectic onslaught of activity. Then again there were no movies either….I wanted to go see BRAVE, but there was no time.
:You have intrigued me with your new series and the movies you just saw…I have no movies on my list right now, but still 15 books rolling in….
Thanks for you good insights…say cool and laugh as often as possible – please
Patricia—
Great to hear that the summer greenery is exhibiting that summer look up in the Pacific northwest! I will certainly be over there later tonight to check out your new book review. My apologies for falling behind here and over there, but the comedy countdown needed the final effort. We will be launching the essays for 100 days consecutively, exclusive of Saturdays and Sundays beginning on August 6th. For the WitD staff and contributing writers, most of whom are very close friends and great talents, this will be one’s of the site’s defining periods, methinks. As far as sustaining the internet fall-out the activities you chronicle here are more than a fair exchange! You’ll get to see BRAVE I’m sure. That’s certainly some sage advice, urging laughter and a cool place! Thanks again my friend! Have a terrific week!
Sam, I’m eagerly looking forward to ‘To Rome with Love’, though it isn’t being released in the UK until September 14 – still, that is an improvement on the situation with some of Allen’s recent movies which were released here almost a year late. I’m delighted to hear that Woody is back in front of the camera himself again this time round – loved him in ‘Scoop’ (which was never released in the UK at all.)
I saw ‘The Amazing Spider-Man’ at the weekend and my son Max loved it but it left me a bit cold – I’ve just left comments under Bob and Samuel’s reviews trying to work out why that was. I think maybe for me it was too soon after the Raimi films, which I did really like, especially the second one – and Tobey Maguire was so perfect for the role that to me Garfield seems somewhat miscast by comparison, even though he does a good job. Paul also dragged me along to ‘Rock of Ages’, which he found hilarious but I thought was a total mess!
At home I saw the BBC’s new adaptation of Shakespeare’s ‘Richard II’, the first in the series of history plays being shown under the title ‘The Hollow Crown’ – Ben Whishaw was brilliant as Richard and I also really liked Rory Kinnear as Bolingbroke. In all I thought this was a very good version except for a dodgy reworking of the climactic death scene – looking forward to seeing the others in the series. My daughter has seen a preview of the two Henry IV plays at a cinema and said they were excellent. I also saw a 1940s comedy Western starring Gary Cooper, ‘Along Came Jones’ – good fun, although I’m glad Cooper didn’t sing while riding along in any of his other films, as far as I’m aware!
Wishing you and all a great week, and thanks for the kind plug.
Judy—
I am placing a mental wager that you will like TO ROME WITH LOVE, but let’s see. Seems in recent years that as far as Woody goes I am always on the opposite side of the general critical consensus. There are several sustained gags that keep things moving briskly and with a fair amount of belly laughs. I think you voice the key here, and that is that Woody needs to keep himself in front of the camera. And heck, the lush Rome locales and architecture alone are worth the price of admission. But I’ll say no more; I’ve already said too much. I have stayed away from ROCK OF AGES after Lucille’s and Broadway Bob’s pan of it, so your own disdain has officially sealed it’s fate for me. Not that I am being close-minded, just a hunch. I’ll wait for the DVD on netflix. The know that there are two ways to look at the new SPIDER MAN film, and your own position is one embraced by many. Ditto the sentiments on Maguire. I haven’t seen ALONG CAME JONES yet but much appreciate that reasonably favorable assessment. And the RICHARD II sounds fantastic!!! And the two HENRY IV’s as well!!!!
Have a great week my friend and many thanks!
Sam –
Dodging the 3-digit heat has been an interesting challenge. We’ve lived in our home(Crystal Lake, IL) for 19 years and it’s never been an issue in the past. Last week, however, we were pushed to our limits as we reached 116-degrees with the heat index factored in. I can assure you we spent a lot of time in our 15-degree cooler basement with several oscillating fans going to beat the band!
I’m tickled pink that you gave TO ROME WITH LOVE four stars. That means we’ll go see it while it’s in the theater — the air-conditioned theater! — instead of waiting for it to come out on DVD.
Many of my school-aged clients have been urging me to see THE AMAZING SPIDERMAN, but we’ve yet to take the plunge.
Thank you for pointing to Speaking from the Heart.
Laurie—
I know well what a daunting challenge it has been to dodge this excessive heat. And I know you have never faces anything like this. The numbers you attest to are extreme danger level. The basement is the place to be! I do hope we will get a reprieve the rest of the way, but I am not so optimistic. And the air-conditioned theater for TO ROME WITH LOVE is another smart choice! I am not a superhero fan in general, bu this particular SPIDER MAN film employed remarkable restraint, and more human concerns instead of endless pyrotechnics. Have a great week my terrific friend, and stay cool!
Hey Sam,
Thanks for the mention! I’m impressed that you liked the new Woody Allen film! I’m actually more excited to see it now, as I know you and I were both disappointed by Midnight and Paris. I never quite turned on to that one the way that others did. I do like Vicky Cristina, and Match Point as far as new century Woody is concerned. I think I will like this one, hopefully more than Midnight in Paris, which was cute….but nothing special. I’m also super pumped for the comedy countdown! And doing a top 85 will be quite the endeavor. Should be loads of fun and I can’t wait to contribute. Looking forward to it. Wow our heat finally broke yesterday, as we had triple digits for the last 5 days! We even reached 105F on Friday! That’s insane! I don’t think I’ve ever experienced a heat wave like this in my 32 years of existence. Not that I can remember all of it, but at least within my memory, this was the hottest stretch. This week will just be in the 90′s….haha feels much cooler when compared to 105F.
I just rewatched Rebel Without a Cause the other day and I hadn’t seen it in several years. I do love the cinemascope framing in the film and the use of the color red. Nicholas Ray’s understanding and examination of domestic issues was wonderful and film is rather touching in its earnest and sincere portrait of youth. Wood, Dean, and Mineo were all superb in that film.
Up this week is Hitch-Hiker (1953), Dr. Mabuse, and The Cranes are Flying. Have a great week Sam!!!
Jon—
I had heard from our friend Laurie Buchanan that the mid-west heat this past week is at record-breaking intensity. It has surely gone beyond anything we’ve had to endure on the East Coast. But 105 is insane and dangerous. Unfortunately this had to bode ominously for August. But at least (as you note, ha!)we’ll have the comedy countdown to immerse ourselves in, one that has subsequently extended to the full Top 100. It will be a lot of fun, and I’m expecting the same kind of fervor that informed last year’s musical countdown by way of comments, passion and top-flight essays by the contributors. I thought that by waiting until August 6th, we will have given those who have pieces in the first weeks to have enough time to prepare them. As far as TO ROME WITH LOVE, I can’t be sure how you’ll respond, but I found it funnier than the widely-admired MIDNIGHT IN PARIS, largely because the Woodman is back in front of the camera. With Dennis Polifroni, John Greco and Jamie Grijalba handling the Woody Allen essays for the countdown, it should be quite a blast! You provide a wonderful capsule analysis of Ray’s classic REBEL, including that striking use of red and the extraordinary performances. That’s always a terrific one to re-visit! You have a great trio lined up there too! Hope you can dodge those sweat bullets my friend! Many thanks as always!
Hey Sam!
I am happy to hear good things about TO ROME WITH LOVE. It just opened wide here, but I have not yet had time to catch it. We did have a film-filled week here, though. With triple-digit temperatures on the Fourth, we stayed indoors in the air conditioning and did a TCM marathon of holiday-appropriate films: JOHN PAUL JONES, DRUMS ALONG THE MOHAWK, 1776 and YANKEE DOODLE DANDY.
Also this weekend, I caught TWO DAYS IN NEW YORK, Juilie Delpy’s follow up to her earlier film, TWO DAYS IN PARIS. I enjoyed it, and yet also found it disappointing. The earlier film had concluded with, what I thought, was a wise observation that you can’t keep running away from relationships because they’re difficult and crazy, yet at the start of this film, Delpy’s character has left her previous lover and is two years into a relationship with Chris Rock. She still creates some lovely and very funny culture-clash scenes between here crazy French family and Rock’s, but it didn’t ultimately amount to much.
We also finally got around to seeing MOONRISE KINGDOM, which was lovely to look at, sweet and enjoyable, but isn’t resonating all that much with me the next day. As Wes Anderson films go, this doesn’t seem to be the equal of THE ROYAL TENNENBAUMS or RUSHMORE.
Pat–
TO ROME WITH LOVE is an odds-on favorite to impress you, this much I am certain of. But we’ll discuss it more after you watch it. You never fail to give 1776 a whirl every Fourth of July, and I salute you for keeping up the tradition! We actually missed it this time around, sad to say. But wow that was some marathon there with DRUMS, 1776 and YANKEE DOODLE DANDY for you and Marlon! Nice. DRUMS is one that would benefit for a blu-ray release with the lovely early color. I did see TWO DAYS IN NEW YORK at the Tribeca Film Festival, and was quite disappointed with it myself, It progressed into tedium, and as you say it is not consistent with the strategies and it adds up to little. There are so many women directors I love and admire, but Delpy isn’t one of them. I also liked MOONRISE KINGDOM (probably more than I like any other Anderson) but I will see how long it stays with me. Have a great week Pat, and as always thanks for the fabulous entry and terrific week!
Sam, my first impression of Webb’s Spider-Man, as you probably know, was disappointment, but the film was no debacle and I hope to make a more objective appraisal of it sometime. I’m still working through a too-late itch to see international comedy that brought me to Masumura’s Giants and Toys, which is the latest review on my blog, and Monicelli’s Casanova 70, which will probably be the next review. Both were very impressive in different ways but I’d be reluctant to revise my list, even if it were allowed, after only one viewing. I do think they’d make a top 100 easily, though. On a more dramatic note, I saw Andrew Stone’s The Night Holds Terror, a thriller distinguished by the director’s commitment to authentic locations and brilliant criminal turns by Vince Edwards and John Cassevetes, and Roger Corman’s Machine Gun Kelly, noteworthy for Charles Bronson’s gutsy portrayal of a neurotic coward and for strong, edgy character work from such unexpected sources as Frank DeKova and Morey Amsterdam. On an unintentionally comic note I also saw Antonio Margheriti’s Wild Wild Planet, but I suspect that the comedy wasn’t wholly unintentional but more in keeping with the global pop-camp tone of its time. Looking forward to the comedy results. ROP Ernest Borgnine.
Samuel–
Great to see you are going the comedy route right now at precisely the right time! As you know one Monicelli film did place in the 100 (his celebrated BIG DEAL ON MADONNA STREET) so a viewing of CASANOVA 70 is very much in order. I know Masumura’s GIANTS AND TOYS, having seen it and owning the DVD, so I’m most interested in looking at your MONDO 70 essay! I did indeed read of your initial disappointment with THE AMAZING SPIDER MAN, but you did also indicate there were aspects you did appreciate. It may be one that grows on re-viewing. I went in there expecting a debacle, and came out pleasantly surprised. I’d say that with THE DARK KNIGHT it’s one of my two favorite superhero movies, but I am hardly the judge on this! Can’t argue at all what you say there about MACHINE GUN KELLY (I was myself looking at some Cormans over the past week-specifically three of the Poes) which exhibits the qualities you attest to, and I likewise second the motion on the campy WILD WILD WEST. Sorry to say I have not seen THE NIGHT HOLDS TERROR, but would love to! Have a great week my friend! Many thanks as always for the terrific wrap!
With all the power outages and sweltering heat I managed only one movie – ‘Bridesmaids’ – How is this empowering? All it proves is that women can be just as gross and offensive as men.
Later, my friend, and I hope to be more ‘fecund’ in the coming weeks. Oh, I did read a few books last week, ‘Black Like Me’, ‘The Scarlet Letter’ and ‘Tobacco Road’. How’s that for eclectic?
Reading those three books Mark is indeed ‘eclectic!’ I never read ‘Tobacco Road’ but I have read ‘God’s Little Acre’, also by Caldwell of course, and know well of his controversial slant. Mann’s film of ‘Acre’ is very well-done methinks, but that’s another discussion. I read ‘The Scarlet Letter’ in an undergraduate course titles “Poe, Hawthorne and Melville” and it was quite a change o pace after “Moby Dick” as I recall. And I did read “Black Like Me” and have seen the film starring James Whitmore.
But you did this in one week? All of them? Wow! You are very good my friend! I wasn’t a huge fan of “Bridesmaids” but found it intermittently engaging, though I really can’t remember it too well. Ha! Hope t hear more about your readings, if you are able and are interested in doing so. Have a great week my friend!
Have you seen the film of ‘Tobacco Road’? I haven’t, and I can not imagine Gene Tierney in the role of Ellie Mae at all. I assume the movie eliminated Ellie’s harelip. It’s a beautiful little book about the Southern poor that’s heartbreaking and hilarious all at once. The 1943 poll and ‘Day of Wrath’ reminded me of Hawthorne, so that’s why I re-read ‘The Scarlet Letter’, a book full of the poison of 17th century Puritanism that still infects this country to this day.
Melvin Van Peebles’ ‘Watermelon Man’, starring Godfrey Cambridge as a white racist who wakes up one morning and discovers he’s Black, lead me to read ‘Black Like Me’. But Van Peebles treats the whole nightmare scenario as a TV sitcom, sort of a pre-Norman Lear ‘controversial’ comedy, and maybe big studio constraints forced him to make the story palatable to a large audience, because it’s offensively pandering. Estelle Parsons plays his put-upon, rather idiotic wife, a self-professed anti-segregationist liberal until the real thing turns up in her bed. I was considering it for the Comedy Countdown, but after watching it again, I’m very glad I didn’t include it.
The biggest offense of ‘Bridesmaids’ is that it utterly wastes Kristin Wiig, one of the funniest women alive.
Thanks Sam for the mention, even if its been 2 weeks since I’ve written that review of Hiroshima Mon Amour… Just joking, please don’t mind
I fully appreciate the kind of time & energy it takes to maintain this amazing thing you’ve had going here for such a long time, and that too along with yet another mammoth project that you’re taking care of.
And yes, speaking of the Comedy Countdown, that’s sure to be a huge crowd-puller. Though the final list that you’ve mailed us all seemed too English language & Hollywood-centric and (sadly for me) quite a few of my choices (including some which I consider as masterpiece) didn’t make the final cut, it still does comprise of a number of marvelous films. It’ll be great reading the reviews of all the films by those involved with the countdown. Terrific days are indeed ahead for all the cinephiles out there, and I sure am looking forward to this countdown to begin.
Great that you’ve watched To Rome With Love, and glad to hear you’ve liked it. I’m eagerly waiting for it to reach my part of the globe – more so given my love for Woody Allen’s movies. Though he’s really mellowed down with age and I miss the kind of humour that used to define his earlier movies, its still always a pleasure to watch his recent works.
Anyway, with Wimbledon occupying most of the time I’ve spent at home, I managed to watch just 2 films:
- the excellent Czech political satire Ucho (The Ear), and
- the American classic The Manchurian Classic
I’ve decided to complete the X-Men series (I’ve watch them only in bits and parts), and as part of that decision, I just completed watching the 1st part which I found decent, if not great.
Speaking of Wimbledon, it was great to see Federer at long last wining another Grand Slam, and that too against all expectations (though I’m sure Allan must be really sad with the final result). But, that said, I still continue to consider Sampras (I still continue to be a big fan of his) as the greatest grass-court player the world has ever seen, and will ever see. I’ve a feeling that had FedEx at his peak had managed to meet Pistol Pete at his peak, the American would have won in 4 sets. Speaking of the two legends, the showdown between the two 11 years back continues to remain as one of the most unforgettable tennis matches I’ve ever seen (mostly for emotional reasons though).
I’m hoping the Djoker (Novak) will make a comeback for the US Open, but Federer may be the smoothest, most elegant tennis player I’ve ever seen, though I’m sad he broke Pete’s modern era Grand Slam record.
Shubhajit—
I hear what you are saying about the final Top 100 comedies containing a large percentage of American films. However, to be honest this is one ‘genre’ like the musical and westerns that is dominated by American cinema over many decades. The silent films particular were the domain of early Hollywood. Still, there were something like one-quarter of the choices on the list that are non-American, which all things considered is strong representation of European films. Some foreign-language films that I had long championed didn’t make the cut, unfortunately, but I was happy that some key films from Bergman, Tati, Renoir, Bunuel, Hay, Truffaut, Fellini and Rivette did get in (as they should have) and that most of the voters submitted versatile lists. But yes, with the early screwball, the silents, and the later advent of Allen and Brooks, American comedy has always had a stranglehold. Your involvement in the project is very much appreciated!!
And yes i know you were kidding, but still I need to get my act together this coming week with the links. The issue the last few days was the comedy countdown, and the madness that partially informed the assignment line-up. I think we got it all allocated now, and with a few weeks to allow for writing, we will be starting on August 6th. True what you say there about Woody mellowing with age, but it was great to see some of that outrageous humor back in play with ROME. I am pretty sure you’ll like it! Will be looking for the reviews of THE EAR and MANCHURIAN CANDIDATE.
Din’t watch and of the tennis, but much appreciate that Wimbleton report! Nice to hear you will be re-assessing the X MEN seasons. Thanks very much as always. Habe a great week!
Thanks everyone!
I will certainly respond to each comment individually beginning at the time when I return from Manhattan’s Film Forum tonight after seeing Von Stroheim’s THE WEDDING MARCH with piano accompaniment.
As we move towards the hottest days of the summer, it is understandable and expected that the Monday Morning Diary will be less-visited and less commented on. Such is the case today, and will be in the weeks to come I am sure. In any case, I much appreciate the loyalty that is regularly shown here.
See you later!
Sam,
Thanks again for the shout out. They Wyler Blogathon was a great success and one I was proud to be a part of.
To Rome With Love (***1/2) Mid level Woody Allen, better than what the critics are saying but certainly, not at the same level as his last film, “Midnight in Paris.” Episodic tales with performances highlights from Judy Davis and Alex Baldwin.
Hail The Conquering Hero (****1/2) Sort of a companion piece to his earlier “Miracle of Morgan Creek,” both take place in small towns. Eddie Bracken never achieved this kind of quality again as his did in his two films with Preston Sturges. Bittersweet satire of small town America, patriotism and hero worshipping.
The Heiress (*****) Watched this for the first time. Fabulous performances from Olivia de Havilland and Montgomery Clift. In a way de Havilland’s character turned into her father…cold with no heart, not that Clift’s character didn’t get what he deserved. Wyler’s direction moves the film at a nice pace and the art direction was superb. They did a fabulous recreation of Washington Square circa 1850′s.
Highway Dragnet (**1/2) Bad script that even pros like Richard Conte and Joan Bennett cannot save from disaster. There is a nice opening scene between Conte and B film actress Mary Beth Hughes that gives some hope in the beginning but it quickly sinks. Roger Corman wrote the story.
Julie (**) A poor thriller with Doris Day barely cracking a smile from the get go. Overly dramatic voiceover, scenes are poorly conceived and a title song, apparently a big hit at the time, that will almost put you to sleep before the film even get off the ground.
Hour of the Gun (***1/2) – A darker, hard edged ,cynical look at the aftermath of OK corral shootout. James Garner who usually plays laid back characters is here much more grim, stoic and downbeat as Wyatt Earp. Underrated western that should be better known.
Shaft (***1/2) Gordon Parks original is a snappy, gritty PI film with attitude. A review will be forthcoming.
Rhapsody in Blue (***) The music of George Gershwin highlights what is basically only a fair Hollywood biography. A lot of fiction is tossed in and some dull acting. Worth seeing for the great music (only reason it got three stars) and Oscar Levant who plays himself.
John–
The Wyler blogathon was undoubtably one of the high points in the on-line tenure of most bloggers who participated, and especially for the maestro, R.D. Finch.
Your typically impressive weekly movie wrap again shows a wide scope of viewings and reactions. As you know I prefer TO ROME WITH LOVE to MIDNIGHT IN PARIS, but this is clearly a minority position. My own four-star rating of the film would never put it in the highest bracket of the comedy icon, but it’s certainly one of my favorites of his post 2000 output. HAIL THE CONQUERING HERO can never approach MIRACLE, but some prefer it I know, and I think your assessment is more than fair enough. Your five-star declaration for THE HEIRESS is absolutely dead-on. This is an American masterpiece, and one of Wyler’s greatest films. As I stated at your review thread for JULIE, Doris Day is not an actress who can be seen as an exceeding talent of acquired tatste, though she does have those few great memonts in other films. I’m with you on SHAFT and HOUR OF THE GUN, but like RHAPSDY a little more, though I agree that the music is really the prime if only reason to see it. I haven’t seen HIGHWAY DRAGNET.
Thanks again my friend for your customary spectacular wrap. Have a great week!
You and I are in complete agreement on To Rome With Love.
This message above was for John Greco.
I read your review of this film and it is right on!
Hey Sam. A lazy week for me. Though I did post a review at filmsnoir.net on The Crooked Way (1949)- a solid b with DP John Alton rendering L.A. in stunning chiaroscuro.
I made an interesting cinematic connection when reading a piece in the UK Guardian yesterday. The article, an edited extract by Oliver Burkemen from his book The Antidote: Happiness For People Who Can’t Stand Positive Thinking, was tilted “Failure can be Inspiring: be positive, stay focused on success, we tell ourselves. But the truth path to contentment may lie in learning to be a loser”. Burkeman adopts the stoic view of life: the ideal state of mind is tranquility – “not the excitable cheer of ‘success’”. In introducing his thesis Burkeman relates that there is a Japanese expression, mono no aware, that roughly translates as ‘the pathos of things’ and captures, in Burkeman’s words, a “kind of bitter-sweet melancholy at life’s impermanence – that additional beauty imparted to cherry blossoms, say, or human features, as a result of their inevitably fleeting time on Earth”. Uzo immediately came to mind, and that expression seems the essence of his cinema. Uzo’s pathos also imbues the prosaic with this bitter-sweetness: clothing drying on the line in a back-yard, idle smoke-stacks against a clear sky, or the simple joys of a bus-ride…
Tony—
The review on THE CROOKED WAY was unique and a heads-up for those who are strongly urged to check out the film, especially with one of the greatest of all cinematographers John Alton at the helm. The screen cap display alone is worth checking the post out for, but there’s much more! Burkeman’s lyricism in that extract is quite beautiful, as is the cherry blossom metaphor, envisioned as bittersweet melancholy and the fleeting aspect of life. I do know Uzo’s “Wall and Bridges” and much appreciate the correlation of theme from book to screen. Great stuff!
Thanks as always my friend and have a great week!
Hello Sam and everyone!
It’s great that for you summer is starting and that you’ll probably go on a vacation that will imply good times with family and lots of reading, listening and watching time.
I’m pumped for the comedy countdown and can’t wait for its start and for the wonderful writing that we will be having there. For my part, I’m finishing the final details of my short film and that’s about it. It’s weird that I’ve seen fewer films now that I’m editing than when I was preparing for the shoot and the actual shoot.
I have no interest in seeing the latest Spider Man movie, but I do want to see To Rome with Love, Savages and China Heavyweight.
My week movie wise:
- 8 (2012, Rob Reiner) ***1/2 An interesting play on marriage equality, an important subject that is having more and more importance all around the world. This is a live play that was streamed on youtube and features many stars like Brad Pitt and George Clooney and the like. It is a reading-along play, it’s still just a recorded thing, the actors still deliver the lines quite well and the story is interesting as well, so that makes me give it a passing mark.
- Balmes, the double outcast of painting (2011, Pablo Trujillo Novoa) **** The last documentary I saw on FIDOCS past monday, It’s an interesting piece about art and painting made by people who love José Balmes and his work, and it’s quite the interesting story. I’ll have a full review at my site soon enough.
- A Page of Madness (1926, Teinosuke Kinugasa) ****1/2 What a great visual treat, a seminal surrealistic horrific mad japanese film. I loved how the visual framing was primordial to tell the story, that was quite hard to follow, but still n made sense in the visual sense and that is quite great. I saw a 59 minute edition and I know that there is one that is 71 minutes long, but that hasn’t been released yet (maybe Allan can confirm this) that would be great if we can see a expanded version of this already greatly visual masterpiece.
- The Toxic Avenger (1984, Michael Herz, Lloyd Kaufman) **** What a great trashy movie, I love Troma films and this one is seminal. Entertaning, over the top and quite tragic at times, it has crappy effects, but such a greatly constructed story that feels like Hero’s Journey 101 but in such a good way that makes it worth the watch. Still, a good thing to watch when you just want to forget it all and go beyond all reason, turn of your brain and enjoy.
Thanks Sam, have a good week.
Jaimie–
Yes, vacation time is nearly upon us, and we do have something most interesting lined up for August (around the 22nd or 23rd) but I’ll have more to say about that down the road. I am teaching summer school until August 1st of course. Yes the comedy countdown will feature some marvelous writing that will probably match was was done last year for the musical countdown, and great to see you will be lending your own insights and craft to it! Also, very happy to hear your short film is complete, and look forward to hearing how everything goes. I know you put much effort into it. I am particularly interested in your reaction to the Woody Allen film of the new films I’ve recently watched. You have again provided teh WitD readers with some stupendous capsules of films you watched over the past week, especially A PAGE OF MADNESS. That’s about as fine an assessment on that film as I’ve read. incidentally the gifted Marilyn Ferdinand recently wrote a spectacular piece on it at FERDY ON FILMS, which I can’t access on this school PC to leave a link for. I like TOXIC AVENGER less than you, but agree that TROMA has offered up some intersting and eclectic fare over the years. I haven’t yet watched that particular Rob Reiner nor Balmes, but again appreciate the excellent discussion.
Have a great week my friend! Many thanks as always for the special weekly wrap! Keep me abreast on the short.
Considering everything that has happened here where I work nothing really seems all that important.
On early Sunday morning my work shift was interrupted when the sounds of six gun shots rang out in the street in front of my office. I called the police immediately. One of my drivers poked his head out the door to see if the coast was clear. Upon quick investigation, both he and I rushed to the aid of a man lying in the doorway of a bodega across the street. Riddled with bullets, we tried to comfort the unconscious man till the authorities arrived.
We were, as well as a few people who were on the street when the shooting occurred, questioned for hours.
The man died on his way to the hospital.
The perpetrator was, due to our information, caught and arrested a few hours later and his being held on three million dollars bail. It was, as I was told, a premeditated crime and the shooter tracked the vict down over an argument on money.
Sensless crime. Makes you wonder why we even get out of bed in the morning.
Dennis, so sorry to hear this – it must have been a terrible shock. Difficult to find words.
JUDY-Yes, it was a shock. However, we (my co-workers and I) did everything we could to get the cops and the EMT’s there to help this poor guy as quickly as we could. I have to say that the reaction time of both the local police, the EMT’s and the county detectives was so fast it would have made anyone’s head spin. I also know that the testimonies of several of the emplyeees where I work were also very important to the investigators in aprehending the scumbag that did this.
Unfortunately, the victims wounds were in such a place that he there was nothing anyone could really do in that short amount of time and the bleeding was so profuse and in some vital spots in the body that the poor guy bled to death by the time he hit the ER rooms of the closest hospital.
Like the town of Bedford Falls in IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE, Cliffside Park (five minutes from Manhattan) is one of those kind of peaceful towns where everyone knows everyone else, people wave from cars to say hello to you by name when you walk down the street and very little, in the way of violence and bizarro situations, like this EVER happen.
I hope they shove this guy in a dirty, rat infested jail cell and throw away the key
Well, Dennis, the headlines in this morning’s Bergen Record read as follows:
‘$3M bail in slaying’
The article chronicles the court appearance with grieving relatives, and the reading of the charges by the judge, who ordered the defendant, Michael A. Sampson to turn over his passport.
That was a harrowing ordeal, and one that you certainly won’t soon forget.
Have a much better week my friend.
I wish you’d reconsider your 2-star dismissal of Savages, Sam. I didn’t see it as a “sadistic” film at all but, instead, Stone’s attempt to cut through a filth of sadism, and what he sees as the inherent flaw of the drug wars: that they solve nothing because the law and the cartels are in bed with each other. I read the book by Don Winslow beforehand, so, admittedly, I knew much of what to expect going in, but I have to say that Stone hasn’t made a film this thrilling in over a decade.
While I’ve heard many others criticize the ending, I think [spoiler warning] that Stone is merely trying to distinguish how O. wants it all to end, and how it all, in fact, ended. O’s real name is “Ophelia”, so naturally she’d imagine the whole thing ending in a neat, cliche-ridden Shakespearean tragic finale in which everybody dies. But the truth is far more bitter: the bad guys triumph, while the good guys are left vulnerable and humiliated. It’s Stone’s way of saying that the drug wars don’t get us anywhere. One drug lord takes the fall just so that another can take her place; meanwhile, law officials who were in on the whole thing reap hefty rewards.
I mentioned earlier that the film is a commentary on sadism itself. The scene where the character of Alex is tortured until his eyeball pops out is so hard to watch, I almost cried. So the movie’s not only a commentary on the drug wars, but also on torture, and why it doesn’t work.
Adam–
You make quite a passionate and eloquent defense for SAVAGES, one that effectively caused me to pause. As is the case with virtually every film I give a harsh assessment to I will definitely give this a second whirl at some point. It is possible that because I saw this as the second part of a late night multiplex double feature (with Woody Allen’s TO ROME WITH LOVE) that I may have given it short shrift. Still I can’t deny I had issues, and didn’t on that viewing anyway connect with it on the emotional level that you did. I see the critical establishment is split down the middle, with the adherent just as animated as the detractors. I know Stone has directed some disposable films in his career, but I have always had positive things to say about JFK, SALVADOR, NIXON and PLATOON. But those are way in the past, and Stone has forged a different path in recent years, one that some have derided as superficial. Your defense of his intentions with this film is exceptional as is your clarification of the ending. If Stone’s intentions are indeed consistent with how you yourself frame them, well then I agree a re-assessment is very much in order. Thanks for this terrific analysis my friend! I do hope others will come here and reflect on their own thoughts!
Have a great week!
I’m interested in seeing To Rome with Love and Savages, maybe later this week. Carol and I saw the latest Spidey opus, and like you appreciated it more than the earlier films. Can’t agree with you more on Garfield, who is far deeper than Maguire.
How about those Yankees?
Frank—
Great to hear that you and Carol thought the latest superhero movie was better than most. I went in with my sword, but came out very surprised. Garfield was the main reason for the film’s reasonable success.
The Yankees presently at the All-Star break have the best record in baseball. Who’d a thunk it?
Have a great week my friend!
Sam, thanks so much for the great mention.
I haven’t gotten to see Woody’s latest just yet but am looking forward to it. I’m also looking forward to the upcoming comedy countdown at WITD.
This week was pretty slow for me on the movie-going front. I was mostly wrapped up in watching the end of Wimbledon, which really thrilled me given how much of a fan I am of Roger Federer. It was great to see Federer win again and should make the remainder of the tennis season, culminating with the US Open, quite compelling.
That said, I did finally have the chance to see Scorsese’s MY VOYAGE TO ITALY. Of course, I immensely enjoyed it, always feeling privileged to hear the tremendous cinephile’s take on some of the medium’s greatest masters.
Well here’s to another awesome week, Sam. Thanks so much for all that you do!
Jeffrey–
Please accept my deepest apologies for not seeing this comment until today. I was actually reminded by a reader via an e mail. There was a time when I was glued to Wimbleton so I can well understand that engagement on your part. Federer I know is one of t he all-time greats. I also count myself a fan of MY VOYAGE TO ITALY, and find it unique in the sense you attest to. The comedy countdown will be quite a venture, and must appreciate your kind words and support to that end! Have a great weekend my friend!