Actor/Director John Turturo on the set of his new film about the music and culture of Naples, "Passione"
by Sam Juliano
Summer is now officially upon us, and many of us are hoping to avoid the kind of heat that baked many northern hemisphere people in 2010. Other than weather, everyone is firming up summer plans, while concluding the big June events that include graduation parties, proms, and weddings. I was proud to see my oldest son sammy graduate eighth grade this past week, as the final step to high school in September.
Here at Wonders the Fish Obscuro series and “Getting Over the Beatles” project continue, while Jim Clark treated readers to a brilliant essay on Terrence Malick’s The Thin Red Line, and Bob Clark made a proposal for continued discussion on Jean-Luc Godard.
Again Lucille and I were (relatively) busy on the movie front, while for the first time in quite a while we didn’t manage a single stage play.
We saw the following in theatres:
Sherlock Jr. ***** (Monday evening) Buster Keaton at Film Forum
The Boat **** (Monday evening) Buster Keaton at Film Forum
Passione **** 1/2 (Saturday evening) Film Forum
Leap Year **** (Friday evening) Cinema Village
Beginners *** (Thursday evening) Montclair Claridge Cinemas
SHERLOCK JR. is one of the supreme Keaton masterpieces, in fact for many his greatest work. Suffice to say it’s one of my favorite comedies of all-time (the pool table sequence and the coordinated run near the end are among the greatets gags ever filmed) and with the short THE BOAT screening before it, it made for an unforgettable evening. Lucille and I were thrilled that our youngest son Jeremy (9) was called up to the stage by Film Forum program director Bruce Goldstein to pick the night’s five winners out of a hat that included all the correct answers of a Keaton-related question. Jeremy received a Film Forum tea-shirt for his efforts.
The week’s big surprise was the sensory PASSIONE, John Turturo’s love song to his Italian heritage and to the music of Naples. Using some re-enactment footage and archival segments of famous singers and musicians Turturo serves as the “Greek Chorus” in weaving a tapestry of the breathtaking Italian countryside and a rapturous and ravishing fusion of the past and present. I’m fully Italian-American myself (my father’s father, who died in 1985 at age 96 was from Naples in fact) but that’s certainly not going to stop me from joining the celebration! This is a must for all culture and music lovers, not just Italians! Ha!
Not even the presence of the great Christopher Plummer can elevate BEGINNERS from nagging mediocrity. It does have some revealing moments for sure, but there are chiches and a snail pacing that seems to reveal that this was really never much of a story, but a series of sketches. The ferocious sado-masochistic LEAP YEAR, a Mexican film that’s a slow boil, leads to some powerful ideas, and a telling appraisal of human sexual behavior. It’s a harrowing films of loneliness and despair, and while it’s sometimes very difficult to watch, there’s a searing aspect to the low-budget film-making and an electrifying lead performance from newcomer Monica del Carmen.
I was hoping to see the animated SUMMER WARS at the IFC Film Center on Sunday, due in large measure to Bob Clark’s promotion, but everything got in the way, sad to say.
The blogosphere has so much greatness to recommend this week in 50 links:
Judy Geater again showcases a rare pre-coder at Movie Classics, tabbing Mervyn LeRoy’s Big City Blues, starring Joan Blondell, in another superlative essay: http://movieclassics.wordpress.com/2011/06/18/bigcityblues/
Tony d’Ambra has revamped Films.Noir.net with a beautiful face-lift and some brilliant posts including his latest on “Noir Nation: International Journal of Crime Fiction”: http://filmsnoir.net/film_noir/noir-nation-international-journal-of-crime-fiction.html
Jaime Grijalba has announced he will be hosting a ‘Richard Kelly blogothon’ in August (from the 15th till the 20th) at Exodus 8:2: http://exodus8-2.blogspot.com/2011/06/richard-kelly-blogathon-15-20-agosto.html
John Greco has posted a terrific essay on the John Ford masterpiece The Grapes of Wrath at Twenty Four Frames: http://twentyfourframes.wordpress.com/2011/06/24/the-grapes-of-wrath-1941-john-ford/
Meanwhile, John’s beautiful new ‘photography’ website is up and running: http://johngrecophotography.com/
In her most recent post “Mail Delivery” Laurie Buchanan talks about the tenacity and significance of the postal service, complete with some wonderful photos of her main offices and husband Len at Speaking From The Heart: http://holessence.wordpress.com/2011/06/23/special-delivery/
Samuel Wilson at Mondo 70 has penned some superlative capsules for his post “Columbia Cavalcade,” which appraises some DVDR releases in Columbia’s own version of the Warner Archives series: http://mondo70.blogspot.com/2011/06/columbia-classics-cavalcade.html
David Schleicher has a most engaging new post up at The Schleicher Spin titled “The Top 30 Sports Movies of All Time”: http://theschleicherspin.com/2011/06/24/the-top-30-sports-movies-of-all-time/
Shubhajit has peened a dead-on capsule assessment of the great Anthony Mann-Jimmy Stewart collaboration in “The Naked Spur” at Cinemascope: http://cliched-monologues.blogspot.com/2011/06/naked-spur-1953.html
Effervescent filmmaker Jeffrey Goodman beautifully sizes up Robert Altman’s “Thieves Like Us,” the musical “West Side Story” and “Bridesmaids” at The Last Lullaby: http://cahierspositif.blogspot.com/2011/06/favorite-four-part-twelve.html
In his newest post “Split Psyches Severed Bodies” the always-brilliant Srikanth Scrivasson (Just Another Film Buff) takes on the abstract and visceral cinema of Mysskin, with some stimulating caps and you tubes to back up his scholarly analysis at The Seventh Art: http://theseventhart.info/2011/06/25/split-psyches-severed-bodies/
Sachin at Scribbles and Ramblings offers up a engaging post on “Copa America 2011: Book and Film Festival”: http://likhna.blogspot.com/2011/06/copa-america-2011-book-film-festival.html
Dee Dee’s latest contest (advertised here at WitD) can be accessed and negotiated at her place, Darkness Into Light: http://noirishcity.blogspot.com/
Note: The contest has ended. Congratulations to David Noack!
Terrill Welch announces her summer hiatus on Mayne Island with a lovely post titled “Poppy Opening” at the Creativepotager’s blogsite: http://creativepotager.wordpress.com/2011/06/21/poppy-opening/
Our very good friend in Tokyo, “Murderous Ink” has again penned an extraordinary essay in his ongoing series on Kurosawa, this time on one of the cinema’s most celebrated films, “Rashomon”: http://vermillionandonenights.blogspot.com/2011/06/postwar-kurosawa-rashomon.html
Patricia at Patricia’s Wisdom has a new posts on her ‘Top Ten’ blogs, and she cites Wonders in the Dark in her upper etchelon. We are so very grateful!: http://patriciaswisdom.com/2011/06/the-top-ten/
Marilyn Ferdinand at Ferdy-on-Films has again penned a magnificent essay, this time on a very well-regarded 2006 BBC work, “Shoot the Messenger”: http://www.ferdyonfilms.com/?p=10372
Down Under writer extraodinaire Roderick Heath has again raised the bar (if he raises it any higher, we’ll need much more than a ladder to reach it!) at Ferdy-on-Films with one of the most spectacular film reviews I’ve ever laid eyes on (every serious cineaste must read it!) in consideration of Derek Jatman’s first film “Sebastiane.”: http://www.ferdyonfilms.com/?p=10336
And Heath has resurrected his long dormant English One-O-Worst site with a seminal essay on William Goldman’s novel “The Princess Bride”: http://www.ferdyonfilms.com/?p=10336
Stephen Russell-Gebbett again raises the bar at Checking on my Sausages with a highly original and fascinating essay titled “Humanity Through Excess”: http://checkingonmysausages.blogspot.com/2011/06/humanity-through-excess.html
At Doodad Kind of Town Pat Perry has posted a superlative assessment of the new Woody Allen film “Midnight in Paris”: http://doodadkindoftown.blogspot.com/2011/06/midnight-in-paris.html
Longman Oz has posted a terrific theatre review of a staging at the Project Arts Center in Dublin of Euripedes’ “Iphegenia in Aulis” at SmiledYawnedNodded: http://smiledyawnednodded.com/2011/06/25/iphigeniainaulis_projectartscentre/
Matthew Lucas has posted a fascinating “halftime report” at From The Front Row, offering up his ten favorite films of 2011 so far. Be sure to check it out, especially in view of the fact that Matthew and I have similar taste year after year. Ha!: http://www.fromthefrontrow.net/2011/06/2011-halftime-report.html
At Films Worth Watching Jon has posted a terrific piece on Dusan Makavejev’s “Love Affair” or “The Case of the Missing Switchboard Operator”: http://filmsworthwatching.blogspot.com/2011/06/love-affair-or-case-of-missing.html
Jason Marshall’s own terrific “Weekly Movie Diary” at Movies Over Matter includes brilliantly-penned capsule assessments of “Super 8,” “13 Assassins” and others: http://moviesovermatter.com/2011/06/23/13-assassins-the-green-lantern-super-8-and-x-men-first-class-weekly-movie-diary/
Ed Howard and Jason Bellamy have once again collaborated on a spectacular discussion for their monthly “Conversations.” This time it’s a fascinating talk on Malick’s “The Tree of Life”: http://seul-le-cinema.blogspot.com/2011/06/conversations-26-terrence-malick-part-2.html
At Cinema Styles Greg Ferrara has penned a magnificent essay on Louis Malle’s “Atlantic City” that is the proverbial must-read for serious movie lovers http://cinemastyles.blogspot.com/2011/06/unbearable-sadness-of-being-atlantic.html
At Living in Cinema Craig Kennedy continues his stellar coverage of the 2011 Los Angeles Film Festival: http://livingincinema.com/2011/06/24/laff-2011-review-attack-the-block-2011-12/
In preparation of a full review on “The Tree of Life” Kevin Olson offers up a few preliminary observations at Hugo Stiglitz Makes Movies: http://kolson-kevinsblog.blogspot.com/2011/06/initial-reaction-tree-of-life.html
At The Constant Viewer Paul Marassa features the great Russian anti-war masterpiece “Come and See” by Erem Klimov: http://theconstantviewer.blogspot.com/2011/06/february-8-1987-come-and-see.html
At The Long Voyage Home Peter Lenihan has posted a capsule/screen cap presentation of the work of French visionary Claire Denis: http://thelongvoyagehome.blogspot.com/
In his new post “A Psuedo Self-Portrait” Michael Harford offers up some lovely abstracts and a video tour of Descartes coffeehouse in Chicago. It’s there at the Coffee Messiah’s blogsite: http://coffeemessiah.blogspot.com/2011/06/pseudo-self-portrait.html
J.D. at Radiator Heaven appears to have penned a fascinating essay at his place entitled “Did Love Beat the Demon? Forest Gump vs. Natural Born Killers: http://rheaven.blogspot.com/2011/06/did-love-beat-demon-forrest-gump-vs.html
Indian culture mavens take note! At Kaleem Hasan’s spectacularly popular home from Indian film, music and politics, the lead post, featuring a you tube of the song “Bduddah Hoga Terra Baap” has attracted almost 300 comments! But the site performed as well on many occasions. Congrats Kaleem!: http://satyamshot.wordpress.com/2011/06/05/bbuddah-hoga-terra-baap-trailers/
And Hasan himself has penned a superlative review of the Indian film Dum Maaro Dum: http://satyamshot.wordpress.com/2011/04/28/specters-of-dum-maaro-du
Troy Olson has an assortment of posts leading up at his place on live basketball blogging, a new record club and the most recent Bresson reviews: http://troyolson.blogspot.com/
Ric Burke has penned a marvelous review of “The Maid” at By Kubrick’s Beard: http://bykubricksbeard.blogspot.com/2011/06/maid.html
Jean has penned a perceptive essay on Terrence Malick’s Days of Heaven at Velvety Blackness: http://velvetyblackness.blogspot.com/2011/06/days-of-heaven.html
Hokahey at Little Worlds has authored a superlative essay on Super 8, where he elucidates some serious issues with the film: http://hokahey-littleworlds.blogspot.com/2011/06/poorly-developed-super-8.html
Drew McIntosh has posted an arresting lot of screencaps including three by Godard and one by Ferrara at The Blue Vial: http://thebluevial.blogspot.com/2011/06/godard-says-24-frames-minute-or-is-it.html
Jake Cole has penned a terrific review of James L. Brooks’ “Broadcast News” at Not Just Movies: http://armchairc.blogspot.com/2011/06/broadcast-news-james-l-brooks-1987.html
Adam Zanzie has penned a terrific review of 1964′s Behold A Pale Horse at Icebox Movies: http://iceboxmovies.blogspot.com/2011/06/behold-pale-horse-1964.html
Film Doctor has diagnosed the issues in Super 8 with his always insightful multi-step analysis: http://filmdr.blogspot.com/2011/06/monster-mash-8-notes-on-filmmaking-in.html
Ric Burke has penned a marvelous review of “The Maid” at By Kubrick’s Beard: http://bykubricksbeard.blogspot.com/2011/06/maid.html
At The Cooler Jason Bellamy links up to the incomparable new Conversations entry with a dialogue with Ed Howard on Terrence Malick’s first four films: http://coolercinema.blogspot.com/2011/05/conversations-terrence-malick-part-i.html
At The Movie Projector R.D. Finch has posted an extradinary review of Elia Kazan’s 1963 film “America America”: http://themovieprojector.blogspot.com/2011/06/america-america-1963.html
Slant writer extraordinaire John Lanthier likens A Serbian Film to a “transgressive” experience, awarding it 3 out of 4 stars at Aspiring Sellout: http://livingincinema.com/2011/05/14/review-a-serbian-film-2011/
Dave Van Poppel has some great documentary capsules from the Toronto Film Festivals posting at his place: http://visionsofnonfiction.blogspot.com/2011/05/hot-docs-2011-we-were-here.html
Jeopardy Girl asks her readers “What’s Good?” at her place this week in an ever-thoughtful post: http://jeopardygirl.wordpress.com/2011/05/16/whats-good/
Sammy posing after graduation with the family (photo by Lucille)
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Wonders in the Dark 
Thanks as always for the shout-out and for your own comment on the Columbia Cavalcade. Since then, the long shadow of The Tree of Life has finally fallen over Albany, and as you can read now I got out to see the thing. To be brief, it didn’t bowl me over the way New World did but as a piece of nostalgia that doesn’t rely on the easy devices of pop music and brand-name products it’s a great success, since it’s more nostalgia for childhood itself than for a specific time or place. It works better for me to see it as a character-driven scan of the universe through the eyes of Sean Penn’s character than as the gospel according to Terrence Malick, but for all I know the director did mean it the latter way, so my endorsement of it has to be ambivalent, but I recommend it for its ambition for all real cinema fans. And that was really the only film I saw this weekend (until I came home and watched Godzilla:Final Wars), but with the next few days off I intend to catch up with a lot of stuff that you’ll read about eventually.
Sherlock Jr. is probably Keaton’s best in terms of sheer inventiveness but it sometimes strikes me as almost too abstract compared to his best story-driven features. As for the shorts, it’s hard to beat One Week but the incredible thing is the consistent greatness of the whole series once he set a high standard with that initial release. I presume there’s more Keaton greatness to come, so I hope you enjoy the daylights out of all of it.
Samuel, you are certainly not the only person I’ve spoken to who found that THE NEW WORLD was Malick’s ‘bowl em over’ piece de resistence. Like everything else it always comes down to an emotional connection. I thought the two films we are considering here are Malick’s masterworks, but I give teh slight edge to THE TREE OF LIFE. I will of course be looking over the magnifying glass featured at MONDO 70.
SHERLOCK may indeed have an abstract essence, but no matter. It’s one of the funniest and most inventive films ever made, which of course you do admit here. For some inexplicable reason, ONE WEEK isn’t being offered in this series, sad to say. But there are indeed some great ones left, and I intend on being there.
As always thanks so much for the fabulous wrap, my friend!
Ah summer…I wish it was summer here…Although we do seem to be having a bout of mini-summer.Anyway, interested to see your negative take on Beginners, which was getting some good notices from sources one usually respects…fashionable subject matter, perhaps? I may also be the only living John Turturro-as-director film fan – enjoyed Romance and Cigarettes very much, and Mac was semi-classic.
Rod! That Turturro respect is great to hear! It’s true that as a director his reputation is rather mixed. This new film does tap on his cultural heritage with the intensity of it’s title. Yes, I know you, Jaime and Tony among southern hemisphere denizens here, have approached the winter season now. Ugh. BEGINNERS did received very good reviews for the most part, so I went in expecting a sronger and more emotionally resonant work. You may indeed find it on that level.
Many thanks my friend!
Okay Sam, I will be around on occasion over the summer… but no regular scheduled posts. It will be as and when it suites me. Mostly I will be off painting some place – en plein air…. isn’t that a most lovely expression? I think it goes well with my french box easel 🙂 We have had no movies for many days as there has been a mail strike in Canada and our usual supply from Zip.ca is waiting to be sorted and sent. Things should be back to normal in a couple days but until then I am going read up on what you and others have to offer with extra interest. Thank you as always Sam for your mention and inclusion in your community of blogger.
“en plein air.”
A lovely expression indeed Terrill, and one that will no doubt define your artistic routine this summer. But this time of the year on Mayne Island is heavenly, as you’ve related before with glorious photo compositions. Sorry to hear about that annoying postal strike, and hope as you predict things will be sorted out soon. I know you will be in maximum overdrive with creativity in the coming months and best wishes to you my very good friend!
Sam, “Summer Wars” still has three more upcoming shows next weekend, so you’re not off the hook yet.
http://www.ifccenter.com/films/summer-wars/
I haven’t decided yet whether I’ll attend a third screening of that film or see “Seven Samurai” for the first time on the big screen. Hosada’s movie is good enough that it’s a rival for Kurosawa. Seriously.
Well Bob, I am relieved to hear that! I will NOT blow it this time, and I plan to have at least two of the kids aboard. I’ll let you know as the week progresses which show I’ll be going to and perhaps you can meet up with us. Yes, SEVEN SAMURAI is a great one to see on the big screen of course!
Many thanks!
Thanks very much for the plug, Sam! I see your list of links has got even longer this week – and I look forward to exploring some of them. ‘The Tree of Life’ now finally has a UK release date, on July 8, so hopefully I will soon be able to see it and catch up with some of the Malick discussions! ‘My Dog Tulip’ will also soon be at a screen near me, so looking forward to that one too.
This week I’ve mainly been watching Wimbledon (when I’ve had time to watch anything)… but did see ‘Gunga Din’ on TV, which I didn’t like very much although I enjoyed Cary Grant’s performance. Maybe I just wasn’t in the mood for it.
I also saw silent German film ‘The Wonderful Lies of Nina Petrowna’ after reading Allan’s review here at Wonders – a truly great film which now has me wanting to catch up with more of the Weimar films I haven’t seen yet.
Check out my Obscuro pieces for the next couple of weeks or so, Judy, and you’ll find others to check out. The last Weimar will be 15th July.
Judy, I was never a big fan of GUNGA DIN, even with repeat viewings that I negotiated in the belief that I simply must be wrong. A number of tedious passages always wore me down. Of course Grant is an exception for sure. Can’t at all blame you for spending time with Wimbleton. I remember enjoying the sport years back myself. That’s terrific that Allan’s review inspired you to see THE WONDERFUL LIES OF NINA PETROWNA, which I haven’t seen yet. Your reaction really makes it urgent.
Yes, the links rose to 50, though I can’t imagine it growing beyond that! Ha! But with me nothing is ever predictable, I know. Thanks for your confidence in my assessment of MY DOG TULIP; I have my fingers crossed that it will realize expectations. And I can’t wait to read of your reaction to THE TREE OF LIFE.
Many thanks as always my cherished friend!
Sam,
Thanks again for the twin plug, Sam. SHERLOCK JR. is an out and out masterpiece of early American film and one of my own personal favorite Keaton works. It is sheer magic what he does. “PASSIONE” is a film I look forward to catching somewhere down the DVD road (I know it will never get a release here). Yesterday afternoon I received an unexpected, “sorry, there is no more room” when I drove into Tampa for a lecture by photographer Clyde Butcher at the Fla. Museum of Photographic Arts. I was surprised since I got there relatively early. Next time, I will camp out (LOL).
On the movie front here’s a rundown…
Cry Wolf (**1/2) A disappointing thriller with more holes than a pasta strainer. Stars Barbara Stanwyck, who could have given give some acrobatic lessons to Angelina Jolie, as she climbs roofs, jumps into food elevators, climbs in through windows and leaps over fences, all in an attempt to find out what a sluggish somnambulistic Errol Flynn is hiding in his mansion. The two stars had neither chemistry nor a good script.
The Bank Dick (****) A bit of a convoluted plot does not really matter in this classic W.C. Fields comedy. Ah yes, Fields play another version of his hen-pecked, alcoholic , child hating, anti-social characters who somehow manages in the course of this film to become a film director before transitioning to a bank security guard after allegedly stopping a bank robbery. Pure Fields pandemonium!
The Guns of Fort Petticoat (***) The film takes place during the Civil War. Real life war hero Audie Murphy deserts when his commanding officer starts an Indian war after he attacks a tribe who went off the reservation to peacefully trade goods. The nutty Colonel decides to “teach” the Indians a lesson killing off innocent Native American men, women and children. Murphy heads home to Texas to warn the women left behind of a potential Indian attack but is greeted as a Yankee turncoat until he is proven right. A fortress is setup at a nearby mission where Audie puts the women through basic training teaching them to shoot, fight hand to hand combat and be men! Lightweight entertainment but it keeps you interested.
The Beast From 20,000 Fathoms (***1/2) Atomic bomb testing in the Arctic wakes up a prehistoric dinosaur who has been sleeping off a bad one for a few million years, give or take a few. The “Beast” makes his way down the east coast and arrives in New York City (who wouldn’t want to visit NYC after sleeping for such a long time) in a very pissed off mood. Fun horror film from the early 1950’s when the cold war gave way to atomic bomb testing, radiation along with lots of giant bugs, freaky mutations and monsters.
Once Upon a Honeymoon (***1/2) – I found this to be odd mixture of intrigue, drama and comedy. It is almost like Leo McCarey could not make up his mind on what kind of film he wanted to make. The film deals with the serious threat of the Nazi’s advancing across Europe in the late 1930’s yet manages to incorporate long patches of comedy in between. Cary Grant and Ginger Rogers make a fine pair. Not totally successful but interesting.
John: I know you have always loved SHERLOCK JR., and remember you placing it as your favorite Keaton feature at Dave Hicks’s place several months ago. Few films are as funnny nor as inventive, and the audience last week at the Film Forum was in prime form. I do hope that PASSIONE makes a surprise appearance down by you, as I know you will connect to it in a very big way. Otherwise I know the DVD will be there. I am very sorry to hear about that unfortunate situation at the Museum of Photographic Arts. It is never fun when you drive and are turned back, that’s for sure. You might have to camp out! Ha! It sounded like a worthwhile venture though.
I haven’t seen THE GUNS OF FORT PETTICOAT, but have seen the others. I agree with the ratings on ONCE UPON A HONEYMOON and CRY WOLF, and am pretty much in agreement on THE BANK DICK (one of Fields’s true treasures) and THE BEAST which you frame superbly.
Thanks as always for the spectacular submission here my very good friend!
Sam thank you for the mention. I have always like John Turturro as an actor and I hope that he succeeds as a director and it looks like he’s on his way. Sherlock Jr. is one of Keaton’s best films with some iconic moments that would reverberate through film history.
This week I watched some Fassbinder- The Bitter Tears of Petra Von Kant and another early one called The American Soldier. Both are very interesting although Petra is the far better film. I’m getting hold of some more shortly.
One great find was the Douglas Sirk melodrama Magnificent Obsession. For most of the film you don’t know whether to laugh or to cry. It’s on that razor edge fine line of melodrama, but makes you submit to its brilliance. We’ve got a big family reunion coming next weekend, so I’ll be out of pocket come Thursday. Have a great 4th of July!
Hey Jon! I fully agree with your expectations of John Turturro, and do feel with PASSIONE he has really turned the corner. I love what you say there about certain parts of SHERLOCK JR. “reverberating” through history.
THE AMERICAN SOLDIER is an interesting early Fassbinder, but I agree it’s not in a league with THE BITTER TEARS OF PETRA VON CANT. I would have to agree with our friend, Fassbinder scholar Ed Howard who strongly promotes IN A YEAR OF 13 MOONS as an key work that needs to be seen. But a number of others here including Jamie, who is also a huge Fassbinder guy (and exceedingly talented in conveying his own affinities) have made their own suggestions I know. I am assuming you have BERLIN ALEXANDERPLATZ lined up, no Jon?
Jon, I absolutely adore Sirk (ah here’s my chance to again promote Haynes’ FAR FROM HEAVEN!!! Ha!!!!) and love MAGIFICENT OBSESSION (and WRITTEN ON THE WIND, ALL THAT HEAVEN ALLOWS, IMITATION OF LIFE and others) and appreciate your very fine delineation there.
I hear ya on the big party Jon. If we were in the vicinity of the Wolverine State, we’ve stop in and say hello! I wish you all the bets and hope to hear about the day!
I still need to comment on that great review you wrote of my favorite film by Makavejev!
many thanks my very good friend!
Thanks for the kind words Sam! Yes I am building up to Berlin Alexanderplatz for sure. I think I’m trying to make sure I have the best context in mind for viewing it so I will bide my time and then take the plunge.
Yes as for Sirk, he is quite the director. I’m really getting into melodram of late and I’m finding it such a wonderful way of conveying emotion, theme, and even social commentary. More from this from me in the future.
Sam, thanks so much for the wonderful mention.
First off, congratulations on Sammy’s graduation. That’s fantastic news and one of those great, family moments to share and cherish. It also sounds like you had another great week at the theater. Aside from the Keaton festival, that you know I thoroughly envy, I was intrigued to hear about John Turturro’s new film.
This week, I saw A ROOM WITH A VIEW, GOING MY WAY, FOOLISH WIVES, LOVE AFFAIR; OR THE CASE OF THE MISSING SWITCHBOARD OPERATOR, THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY, Hitch’s first THE MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH, and BRIDESMAIDS. I was glad to see them all, but I actually connected most with the recent Apatow. It’s by a fairly good distance my favorite of his works so far.
Here’s to another great week, Sam. Thanks so much for all the amazing things you do.
Thanks so much Jeffrey for the mention of Sammy. He worked hard and finished in the group of 18 honor students in a class of 110.
Yes, I know this Keaton festival would be tailor made for you. Hopefully at some point you’ll get a chance at this in Bayou Country. John Turturro is a multi-talented guy, and he turns his singular passions into something that will resonate with all music and culture lovers.
I see you again played the “Stacked Deck” game this week, and predictably came up trumps! Our friend Jon at FILMS WORTH WATCHING just reviewed SWITCHBOARD OPERATOR, which is linked on this thread. I can’t blame you at all for citing BRIDESMAIDS, which is a far better film that many would believe. Heck just a few weeks ago someone here was making fun of the rating I gave it, expecting something far different than this finished product. It’s frankly one of the funniest movies I’ve seen in years.
Of the entire lot, I would say that Merchant and Ivory’s ravishing “A Room With A View” is probably my absolute favorite (the use over the credits of Puccini’s “O Mio Babbino Caro” from “Gianni Schicchi” is sublimity incarnate!) though both Von Stroheim’s FOOLISH WIVES and Hitch’s first MAN WHO KNEW TOO MUCH are superlative works.
As always your kindness and glowing report are part of the fabric of this place. I can’t thank you enough my friend!
Sam,
Thank you for the mention. I enjoyed your piece, especially introduction of “Passione” by John Turturro. Sounds intriguing.
“Sherlock Jr.” is my favorite among Keatons, and I fully agree about pool scene and “coordinated run near the end”. Visual aspects of the film are also stunning.
I watched Naruse’s “Lightning” last night. His sets and shooting locations are always fascinating. Hideko Takamine was great in that kind of role as always, All the male characters were … Naruse’s male characters as always. It was pretty good, in fact.
MI
Hey MI:
PASSIONE is a joy for fans of continental music and particularly those who can never get enough of “O Solo Mio.” Heck, near the beginning of the film we get to hear about five people singing it one after another. Ha! But the film is a delight and Turturro obviously had a great time making it!
I’m not at all surprised that you favor “Sherlock Jr.,” which is one of the greatest of all comedies, and one that above all other Keatons has been embraced in recent decades as one of the greatest silent films ever made. Universities have been celebrating it for quite some time now. This evening’s feature Keaton is another gem, SPITE MARRIAGE.
I saw LIGHTNING at the Naruse Festival four years ago, and loved it! Ms. Takamine was indeed extraordinary, and I agree that the settings are always compelling. I hope you decide to review this Naruse work.
Thanks as always my very good friend!
Sam-
I’m back at work, and very gingerly returning to post-surgical use of my thumb today (still limititng the “extra curricular” typing/posting this week, however.) But had to stop by and leave a few comments. “Passione” sounds like a must-see – I’ll keep an eye out for it. I was a bit surprised by your lukewarm assessment of “Beginners,” as I’ve seen raves for it elsewhere. It’s just opened on the arthouse circuit here, which does not make it convenient for the (apparently) philistine corner of the ‘burbs where I reside, but I hope to see it soon. (Ditto for “Tree of Life” – still in outlying arthouses here, but I’m hoping the 7/8 wide release date brings it closer to home.)
While recuperating from ‘trigger release’ surgery on my right thumb this week, I was able to take in a number of musicals and “On Demand” selections, including the new Michael Winterbottom road comedy “The Trip,” which I highly recommend, especially if your are a fan of Steve Coogan and/or subtle, masterfully mulit-layered improvisational comedy. Also watched “Footlight Parade” and”Gold Diggers of 1933″ – and, although I know it well enough that I really didn’t have to revisit, indulged in the joys of “Topsy Turvy.”
Love the picture from Sammy’s graduation – that’s a good-lookin’ family there, Sam!
Oh, and Sam here’s a question for you: would we consider “Nashville” to be a musical? Or “Coal Miner’s Daughter” (or “Ray” or any other biopic of a singer or musician)? I’m asking, because the more I delve into this genre, the more elastic it seems that the definition of “movie musical” appears to be. Film versions of traditional stage musicals (a long line from “3 Penny Opera” and “Showboat” to “Hairspray”); Warner Brothers ‘backstage’ musicals in which all the production numbers come at the very end (save for maybe one brief song in a rehearsal scene); films like “Topsy Turvy” in which staged production numbers are inserted thoughout the dramatic narrative, films with wall-to-wall music (as varied as “Umbrellas of Cherbourg” and “Tommy’) – all of these are generally considered to be musicals. Where is the dividing line between “musical” and “drama (or comedy) with music”? Food for thought. Or maybe I’m already thinking too much…
To be honest Pat (and your enthusiasm here is infectious!!!!) every potential musical there is on the table as far as I’m concerned. All biopics, and those films with staged production umbers are part of the mix, and only a fully open interpretation will allow for a countdown with diversity, surprise and maximum quality. In addition, as one of the three people who will be casting a full ballot for this Top 50 Musicals venture, I would say that you will establish your own parameters while sorting out your compilation. Having said that though, I don’t see a single instance where you have left the box. I also saw “Topsy Turvy” as a musical, as I did all the others here. “Tommy,” “The Wall,” “A Hard Day’s Night,” “Once” all musicals to my eyes, and to the eyes of most. Finally, yes, I would definitely count Robert Altman’s “Nashville” as a musical within these parameters, as I would “Ray” and Coal Miner’s Daughter.”
Pat, I hope you are back to 100% very soon, and can well-imagine how that kind of inconvenience can be constricting in every sense! Yep, I do believe PASSIONE will be one you will fall for in a very big way! The Italian music is certainly to die for. I will have to see BEGINNERS again at some point–I went in wanting and expecting to love it, and was disappointed my expectations weren’t met. I know it’s receibed (mostly) very strong reviews. Let’s see what you think of it (and THE TREE OF LIFE).
I have the full extended version of THE TRIP on DVD, and hope to watch it soon. You saw some real gems there with FOOTLIGHT PARADE and GOLD DIGGERS OF 1933!!!! And who can blame you indulging in TOPSY URVY. I alsmost watched it again myself several weeks ago after taking in a local staging of HMS PINAFORE. At least I watched the classic THE MIKADO, which I expect will make my own countdown list.
Thanks as always my excellent friend!
Sam –
I don’t know if “enthusiasm” is the right word – “obsession” is a little strong – let’s just say I’m viewing with a purpose! And last night, watched the Lubitsch “Merry Widow” which was absolutely delifghtful. I found in on “all regions” DVD on Amazon (with subtitles in Chinese!)
Pat, I hear ya! Ha! I have that exact same Chinese DVD of THE MERRY WIDOW. Ah had I known you were in the market for this, I could have saved you. But delightful indeed, couldn’t agree more!
Here we are in summer school. Let’s hope the six weeks go by in a jiffy.
Would love to join you guys for tonight’s Keaton venue. Not sure what’s up. You caught my interest with Passione. Turturro has always been one of my favorites. As an actor I can’t forget his role in Barton Fink. As a director I am assuming this new film is his best. Too bad about Beginners.
Frank: Let’s not be too hasty in wishing time away! Ha! I will admit though, that August will be cherished, as it’s the only real break I get all year.
I will let you know if PASSIONE shows up in Montclair!
Many thanks my friend!
I was able to look at your list again this morning and find a couple of movies I can get on DVD to add to my August September private film festival while my hubs is biking for 5 weeks from border to border…Thank you for the suggestions and reviews…
Loved the picture and having a child move onto high school is truly an amazing accomplishment.
My puppy got something caught in his throat and had several surgeries to get to recovery – so I am going to get some rest and recovery the next couple of weeks too…:)
Thank you for the sharing of my 10 post and including me on your list – it is wonderful to be included and appreciated….
A round of applause for your great efforts.
Geez, Patricia, I’m very sorry to hear about your pet. The ‘several surgaries’ report isn’t pleasant for a number of reasons, needless to say. Looks like there will be a happy ending to this, thank goodness. As a fellow pet owner (we just added to our out-of-control number by adopting two five week old kittens as the request of a relative this past weekend) I know full well how trying a time you’ve been through.
Happy to hear you came up with some more names for your movie list! I would be more than happy to make further suggestions, though the past diaries basically relate the films I thought the most of dating quite a ways back.
I was honored to be mentioned so prominantly on your Top 10. Many thanks my very good friend!
Read Ed Howard’s and Jason Bellamy’s fascinating conversation on ‘The Tree of Life’ over at Slant Magazine and just want to respond to the excoriation of the film’s afterlife coda.
The way I read the film, this is a subjective afterllife as envisioned by Jack, the Jack born and raised in the Bible Belt, an indoctrination of orthodox Christian banality, simplistic (grandma’s homilies), entrenched by Jack’s religious upbringing, religion as superstition, religion travestied by organized sectarianism, a case of arrested spiritual development (Jack has grown into a soullless modern striver decked in Armani).
This heavenly ending is not Malick’s vision, but Jack’s and if it’s ‘saccharine and spiritually pat’ blame it on the Baptists or the Methodists, not on Malick. Malick’s benevolence throughout keeps religious critique muted. My guess is that Malick himself is an agnostic, though that doesn’t prevent his creation of a deeply felt film full of achingly spiritual imagery.
Actually, a case could be made, though I’m not going to make it, that the entire film, or most of it, takes place in Jack’s subconscious, including the Creation. Dinosaurs are an almost universal, obligatory boyhood fascination.
Another scene in the final coda seems ambiguous. When Jessica Chastain (her last name is almost an anagram for Christian, but I’m doodling) whispers ‘I give you my son’ I thought she was referring to Jack’s marriage, since over her shoulder in the bright, holy light we see a dark-haired girl, the very same who was the object of Jack’s schoolboy crush (not an anonymous angel), an early story strand introduced, dropped and then reintroduced at the end. The sorrow of the mother is two-fold: first she loses her son to marriage and finally to death, either her own or her child’s.
If the tree of life, a symbol of the cross, dramatizes an orthodox Christian viewpoint, then the ‘problematic’ coda fits in thematically with the rest of the film — even the Creation with its Promethean fires, the gigantism of apocalyptic Nature, the borrowed backgrounds and rich color palettes of Renaissance religious paintings which Jack may have studied in church ( a children’s book called ‘The Guiding Light’ (1952) is full of color plates of Rembrandt, El Greco, Michelangelo, Veronese and others) — da Vinci’s ‘The Virgin of the Rocks,’ Tintoretti’s ‘Christ Walking on the Sea,’ El Greco’s ‘Christ on the Mount of Olives,’ even Michelangelo’s ‘God Separating Light from Darkness,’ inspired by the Book of Genesis.
Religiously and thematically ‘The Tree of Life’ is all of a piece and one can either accept or reject its theism and still be overwhelmed by the film’s symphonic bigness, its hubris, its luminosity and excesses, and most of all, its temps perdu story of a troubled Texas family in the 1950s. Which brings me to the Proustian element touched on by Ed and Jason, and the film’s outside-of-time transfigurations.
Proust’s famous line from ‘The Past Recaptured’ (the Princesse de Guermantes receives), the coda of his colossus of memory reads:
“So life appears to us like the fairy play in which, from act to act
one sees the baby become an adolescent, then a grown man
and finally bend over toward the grave.”
Perhaps this line could serve as an epitaph for ‘The Tree of Life,’ as well.
Sam J., I finally got my hands on ‘Au Hasard Balthazar’ and now I’m apprehensive about watching it since I know the donkey is abused throughout. Also Makaveyev’s ‘Man is not a Bird,’ ‘Love Affair or the Case of the Missing Swtichboard Operator’ and ‘Innocence Unprotected.’
Ed Howard and Jason Bellamy stand alone with their Conversations, Mark. It’s beyond incredible how they can maintain that kind of scholarly discourse every month in discussions that examine their subjects from every philosophical, aesthetic, psychological, historical and metaphorical angle possible. But the level is on such a high plane, that you must feel comfortable with your own preparation to comment. Ha! I nearly said something about my disagreement that the film’s ending was problematic, but I wasn’t satisfied with my response.
I’m not quite sure I buy the contention that the entire film takes place in Jack’s subconcious, but I can’t really pose compelling evidence to the contrary. I definitely agree with you here:
“My guess is that Malick himself is an agnostic, though that doesn’t prevent his creation of a deeply felt film full of achingly spiritual imagery.”
I have always felt this way too, even with the sway of Malick’s thoughts-beliefs seemingly etched in recent years in Christian sensibilities. You sum it all up superbly when you suggest that one can either embrace or reject the theism annd still be overwhelmed by all the other elements. I love too your bringing in all those famed works of art too by Michelangelo, da Vinci and others. And the Proust line is utter perfection.
Well, you know I can’t wait to hear your carefully-considered response to the Bresson, one of my favorite films of all-time, and the inspiration for my avatar! Ha!
Thanks for the brilliance once again my great friend!
Yeah, I hate that when you’re dealing with difficult work, the aesthetic rationale is almost always to place the story inside the protagonist’s head. But I think at the very least, the ending is the afterlife as imagined by the still-living Jack. The Creation and the prehistoric scenes could be fragments of memory from his religious and secular upbringing. It makes the film a unified whole. But when the essence of a film is metaphysical, multiple interpretations seem valid. Remember (I’m sure you do) the staccato burst of unrelated images at the beginning of ‘Persona’? Are these images from Elizabeth’s imagination or do they, as Bergman himself has said, merely represent the film’s impatience to get underway?
Sam, I forgot to mention that you have a great-looking family there. Are they all budding cinephiles? I’m heading over to Jon’s post to read his assessment of Makaveyevs’ ‘Love Affair.’ How funny, I bought a Makaveyev set only yesterday! Also, ‘Jeanne Dielman.’ Also I can’t wait to see the new Cameron Diaz gross-out ‘Bad Teacher’ because I like Diaz and think she has star power and personality to burn. Is this a lapse in taste or just eclecticism?
Mark: You know I would have it no other way! Ha! They are all big movie watchers (heck I kind of forced the issue by escorting them to movie theatres from way back when) and at home they spend an unGodly number of hours in front of teh plasma.
Jon did a very fine job with SWITCHBOARD OPERATOR, the best of its director’s films. I’m sure you acquired the Criterion Eclipse set! Nice. JEANNE DIELMAN is a good acquisition as well. I had a chance to see BAD TEACHER over the weekend, but opted for more cerebral fare. The reviews were lukewarm. But yeah, Diaz does have star power, that can’t be denied. No lapse in taste at all, she’s appreciated both by the multiplex and the art house people.
Thanks again my friend!
Whoops, it’s Makavejev (sp).
Just want to mention one shot that took my breath away both times I saw ‘The Tree of Life’ — the swarm of birds stippling the sunset sky as they wheel and swirl toward and then behind Philip Johnson’s Republic Bank Tower (love the fact that the architecture is secular neo-Gothic). It’s an Antonioni moment.
Superlative point there Mark, and one I completely agree with! It’s telling that I completely recollect that sequence and that secular, neo-gothis architecture! An Antonioni moment indeed!
Thanks my friend!
Sam, I was especially struck by your indicating that John Turturro is now a film director. Like Jacques Perrin, who played the sailor-boy in Demy’s Young Girls of Rochefort, his carrying off a puerile role amidst a major scheme lulls one into thinking such a figure would be confined to enacting someone else’s initiatives, while in fact there was an active film function struggling to break loose.
I’m going to see Passione as soon as I can, particularly in view of a prospect I’m delighted to be dealing with going into the second part of the year. I’m looking at a focus by filmmakers who tend to be overshadowed by hurricane-level compositions from auteurs who elicit fierce loyalties. There’s an exciting area of disclosure that’s been out there a long time but perhaps underestimated. For instance, I think there’s a lot to be derived from looking at affinities and differences between Malick’s Days of Heaven and Billy Wilder’s The Seven Year Itch.
Excellent parallel there Jim with Perrin, and a most interesting framing of disclosure in making pertinent comparisons. I have every reason to believe you will find much beauty in PASSIONE, and look forward to your imminent analysis.
Thanks as always Jim, for the brilliant comment!
Sam, thanks a lot for the mention.
I didn’t manage to catch as many movies over the week gone by vis-a-vis the week before. I watched Code 46, which, despite a few good parts, was a mediocre (and boring) movie at best. I got to watch Satyajit Ray’s documentary on Rabindranath Tagore again as our institute screen it to celebrateTagore’s 150th birth anniversary.
The best part of course was watching Godfather & Godfather II back to back last evening. Though I’d watched both the movies earlier (and as for the first part, multiple times over), the double bill left me highly elated. And, though I always felt Godfather was the superior of the two, I’m no more as convinced, since Part II is as nearly good as the Part I, if not better.
Shubhajit: I know this past week was more difficult for you as far as available time allows. I was no fan of CODE 46 either, and barely even remember it at this point. Therefore, your summary judgement is dead on. The Ray documentary sounds fantastic!
Personally, I feel GODFATHER 2 is even greater than the first part for a host of reasons. But watching them back-to-back is the way to go. I’ve done it several times in my life in this fashion. There isn’t a boring second in eother of those two masterworks. You treated yourself there! Ha!
Thanks as always my very good friend! Have a great week!
Hey Sam. I endured some momentary panic when I saw you assigning 4* to Leap Year there. Having spoken recently of needing to work for some time yet to come, the notion that you were praising last year’s turkey from Anand Tucker had me worried about the early onset of dementia!! This sounds like a film that I will like, though, and yet more evidence that Mexican cinema is in pretty rude health at present.
Another quiet week for me, as I am busy both in work and at weekends right now. However, I have definite ambitions for both theatre and cinema this week that will hopefully be stuck to!
P.S. Your nippers are beginning to catch up on you in height!! Time…
LOL Longman! I quite agree with you on that Tucker flick! A turkey for sure! I’m pretty sure you would respond favorably to the Mexican film though. It’s a diificult and provocative film that exhibits some searing images and superlative performances. Count it as an exception to the rule as far as Mexican cinema goes. But I am still heading towards dementia. I just today sent the wrong DVD to Allan, making a rather ghastly mistake.
I know you’ve been busy with work as of late, but you’ve still managed to post some very fine theatre and film pieces at your place. I hope you’ll still be able to negotiate even more time in the weeks ahead.
Yep my clan is coming of age! Ha!
Thanks as always my very good friend!
Hello Sam and everyone! Thanks for featuring my blogathon on the upper tier of your magnificent blog roll, and I need that each one of you to massifie it as much as you could, since I want this to be success and to repeat it in a short time period. I hope some of the writers and visitors of Wonders could write something about any of the ten (approx.) works in which Mr. Richard Kelly has participated in some degree (Domino and World’s Greatest Dad are in that list), but it could also be about movies that may have an influence on any of his works, or an actor who appears in many of his films (or just one), I’m open for anything (even negative pieces, for that matter).
Now, my week was again fully inmersed into this TV Pilot and I’m now editing and adding special effects (I’m using this free day), so I’m not going to really get much into what I exactly did each day: I filmed thursday and friday, the whole week was the Documentary Festival that I couldn’t attend and that’s about it.
My week movie wise:
– The Abominable Dr. Phibes (1971, Robert Fuest) ****1/2 This one has gone up 1/2 * since last time I saw it, and your DVD did the trick Sam, it’s a movie with a slow pace and a great performance from the most lovable actor in the world: Vincent Price (should’ve taken place in my top 10 masters list, sheesh). I love this movie entirely because of the killings, the procedural, the humor and Vincent.
– Cave of Forgotten Dreams (2010, Werner Herzog) ****1/2 This was the only movie I could see from the Documentary Festival, it was supposed to show on 3D, but it failed at last moment, so it was seen in 2D. It was an artful experience, full of messages about what we can give the people in the future, what are we doing with our art and the earth itself and what are we giving our children. Just perfect.
– The Beyond (1981, Lucio Fulci) ****1/2 The horror, the eyes! It’s just a delightful and confusing experience to see this film… and zombies? That made it for me, it’s just a visual and dreamy experience that deserves to be watched and rewatched. Thanks for this DVD as well Sam, it’s the first of them I saw, and it was just perfect for the moment I had been going through, just torture.
– An Autumn Afternoon (1962, Yasujiro Ozu) ****1/2 A rewatch of the last film of the japanese master on a film scene class, it was good to see it again and how good and funny it really is with its special humor. I like the characters and how my teacher always pointed out how Ozu played with color, which was just sublime.
– What’s New Pussycat (1965, Clive Donner, Richard Talmadge) ***1/2 It’s uneven, it’s not always funny, it’s editing and scenes are sometimes confusing… but the final minutes are just hysterical and something you don’t see done today in comedies, also it has Woody Allen in a non-Allen character (more like a fish-out-of-water than a nervous breakdown, and Peter Sellers, who is just genius.
– Whatever Works (2009, Woody Allen) **** Funny and well acted, I don’t know why there’s so much hate against this simple comedy that plays safe and with certain messages about life that may feel dangerous to some, but they’re just splendid if they’re not really taken seriously. Larry David is one hell of a guy, I’ve always liked him, and as an Allen doplenganger it works.
– You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger (2010, Woody Allen) ***1/2 Good acting, but the plot was uninteresting in many parts, many of the twist were not really necessary, but the subplot about the writer and the car crash was infinitely superior to every other. I was glad to comeback each time to it, and it was the best thing of the movie.
And with that I’ve completed Woody Allen features directed by him. Took me a while, but it’s done.
Have a good week everyone!
Jaime, I was very happy to have your vital link among the top tier, and know that your project will be a huge success. I am hoping that there will be some input for the WitD contingent, though I know Kelly’s output is limited. I am assuming you are welcoming repeat essays, meaning you will probably allow several people to do the same film. But this may well be your defining triumph my friend!
You were busy with your TV pilot this week, so I can well understand, you preferring to generalize. Hope you got some quality time for yourself though.
Another miraculous movie report, and the impressive conclusion to your Woody Allen series!
Why is there so much hate against WHATEVER WORKS? Good question! I love it myself, and would also give it 4/5. David as the Woodman’s alter-ego is wonderful the way I see it. As far as YOU WILL MEET A TALL DARK STRANGER, I liked it less, but acknowledge there are fans. Ed Howard at ONLY THE CINEMA just last week wrote a magnificent review on the film. For the most part he’s a fan.
I am not much of a Fulci fan (too crass and over-the-top) but I did send you the one films of his that for various reasons was successful in that sub-genre (THE BEYOND) Looks like you found the worth in it, as I expected you would. I seem to have forgotten what Jamie, Troy, Kevin and Robert thought of this one. I am delighted that you liked THE ABOMINABLE DR. PHIBES even more the second time out! And good for you on CAVE OF FORGOTTEN DREAMS, an arresting documentary by Herzog! The 3D worked in the theatre, but seeing it in 2D is good enough. That aspect is really only tinsel dressing.
Great capsule there on the Ozu masterwork AN AUTUMN AFTERNOON, a film I love deeply, and completely agree on the assessment and rating for WHAT’S NEW PUSSYCAT.
What an utterly splendid wrap my excellent friend! have a great week!
Sam – I’m a day late, but not a dollar short. I taught all day Sunday (Reiki Level 2 for certification), so all of the tasks that we normally complete on Sunday, fell to Monday instead.
Way to go Jeremy (don’t let your dad sneak your cool Film Forum t-shirt)…
We’re not going to see BEGINNERS or LEAP YEAR, but you’ve definitely piqued my curiosity with PASSIONE.
I love the family photo – I wish Lucille (clearly the photographer) had been able to hop in the picture as well.
With a grandfather who lived to the ripe old age of 96, you’ve got some serious longevity in your genes. It reminds me of what the wonderful comediene George Burns said, “If I would have known I was going to live this long I would have taken better care of myself!”
Laurie:
You are never late to this place! And as always your comment is astute and much appreciated! Sounds like you had quite the taxing day there on Sunday! I bet your students are all the more wiser at this point.
Last night, Laurie, they called my name out of the weekly hat on the stage before the showing of SPITE MARRIAGE, and my reward was a paperbound Buster Keaton biography. Ha! So Jeremy has his tee-shirt and I have a book! Our blogger friend from western Canada, Sachin Gandhi and his wife and daughter were in on a New York City trip and were part of our group last night at the Film Forum for SPITE MARRIAGE, and everyone had a wonderful time. Thanks so much for the nice words on the family photo for Sammy’s graduation, which was indeed taken by Lucille. My father’s side has great genes for sure, though there are issues on my mother’s side. Love that classic quote by Burns!
PASSIONE is definitely I one I recommend most enthusiastically!
Thanks as always my invaluable friend!
Hi Sam, it’s been a strange kind of week. I saw one helleva movie that put the spirit back in me after the Goddard. And I suspect, that you will consider this movie a magnificent film. I saw the 1963 version of….
‘The Miracle Worker’**** – This was one hell of a experience, total immersion. Patty Duke is superb and so is Ann Bancroft. Marvellous, yet it’s the story and the themes that the real stars. It had the provocative fire of SF at it’s heart, twisting my mind to imagine what a world of darkness with only sense sensations would be like. And more than once I went in thought back to H.G. Wells classic novelette ‘The Country of the Blind’. I pretty much regard Helen Kellar to probably be the most extraordinary woman in human history. I ordered the movie the next day and will be watching it with my nephew and niece over the weekend.
The Miracle Worker (2000) – This is a Disney version and I just had to check it out. I mean, you really can’t go wrong with that play, can you? Yes you can. Which just goes to show that the original isn’t just performance led but quite brilliantly shaped by Arthur Penn. It has bright bland colour and everything looks like it was just made or worn for the first time. It makes the whole thing look fake. There’s no fire in any of the performances, it’s an amateur charade, film-making by numbers and probably with the intention to expose youngsters to the classics, but this kind of help they don’t need and will, in my opinion stop them cold.
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold** – A fairly accomplished piece of spy fiction which acted, photographed, edited and directed with a sure hand. I liked it’s grimy, grubbiness. And thinking of it today, I remembered it more fondly than when I actually watched it. Maybe I admire it’s qualities more than love it.
Exile* – This is BBC 3 part thriller, it starts well enough but after the first segment the following two episodes just go the route of least resistance and I was at least 10 minutes ahead of each plot development. Jim Broadbent is the best thing about it, the the photography is also first rate.
The Shadow Line – Yet another thriller by the Beeb, doleful nonsense. Hokum. That the Beeb do tripe like this, when HBO is producing one major television event after another, it beggars belief. And they have now sold off Television Centre to move up North, which is like all the studios shutting shop in L.A. and heading off to Detroit to relocate, so that they can show they are relevant to the whole country. They have been at Television Centre for 50 years, it’s national monument and they are pissing it all off to that they can be politically correct. They’ve had to pay huge amounts to staff to relocate and will be paying the same towards guests for shows in terms of cabs and hotels. Moving from the capital, it sheer stupidity. Anyway, I’ve decided not to pay my obligatory licence fee (about $225 per year). I’d need a TV aerial or cable or some such receiving equipment and I’ve haven’t had any for years. But this is the first time I’ve really protested.
Also read to fab short pieces of fiction. ‘The Doll’*** by Algernon Blackwood is a delightfully weird piece about a retired English officer who has done some dastardly deed in his time in India and gets an accursed doll from a Hindu emissary. Thinking it destroyed, he gives it no further thought but it has been given to his young daughter, who sinister companion it becomes. Some of the prose is a bit clunky and there was probably a better way of getting rid of the doll in it’s climax, yet it has a real sense of a malign and sinister corruption and evil invading the house.
Lot**** is a 1953 SF piece from the magazine of SF and Fantasy. It and it’s sequel were stolen by hacks and a film made from it called ‘Panic in Year Zero’. The noveltte is a gripping account of a man trying to get his wife and 3 kids away from LA in the aftermath of major strikes hitting the US by the enemy/ It’s almost like a survivalist’s worst nightmare come to vivid life; the interpersonal relationships, the mounting horror and the shockingly horrifying ending make it one of the great classics of the field.
Pity about the passing of Peter Falk, but we’ll always have Columbo – one of the greats.
Sam, did you know that ‘Gaslight’, the 1940 version only survived because the director was allowed to keep one copy for personal use! I think I hate MGM. Something else I heard on the radio, Cary Grant was a huge fan of Benny Hill. I can just imagine how he would have absolutely loved that. Chaplin was too, and Dick Van Dyke.