by Sam Juliano
Turkey Day is upon us, and we at Wonders in the Dark would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone stateside a wonderful Thursday with family and friends and safe traveling for all those visiting. For the 21st year consecutively our entire family of seven will be spending the day in a mansion-sized home in scenic Butler, New Jersey with Lucille’s sister’s family and about 45 or so others in the big Lampmann family that includes children and grandchildren. Quite a day as it is I’m sure for many of our dear friends here. Anyone placing comments are encouraged to share their own plans for that day. Even our friends outside our borders are welcome to talk about their expectations for Thursday, even if it is work as usual.
A big congratulations are in order for Aaron West and two other bloggers, who pulled off one of the most glorious blogging ventures ever over the past week with a wildly popular Criterion Collection blogathon that wound up involving nearly the entire film community. Wonders in the Dark was honored to participate. The amount of work Aaron and his colleagues put into this is simply mind-boggling. Kudos to all. Speaking of Criterion, I was ecstatic beyond words this past week after the company announced upcoming February blu-rays of the 1970’s Swedish films The Emigrants and The New Land. No films have had me praying for release more than these, and I must say I was bursting with excitement when I read of the upcoming releases. These two masterpieces never even received legitimate DVD releases, much less blu rays. I have been holding on to my laser disc copies for years. February overall is an amazing month for the folks at Criterion with both Mike Nichols’ The Graduate and Nagisa Oshima’s Japanese masterpiece Death by Hanging. The latter release was also cause for celebration among cinephiles.
The site has enjoyed an unusually phenomenal week as far as page views are concerned. This past Thursday nearly 2,400 hits were registered, with the book review of Mummy Cat largely responsible. This is the highest total for a single day in over seven months.
As we approach the time of the year when ‘Best of” movie lists are imminent, there is a frenzy to see some of the prestige pictures that are opening. Though my plans in the upcoming days include seeing Room, Love and James White, this past week had me busy on the domestic front. Lucille and I did see a masterpiece in Todd Haynes’ Carol at the Angelika Film Center, but otherwise the only other event was attending a classical concert at the exquisite West Side Presbyterian Church on South Monroe Street in Ridgewood , N.J. I will be penning a full review of this concert this week, but suffice to say it included beloved compositions by Bach, Sibelius, Smetana and Saint-Saens, all of which are personal favorites.
Carol ***** (Saturday night) Angelika Film Center
Todd Haynes’ CAROL is a masterpiece. It chronicles a love affair between two woman, one an older married society woman extraordinarily played by Cate Blanchett, and another, played by Rooney Mara, a younger department store employee and aspiring photographer who returns a lost glove, an act that begins a forbidden relationship in the bigoted 1950’s. Much like Haynes’ magisterial Far From Heaven, Haynes offers up astonishing period detail-the clothes, the cars, the decor, the incessant cigarette smoking is dead on, and Blanchett and Mara are astonishing. The women steer clear of melodrama to register honest and probing feelings for each other in a film of amazing depth, which was based on the novel “The Price of Salt” by the renowned Patricia Highsmith. The creamy cinematography by Edward Lachman and score/soundtrack by Carter Burwell are exemplary. Without any doubt this is one of the two or three best films of the year.
Nearly all links have been updated:
At Noirish, the renowned writer John Grant has penned an excellent review on a mediocre 30’s film “Curtain at Eight”: https://noirencyclopedia.wordpress.com/2015/11/19/curtain-at-eight-1933/
At FilmsNoir.net Tony d’Ambra has posted a full list of films noir in US Library of Congress National Film Registry: http://filmsnoir.net/film_noir/list-of-films-noir-in-us-library-of-congress-national-film-registry.html/
Stephen Mullen has penned a powerful condemnation on the anti-Syrian refugee talk at his site The Listening Ear which is simply essential reading: http://listeningear.blogspot.com/2015/11/friday-calls-for-music.html
Marilyn Ferdinand has offered up a loving and beautifully written essay on Jacques Tati’s “Jour de Fete” for the Criterion blogathon at Ferdy-on-Films: http://www.ferdyonfilms.com/2015/jour-de-fete-1949/26487/
Joel Bocko has published a superlative review on the immortal film classic “The Adventures of Robin Hood” at I Lost It at the Movies: http://thedancingimage.blogspot.com/2015/11/the-favorites-adventures-of-robin-hood.html
At Mondo 70 Samuel Wilson has written a delightful essay on Wheeler and Woolsey’s 1931 “Cracked Nuts”: http://mondo70.blogspot.com/2015/11/pre-code-parade-cracked-nuts-1931.html
At It Rains…….You Get Wet Robert Tower offers up a fantastic “Top 13 Forgotten Crime Gems”: http://le0pard13.com/2015/11/20/my-top-13-forgotten-crime-gems/
At Filmacability Dean Treadway has offered up a brilliantly authoritative examination of the year 1964 in the cinema: http://filmicability.blogspot.com/2015/11/1964-year-in-review.html
At Tuesdays with Laurie our great friend Laurie Buchanan has offered up one of her most deeply moving posts ever with “The Gift of Tonglen”: http://tuesdayswithlaurie.com/2015/11/17/the-gift-of-tonglen/
At Overlook’s Corridor Jaimie Grijalba has concluded another magnificent Horror Madness countdown, concluding in grand fashion with the 1952 Finnish film “Valkoinen Peura”: https://overlookhotelfilm.wordpress.com/2015/10/31/october-overlook-madness-31-valkoinen-peura-1952/
Over at Attractive Variance Jamie Uhler’s monumental post on horror films watched during October leads the way: https://attractivevariance.wordpress.com/2015/11/02/october-2015–horror-wrap-up/
At Movie Classics, Judy Geater is leading up with a terrifically comprehensive review of Mark Robson’s 1954 “The Bridges of Toko-Ri”: https://movieclassics.wordpress.com/2015/11/11/the-bridges-at-toko-ri-mark-robson-1954/
David Schleicher has penned an excellent review on “Spotlight” at The Schleicher Spin: http://theschleicherspin.com/2015/11/22/it-takes-a-village-in-spotlight/
Our longtime friend the film maker and movie lover extraordinaire Jeffrey Goodman has posted the thirty-first four film roundup at The Last Lullaby, one that includes a Maurice Pialat film: http://cahierspositif.blogspot.com/2015/11/favorite-four-part-thirty-one.html
Over at Patricia’s Wisdom, the terrific book reviewer and friend Patricia Hamilton has penned a terrific piece on the first part of a trilogy, “The Raven Room”: http://patriciaswisdom.com/2015/11/the-raven-room-a-trilogy-mystery-book-1-ana-medeiros/
J. D. Lafrance has penned an outstanding essay on “Tomorrowland” at Radiator Heaven: http://rheaven.blogspot.com/2015/11/tomorrowland.html
Shubhajit Lahiri has penned an excellent review of Wim Wenders’ 1975 “Wrong Move” at Cinemascope: http://cliched-monologues.blogspot.com/2015/08/the-wrong-move-1975.htm
Terrill Welch’s incomparably beautiful Creative Potager blogsite leads up with “Paiting and then selling paintings are done on a different breath: http://creativepotager.com/2015/10/06/painting-and-then-selling-paintings-are-done-on-a-different-breath/
Sachin Gandhi has penned a terrific review on the Brazilian “She Comes Back on Thursday” at Scribbles and Ramblings: http://likhna.blogspot.com/2015/10/she-comes-back-on-thursday.html
At Enic-Cine, our good friend Murderous Ink in Tokyo has written yet another fabulous piece of scholarship – the third part of “Ozu, Pickles and Rice Bran”: http://www.enic-cine.net/ozu-pickles-and-rice-bran-part-3/
At The Seventh Art the exceedingly gifted writer Srikanth offers up reviews on two Hindi films under the banner grouping titled “Love in the Time of Gonorrhea”: http://theseventhart.info/2015/08/02/love-in-the-time-of-gonorrhea/
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Sammy,
I am glad you are enjoying your Holiday season already with concerts and great movie viewing. I had read a review from Out Magazine that thought Carol was a mess! Imagine, I was crushed until I read the New York Times review a bit later in the day, which was glowing praise for all involved with this film. I hope I can get to view it at the movies but if not I look forward to it. I am glad you found it stunning.
I wish you and all your family a great Thanksgiving! Our family is having ours on Saturday at my niece’s ! Maybe I will have two Thanksgivings.
PS: Thank you again for the visit and comments on my blog this afternoon! and for the link up.
Jeff—Sounds like Out Magazine stands alone, as the reviews for CAROL have been spectacular across the board. What you read in the Times is pretty much how it has been received. It was a major contender for the Palme d’Or at Cannes, and came away with the Best Actress prize for Rooney Mara. If I come across a copy I’ll let you know! I’d love to know what you think.
I wish you the best Thanksgiving ever my friend. Or shall I say “two” Thanksgivings?! Your plans sound divine. And my please on the link–your post was inspiring!
Sam – I’ve heard nothing but praise for CAROL; your positive thoughts seal the deal. A huge fan of Cate Blanchett, it’s been added to our must-see list.
Your annual holiday tradition sounds like a wonderful time will be had by ALL—a rousing fifty or so people. HAPPY THANKSGIVING to you and yours!
Laurie—-CAROL is definitely one of the best films of the year, and I’m sure you will find it superlative. Blanchett does give one of her best performances, but Mara is pretty much her equal. Yes we are always in the company of many on Turkey Day. The best to you and Len my great friend!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family Sam and everyone at Wonders In The Dark who is in the United States!
Thanks so much for that Terrill! I trust you will also have a memorable week too. I understand your Thanksgiving is celebrated earlier this year.
Happy Thanksgiving to you, Lucille and the kids, and to all at Wonders in the Dark.
I am looking forward to reading your concert review Sam. I knew you’d come in with that kind of a response to Carol. Can’t wait to see it!
Thanks so much Frank! I wish the same to you and yours my great friend! I hope to have the concert review up later tonight. Your support and enthusiasm is much appreciated. CAROL lived up to the hype!
I’d been hoping Carol would be good, Sam, what with Blanchett, Mara and Haynes involved.
Aye Pierre, it lived up to the hype and expectations, and I am greatly looking forward to your reaction my friend! Thank you!
I’ve been anticipating Carol ever since Rooney Mara won the best actress award at Cannes earlier this year. Almost all reports from those who’ve seen it have been positive. And now, Sam, your glowing recommendation seals the deal. I fully expect it will be among the top three of the year but there is still no release date for it here. On the other hand, Thanksgiving Day, it appears, will arrive as scheduled. Happy Thanksgiving to all.
Aye Duane, I can well appreciate that–after she won, we knew this was going to be something big. And I dare say Mara has at least matched Blanchett, and perhaps edged ahead. Her role seems to have more nuances. In any case the film is extraordinary. In ways I won’t describe it isn’t quite like BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR. It is a subtle, yet ravishing film, and I can’t wait to compare notes for you soon. Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours my friend! Many thanks as always.
HI Sam,
Carol has been universal acclaim…..which doesn’t mean anything to me anymore as the proof is in the pudding. I like both actresses, particularly Blanchett. However, the execution you mention does seem to harken to Far from Heaven quite a bit. Is that a detraction that people should consider? How much of it is a rehash of a “time and place” scenario that Haynes has already examined? I am going to have to see this at some point, but I’m hoping it does something that I haven’t already seen before.
This past week I saw a couple highly praised movies that I found terribly trite.
Me and Earl and the Dying Girl- Seriously? We need another “dying girl” movie? I found the film to position the female character as “other”….or something that the male character gets to learn and take from. Waste of time.
Ex Machina: Again another film treating females as “other”. I’m so tired of the male gaze in cinema and this film treats women as playthings. Puke!
Testament of Youth: Rather sappy and contrived romance. Film seems disjointed and haphazard.
I must be the hardest film viewer to please these days. Even I’m getting frustrated with myself! Lol.
Have a great week Sam!
Jon—
Be rest assured that CAROL (which nearly won the Best Picture prize at Cannes, but still copped Best Actress for Rooney Mara) is light years away from the director’s 2002 FAR FROM HEAVEN, aside from the fact that they are both set in the 1950’s, and both feature relationships scorned by society. The earlier film is an out and out homage to Douglas Sirk, with a replication of Technicolor, a sweeping lyrical score by Elmer Bernstein, and a plot that is pure melodrama. As Peter said on this thread the focus in CAROL is inward, and the mode of execution more more subtle. Of course I am not holding the more in your face drama against FAR FROM HEAVEN, as it is my favorite film of the new millennium. But there is a reason why virtually every critic, the Cannes jury and wildly ecstatic bloggers en masse have been going bonkers over CAROL, and on Saturday I saw why.
TESTAMENT OF YOUTH is certainly no ATONEMENT, but I like it much more than you do, and thought it all came together quite nicely for the most part. EX MACHINA was a huge favorite at this site as you may recall, and I too chimed in with a solid 4/5 response. I didn’t see it quite the way you did with the slight to femininity, and thought it imaginative, cerebral and compelling. It may even warrant a 4.5. I did not yet see ME AND EARL AND THE DYING GIRL, so I can’t really say anything except to note that the reviews were quite favorable. So you have taken down three highly praised films, and are skeptical about another that is being heralded as the Second Coming. LOL!! Well Jon, it seems to me like business as usual at the theaters. After I had come to a tentative conclusion that 2015 was on balance an “average” year, I am now convinced it is a good year based on some superb late releases. But I have to start gathering all my evidence.
Much more importantly, I wish you and your lovely family a safe, and enjoyable Thanksgiving Day. As always, thank you my friend.
Yes Sam, the most important thing is family and friends and I do wish you and your family a blessed Thanksgiving!
Thanks for the additional clarity on Carol. I appreciate the insight. I do hope for a great film there.
Jon, I have since seem ROOM and THE DANISH GIRL. Here are the rating I will post on the new MMD for both:
Room *****
The Danish Girl ****
As you know my wife and I also saw Carol over the weekend. I agree with what you said in your capsule about the film veering away from melodrama. The film examines the social restrictions of the day, but is pointed inward, exploring the increasingly complex relationship. Blanchett and Mara are superb. The film’s recreation of time and place is outstanding. I would love to read the novel.
Aye Peter, I was very much hoping you’d spell out your response my friend! Your lovely analysis is right on the money as far as I am concerned, especially when you note the drama is pointed “inward.” The two women are astonishing, and Haynes as always brings the past to life. I also would love to read the novel. The best to you and yours over the holiday weekend!
Ridgewood Symphony Orchestra concert on Monday Morning
Strewth! That sounds like a challenging way to start one’s week . . . 🙂
Carol is on my must-see list; the longer I live, the more I appreciate the work of Patricia Highsmith. As far as I can understand, she was a fairly nasty human being but, my, she could write like a dream. A few months ago I read a novel by her girlfriend that was also pretty damn’ fine: details on request.
Let me say that I’m absolutely in agreement with Stephen Mullen. This is a time of very great shame for America.
Oh, bottoms: You can tell I’m still knackered after an SF convention (where, by the way, I met the excellent Todd Mason for the first time; he and artist Ray Ridenour and Pam and I somehow managed to spend part of the evening discussing literary metaphors for erections). What I meant to say in the first comment was:
THANKS FOR THE SHOUTOUT!
Hello Sam and everyone!
First of all, have a great week of Thanksgiving, whenever that is! Hahahah! I hope that you spend some good time with the family.
On my end, working hard, watching movies and trying to survive, as always, here’s what I saw:
– The 33 (2015, Patricia Riggen) ** I won’t even try. Fuck this movie.
– Extraordinary Tales (2015, Raul Garcia) ***1/2 The tying narrative that encapsulates these animated shorts is slight, cute but ultimately not really interesting, and the connecting scenes begin and end abruptly in a very amateur manner. I’d say that the narrative that put together the stories in the first Simpsons Halloween special were the best, and I’d say that it’s the best way to do it. Anyway, beyond that, this movie is mostly diminishing returns, as the shorts get closer to the ending they get less interesting, but I can surely appreciate how great most of them look, and how the voices are used in the best way possible. Also, let’s take in consideration that at least half of these stories were standalone shorts once, and this is mostly a compilation, weirdly directed by the same animator with varying styles. This is a good presentation for the animator for whatever directing job he wants to get eventually. And the power of Poe stories, specially when narrated by Christopher Lee, achieve some deep strength.
– The Little Prince (2015, Mark Osborne) ***1/2 Yes, that late third (almost half) of the film is quite not good, but the rest is fluffy and swift sweetness adaptation of a book that is being too maligned for what it truly aims to be.
– I’m Not Lorena (2014, Isidora Marras) *** About half of this movie doesn’t matter. But the other half is compelling enough.
– Pin (1988, Sandor Stern) **** Nice twist to the usual narrative of evil dolls or inanimate objects that are inherently evil. This one has a very creepy ambient and tone from the start, with its opening scene, the way that it chronicles the infancy and adolescence of the protagonist and his sister, it’s plagued with events in which normalcy is not to be found, and it just turn intensively creepy as it goes on… or at least until the first half. When the new boyfriend of the sister appears, the film has a problem with its pace, as it takes too long to re-discover the properties and how ‘Pin’ truly works. But, in the end, the final scene is just heartbreaking, truly emotional, something rare for a movie that previously seemed so distant with the viewer due to its strange tone.
– Sic (2010, Eric Baudelaire) ***1/2 Itchy. Interesting short film about censorship.
That’s all this week, have a great one!
Jaimie, Thanksgiving Day was this past Thursday, and we all had a very fine time, blessed as we were by perfect weather. hahahaha, I love your frank dismissal of THE 33, which I have not seen, and am in no rush to. I am very intrigued with EXTRAORDINARY TALES, and was surprised to hear that Christopher Lee narrated it; I am equally interested in PIN, which I never got around to seeing. (Both your capsules here on those two are excellent!) The ending of PIN sounds especially compelling. As to I’M NOT LORENA, it appears it isn’t worth seeing. I do love the book THE LITTLE PRINCE, so I will have to see it on DVD or blu, your objections notwithstanding. Hope you had a great week yourself my friend. Many thanks as always for the spectacular wrap.
Thanks Sam for the kind mention of the Criterion blogathon, so much fun and introduced me to so many new bloggers or ones I already read but was too shy to talk to 🙂 lots of wonderful links here to check out. Thanks and best
Kristina, I can’t thank you enough for your remarkable sponsorship and exceedingly kind words. It was an honor to participate in that fabulous blogathon! The best to you always my friend.
Hope your Thanksgiving festivities are quite happy, Sammy. Congrats for pulling down more viewership. Well deserved and well-earned, my friend. I look forward to catching up to ‘Carol’, too. Again, thank you for the kind words and linkage to this and other wonderful works. 🙂
Robert, we all did indeed have a wonderful Thanksgiving as I’m sure you did my friend. Many thanks for the very kind words and greatly look forward to your response on CAROL, and also to the superlative ROOM and the good THE DANISH GIRL, which I saw this past week.
Sam, apologies I am just now coming around; it’s amazing how time gets away sometimes. I hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. My wife and I did as we drove to Atlanta with my parents to spend the holiday at my sister’s house.
I cannot wait to see CAROL. I am a huge fan, as I know you are, of FAR FROM HEAVEN, and expect Haynes’ latest to be one of my favorite viewing experiences of the year.
I have mostly been watching Bond movies of late as I had never seen a Craig-starrer until the last few weeks. This week I caught up with CASINO ROYALE, QUANTUM OF SOLACE, SKYFALL and the French film DECLARATION OF WAR. I was particularly impressed by the first Craig, CASINO ROYALE, which reminded me how much I like the genre and inspired me to quickly fill in some gaps.
Hope you are having a great week. Thanks so much, Sam!