by Sam Juliano
The shocking news of music legend David Bowie’s sudden passing at 69 this morning will leave all other discussion on the sidelines for some time to come. He was a huge favorite in my own house, but virtually in everyone’s and I proudly remember seeing him three times in concert, the last at the Garden State Arts Center in the late 90’s. One of the all-time greats who music will live on long into the future and beyond. R.I.P. He made his mark on so many of us, and brought us unbridled joy. The word superstar was made for the man.
And the Caldecott Medal goes to…………Finding Winnie by Lindsay Mattick and Sophie Blackall. My review of this masterpiece posted at the site a little over a week ago:
https://wondersinthedark.wordpress.com/2016/01/02/caldecott-medal-contender-finding-winnie/
It was an incredible honor to be named as one of 36 people nationwide on a FB post Ms. Blackall sent out earlier this week, as “ambassadors of children’s literature.” The vast majority of people on that post were authors and illustrators. She is quite the beloved woman by so many, as as some readers here will well remember she also illustrated the controversial A Fine Dessert, another masterwork that was discussed lat month in a post that attracted 208 comments.
The four books that won the honors were Trumbone Shorty, Waiting, Voice of Freedom and Last Stop on Market Street. Reviews of all except the surprise winner Trombone Shorty are here at the site. I will have an official wrap up post where I will acknowledge all those who made this series such a rousing success later in the week.
Lucille and I saw two films this week:
Anomalisa **** 1/2 (Thursday)
Spectre ** 1/2 (Saturday)
This week has been unbearably hectic, and this is the latest time I have EVER posted an MMD. I will repeat the links from last week and try to update some:
Aaron West has posted a link to a stellar podcast that includes a discussion on the Criterion blu ray of “A Room with a View”at Criterion Blues: : http://criterionblues.com/2016/01/02/ccu21-a-room-with-a-view-1986/
At Noirish the incomparable John Grant has posted a tremendous essay on the 13 minute 1912 D.W. Griffith silent work “The Painted Lady”: https://noirencyclopedia.wordpress.com/2016/01/02/painted-lady-the-1912/
At FilmsNoir.net Tony d’Ambra has added an electrifying capsule framing of Manhattan in his latest post on “Manhattan Transfer”: http://filmsnoir.net/film_noir/the-noir-city-manhattan-transfer-1925.html/
At Patricia’s Wisdom our tenaciously talented proprietor Pat Hamilton has written another superb book review, this time on the intriguing “Hidden Inheritance”: http://patriciaswisdom.com/2016/01/hidden-inheritance-family-secrets-memory-and-faith-heidi-b-neumark/
Stephen Mullen has posted an entry on the passing of Lenny Kilmister in addition to his stellar musical round-up at The Listening Ear: http://listeningear.blogspot.com/2016/01/lemmy.html
Debbie Reese has posted a brilliant, appraisal of Danielle Daniel’s “Sometimes I Feel Like a Fox” at American Indians in Children’s Literature: https://americanindiansinchildrensliterature.blogspot.com/2015/12/sometimes-i-feel-like-fox-by-danielle.html
At De Colores: The Raza Experience in Books For Children Beverly Slapin has published a fascinating analysis of the book “That’s Not Fair! Emma Tenayuca’s Struggle For Justice”: http://decoloresreviews.blogspot.com/2015/11/thats-not-fair-emma-tenayucas-struggle.html
At Ferdy-on-Films Roderick Heath has penned an impassioned takedown of the new “Star Wars” movie: http://www.ferdyonfilms.com/2015/star-wars-episode-vii-the-force-awakens-2015/26723/
Joel Bocko has published a superlative review on the 1939 classic “Gone with the Wind” at I Lost It at the Movies: http://thedancingimage.blogspot.com/2016/01/the-favorites-gone-with-wind-74.html
Jamie Uhler offers up a marvelous scholarly piece in his “Songs I Love” series at Attractive Variance with a dissection of the novelty song “War Canoe”: https://attractivevariance.wordpress.com/2015/12/07/songs-i-love-war-canoe/
At Mondo 70 Samuel Wilson has written an excellent review on the documentary “The Best of Enemies”: http://mondo70.blogspot.com/2015/12/the-best-of-enemies-2015.html
At It Rains…….You Get Wet Robert Tower offers up a fabulous “On the Lookout for Books and Movies Poll Results: http://le0pard13.com/2016/01/04/on-the-lookout-for-books-and-movies-2016-poll-results/
At Filmacability Dean Treadway has offered up a brilliantly authoritative examination of the year 1966 in the cinema: http://filmicability.blogspot.com/2015/11/1966-year-in-review.html
At Tuesdays with Laurie our great friend Laurie Buchanan has offered up another soulful query in her fabulous post “Illumination”: http://tuesdayswithlaurie.com/2015/12/29/illumination/
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/
At Movie Classics, Judy Geater has penned a definitive treatment of a relatively obscure 1951 Frank Sinatra starrer, 1951’s “Meet Danny Wilson.”: https://movieclassics.wordpress.com/2015/12/12/meet-danny-wilson-joseph-pevney-1951/
David Schleicher is none-too-impressed with the new Star Wars re-boot, and he says as much superbly at The Scheicher Spin: http://theschleicherspin.com/2015/12/19/the-force-awakens-but-i-think-ill-go-back-to-sleep
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
J. D. Lafrance has penned a marvelous review on the 1933 classic “King Kong” at Radiator Heaven: http://rheaven.blogspot.com/2015/12/king-kong.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 “Mystery of the Ordinary in the Japanese Garden on Mayne Island”:http://creativepotager.com/2015/11/26/mystery-of-the-ordinary-in-the-japanese-garden-on-mayne-island/
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
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Writers/Founders
It was an incredible honor to be named as one of 36 people on a FB post Ms. Blackall sent out earlier this week, as “ambassadors of children’s literature.”
Huge congrats on this superb validation of your endeavors, Sam!
Thanks so much John! From start to finish you were there with bells on, and I will never forget it my friend. It has always been a special have you bringing your A game to film and literature!
Great, great job Sam! I know the win for Finding Winnie delighted you, and well remember that Blackall also illustrated A Fine Dessert. Amazing talent.
R,I,P. David Bowie. What an awful surprise to wake up to this morning.
Yes Frank, her win was a vindication for much that went on, but taken on its own terms FINDING WINNIE is a masterful picture book that has pedigree written all over it. Your unwavering, ebullient support was a treat throughout the series and I can never thank you enough my friend.
Such a juxtaposition of great news (Caldecott) and traumatic news (Bowie), Sam. Congratulations on a stupendous series.
A (Partial) Wish List for 2016
An Oscar to the wondrous Charlotte Rampling; the retirement of Meryl Streep and porno-sadist Quentin Tarantino, who last week told Conan O’Brien his retirement from filmmaking may be imminent; Eddie Redmayne as Joan Didion in her Franklin Ave., little yellow Corvette salad days; my money back for sitting through Joy, Youth and The Revenant; more Spike Lee films as good as Chi-Raq; the return of Judi Dench to the Bond franchise (all good Bondians swear she faked her death in Skyfall); a Foot-in-the-Mouth prize to Hilary Duff for dissing Faye Dunaway; the rebirth of Parker Posey’s career; and, in the now, less hyperventilating over Sean Penn’s El Chapo interview.
Did I watch the Globes last night? Fuck no. Instead, started reading Paul Beatty’s very funny and provocative novel, The Sell Out, and the Illeana Douglas memoir, I Blame Dennis Hopper.
However, I don’t think that the Hollywood Foreign ‘We-All-Just-Want-To-Bang-Jennifer-Lawrence’ Press Assoc. is too keen on lipstick lesbianism. A surprising shut-out for ‘Carol.’
Mark – Hope you enjoy the Ileana Douglas memoir. I read it over the holidays and quite liked it. She’s spent a lifetime in the company of great actors and she’s got the stories to prove it.
Thanks so much Mark! Yes the news of Bowie’s sudden passing has deeply affected so many and will continue to well into the future.
Well, while I do like that “porno-sadist” framing of Tarantino, I must say I loved both THE HATEFUL EIGHT and the previous DJANGO UNCHAINED, which contained some truly hysterical passages. They worked for me. Like you I really would LOVE to see Ms. Rampling win, and thought her performance in 45 YEARS stupendous! As to the retirement of The Streep, you are certainly not the only one who feels that way. 🙂 I will sign a voucher for you to get your money back for JOY, but as to YOUTH and THE REVENANT I’m afraid you are out of luck. 🙂 I really am looking forward to CHI-RAQ! I’m all for a return of Judi Dench to that series indeed!Agreed on the over-reacting of the Penn interviews, which shouldn’t take up anyone’s time, and I say Aye to a return of Parker Posey!
Your alternatives to the Globes are heartening! Yes CAROl getting shut out is another reason why that Hollywood Press are a joke. Hahaha on your Jen Lawrence comment. How right you are! Thanks for this fabulous stream here my friend. Have a great week!
Sam –
“The word superstar was made for the man” — a beautiful and fitting tribute for legendary DAVID BOWIE!
I’m tickled pink that FINDING WINNIE by Lindsay Mattock and Sophie Blackall won the Caldecott Medal this year. There were so many outstanding books, but this one takes the cake!
CONGRATULATIONS on the well-deserved honor of being included in Ms. Blackall’s list of 36 people nationwide who stand head-and-shoulders above the crowd as ambassadors of children’s literature. I’m proud to know YOU!
Indeed Laurie, he was a defining cultural icon, and growing up few captivated us like he did. Yes, FINDING WINNIE’s win was applauded by practically anyone and everyone who loves children’s literature. Thanks too for the kind words about the acknowledgement. Your sponsorship throughout the series was above and beyond, and no number of thank yous could possibly suffice my great friend. Have a special week!
Sam, so many of us greatly enjoyed your Caldecott series. I know you are planning to do some other reviews of the books you didn’t get to, and be rest assured I’ll be reading them all. I had kinds mixed feelings about the awards today. I liked all the winners, but several were MIA. I know if the committee were a different group of people we’d have different results, or some different results. I know you really worked your tail off over the holidays. I want to thank you.
Ricky, thanks so much for the support during the series. You placed some terrific comments, and I can’t thank you enough for your enthusiasm. Yes I do have some spillover reviews from the series planned, and will have one or two up later in the week. I was particularly saddened to see BOATS FOR PAPA, TWO MICE and FLOAT left off, but it was clear enough the committee was going for diversity. I was thrilled that FINDING WINNIE won the medal for many reasons! Thanks again my friend! Yes, you could say my holiday season was a bit compromised. Ha!
Hey, Sam – when is your year end review coming? This might be a first where I got mine out before yours!
Aye David I hear ya. The reason why I am late has to do with the demand of the book series. Though I have a few reviews still to come I am right now planning my year-end film presentation. It will be published at the site on Monday. I am assuming then that your list is up at THE SCHLEICHER SPIN? I must take a look today. Thank you my friend.
Sam –
I heard the news on NPR during my drive home tonight that FINDING WINNIE had won the Caldecott, and I just went back and read your lovely, appreciative review. It sounds to be a very charming book, and I’m sure it richly deserved the accolade.
I’ve postponed the launch of my new blog until I’ve caught up on some more of 2015’s best films. (At the rate I’m going, my annual “Not the 10 Best” list won’t be up till February!) I did mange to see JOY and THE BIG SHORT this week; I enjoyed both, but wasn’t quite blown away by either. JOY is the weakest film I’ve seen from David O. Russell in some time, although Jennifer Lawrence was reliably fantastic (if a bit too young for the role). As for THE BIG SHORT, I almost feel I need to see it again to take it all in; it moved at such a breakneck pace and – even with the digressive explanations from Margot Robbie and Anthony Bourdain – I couldn’t quite follow all the financial details. Some fine acting, though. I am seeing THE DANISH GIRL tomorrow night. Alas YOUTH has moved out of our local theaters now, and will have to wait for streaming. Still looking to finally see CAROL later this week.
Have a great week!
Aye Pat, it is a most sublime and deserving work, and I am grateful you took a look at the review of it. I was figuring your blog to be nearly ready to go. Like you I feel I also need to watch THE BIG SHORT a second time. It did NOT blow me away either, and of course we have shared opinions of JOY on FB. Mildly entertaining but no more than 3 of 5 for me despite Jennifer Lawrence who was very good in it. I am thinking you will be coming in with a massively favorable report of CAROL, which is one of my three favorites of the year. (Interestingly enough the film has been named the #1 film of 2015 by both Allan Fish and Jamie Uhler, two who are not easy people to fool). But I know you’ve seen some others who weren’t as bowled over. It has won its share of awards, and will continue to resonate for all sorts of reasons well into the future, methinks. By the way I was also losing some interest in THE BIG SHORT when it veered into all the financial stuff, though I know an adherent would argue that is precisely the point. Let’s see what you think of THE DANISH GIRL. I gave it 4 of 5 and thought the two leads were exceptional. Ms. Vikander has some career ahead. Thanks so much my friend. have a great week!
Hello Sam and everyone! Yes, it was a sad day yesterday when I woke up and found out about the news regarding David Bowie, and even if I personally just recently started to pick up the taste for his music, it still hit me really hard, specially after that wonderful Black Star album. He’ll be missed, specially after dying so young.
I did see Spectre, of the films that you saw, I rated it ***1/2 and I wrote a very lengthy thing some time ago, can’t remember when.
Here are the movies I did see last week:
– The Curse of the Cat People (1944, Gunther von Fritsch, Robert Wise) ***1/2 Saw this with commentary, and for some reason it hit me emotionally much more, even though the plot and the dialogue was in the background. The ending made me tear up a little bit, and when the scholar started to tell what the original ending was, I was confused as to why they didn’t use it, as I didn’t remember the ending of this, and now watching it, I can understand, it’s much more emotional and gives it the final push to be away from the horror genre, something that this movie should never be catalogued in.
– Don Verdean (2015, Jared Hess) Strangely far from human emotions, but for the same reason compelling and even funnier as if it were just a bunch of avatars and characters from videogames and books coming together and being awkward, funny and strange. It has an incredible amount of honest to God funny scenes that made me laugh out loud more than any other movie in the last year, but at the same time I can feel how this could become a fake-out as the characters in the last minutes try to come up with some sort of emotions, something that feels completely alien to all the characters until that point. It feels somewhat forced, as if it were a studio note that decided that the characters had to have some sort of human emotion, and I think that detracts from what could’ve been a weirder and better ending.
– The Hateful Eight (2015, Quentin Tarantino) ***** I wanna see it again and again and again until I decode every intention, every shot and everything that lies here. Everything here has a reason, everything is there to mean something, and Tarantino has layered it so much, that this is an experience that will only get richer and richer with every re-visit, much like in his earlier films. This might be less ‘fun’ than Django Unchained, and sure this one dares to be more controversial than the earlier one was, but I’m damn sure that in 5 years (maybe more, maybe less) we’ll be damning ourselves for not making this film’s due, and this might end up among the best films of his career, if not the best of this decade, if not the best he ever did, but let’s not get ahead of ourselves, I don’t think any of that just yet, but I can feel it, I could feel it, and for me the main element that tells me that this is among my favorite films is that I want to see it again the moment it ends. And oh, boy, do I want to.
– Irrational Man (2015, Woody Allen) ***1/2 I liked this more than most, but for some reason I think that this could’ve had the potential of being truly amazing and great. There’s something about the chubby Joaquin Phoenix droning around the shots, looking at stuff, being bored and then excited and then completely broken down. Something there makes me think that there’s something there that can’t come out because Woody Allen was maybe too afraid to show it.
– Persona (1966, Ingmar Bergman) ****1/2 Film text as poetry. Or poetry of the film theory. I think that I unlocked this movie, sort of (I still think I need to see it like a thousand times more) when the same scene played twice, one shot and then the reverse shot of the same conversation: here it’s Bergman talking about the most basic but at the same time more understandable tool of cinematic language, specially when it’s about communication between two people. Playing the entire thing twice, from the both perspectives, Bergman talks about editing, rhythm and choices, and then when he starts to dissolve and make the faces blend, almost in a horror movie twist (and sound effect), we are present to the idea of how these kind of shots beyond their serviceable nature, they can become a source of poetic imagery, as the faces confuse themselves and they become one and how they can blend and have a deeper meaning, here present through the absence of that technique in editing, but representing its result.
Wonderful dialogue. The bit about the soul almost made me cry.
– Zipper (2015, Mora Stephens) **1/2 Sex shaming. Slut shaming. Film shaming.
That’s all, have a great week everyone!
I have just ordered Finding Winnie for my March gift to my neighbor in honor of her birthday and new sibling on the way. You wrote such a wonderful review – all the reviews and Congratulations on being acknowledged for your wonderful work on this series of reviews and for promoting children’s literature.
I am saddened by the deaths this week 69 is so young…Alan Rickman too – not always in good time and Rickman did such a wonderful job of supporting our friend and her family RACHEL CORRIE and the Foundation in her name – producing the play and tour from her writing. (Rachel was my daughter’s best friend was bulldozed in Palestine trying to protect a house full of a sleeping family – the bulldozer was run by Israel. ) Her parents keep the work of peace ongoing in our community and around the world.
I have not seen a movie in a long time…streaming or theater I went to a Spirit of Freedom production celebrating the Irish Revolution at the performing arts center the singing was outstanding and the dancing – well Irish Dancing is so energetic….it was a wonderful evening and history lesson.
Hope you are all feeling healthy and doing well. Thank you again for the shout out.
Sam, congratulations on your recognition! What a great honor and one that is so very well deserved.
Apologies that I am just now responding here. Been little more hectic than normal but am managing a few viewings. This week I saw: Varda’s short doc DU COTE DE LA COTE, the doc RICHARD PRYOR: OMIT THE LOGIC and the doc LISTEN TO ME MARLON. I particularly was moved by the Brando doc as I found it unusually intimate and it expanded my knowledge and appreciation of one of cinema’s most extraordinary actors.
I hope you are having a wonderful week!