Screen cap from Kaneto Shindo 1952 Japanese masterpiece “Children of Hiroshima”
by Sam Juliano
The first stage of the science-fiction countdown has concluded, and Voting Tabulator Extraordinaire Angelo A. D’Arminio Jr. has announced that 33 ballots have been cast. After the results are sent on to me later this week I will immediately notify the group involved by e mail so writing assignments can be firmed up. Everything considered the project is panning out to be far more successful than was original anticipated, and I want to thank everyone on board for their passionate attendance towards its negotiation. After speaking to a few members of the group, I have decided to expand the actual countdown to a Top 60 – meaning the tabulation and essay writing will include 60 films, to be presented as always in reverse order. July 1st (Friday) will be the first day of launch, with a Monday through Friday schedule that will run through mid September. I have received several requests from prospective writers, asking me to set aside assignments connected to films that are widely anticipated to make the final cut. Lastly, I regret not being able to institute the element of secrecy that some in the group had suggested, as it would complicate the manner in which this endeavor will be presented. Still, the site readers -aside from those in the e mail group- will still be in the dark as far as the results are concerned.
The tragic death of Star Trek’s Chekov, Anton Yelchin at 27 years old leaves one in a sense of disbelief. Such a promising young actor and reputedly wonderful man has now been snuffed out to the implausibilities of fate. R.I.P. Anton’s work will live on forever.
Lucille, Danny and I attended Round 2 of Edward Hemingway’s new book tour at the Curious Reader Bookstore in Glen Rock, New Jersey on Saturday morning in promotion of his fabulous “Field Guide to the Grumpasaurus.” the popular and affable Hemingway -the youngest grandson of you-know-who- charmed the large group of youngsters and adults in attendance.
Lucille, the entire brood and I joined up with my soon-to-be 86 year old father to celebrate Father’s day at a local Italian Restaurant.
Lucille and I also attended two films in theaters – one with the entire family, and the other with Jeremy and Broadway Bob. We saw:
Finding Dory *** 1/2 (Saturday afternoon) Secaucus multiplex
DePalma **** (Saturday night) Angelika Film Center
FINDING DORY was a well-made if unremarkable “sequel” to FINDING NEMO, and DIPALMA was a most entertaining documentary on Brian DePalma, dominated by the one time wunderkind’s personal revelations. As expected it was loaded with film clips.
I saw two more extraordinary Japanese films at home on DVD. One is a staggering masterpiece that rates among the greatest in Japanese cinema, the other is merely extraordinary!
Dancing Girl of Izu (1939) Gosho **** 1/2
Children of Hiroshima (1952) Shindo *****
Danny posing with author-illustrator Edward Hemingway at the Curious Reader Bookstore in Glen Rock, New Jersey on Saturday morning.
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Sam, it sounds like,a wonderful family filled week to me! I have just a few spare minutes today as we await an afternoon visit with one of David’s sisters and the last visit before we head for the airport in the wee hours of tomorrow on the final journey that will see use home on the the west coast by that evening. With almost two months of travel behind us, home is seeming to be the most desired place to be…. Soon we shall be looking out over our prized valley from under the huge fir trees. 🙂
Terrill, that was quite a journey for you and David! No doubt you saw some of the most beautiful places on Earth, and the inspiration you gained from the experience will impact your work moving forward. I will be on board to see all your sublime reports! I can well understand you want to be back on Mayne Island, where you are right now as I write this. 🙂 Many thanks my friend!
Sounds like another action-packed week, Sam! I’ve been sort of lukewarm about Finding Dory (I’m in general not much of a sequels fan), and your comment confirms my iffiness about it. A matter of waiting for it to appear on cable, I think.
John, I certainly do not recommend a special trip to the theater to see it. It seems to receeding from my memory entirely at this point so the 3.5 is an overstatement. Yes we did have a busy week, much like the present one with its graduations and retirement dinners. Many thanks my friend!
Great week Sam. I can’t wait for the science fiction countdown to begin!
Children of Hiroshima sounds masterful.
Frank, I will be sending on the results to the e mail network later today. The countdown will officially begin on Friday, July 1st. Yes CHILDREN is one of the great ones. Many thanks my friend!
I’m in the minority in that I didn’t care much for Finding Nemo, at least compared to the consensus, so I’m not exactly itching to go see Dory. That said, many people I respect adore both.
I am hit or miss with De Palma, but really looking forward to the doc. Film docs are right up my alley anyway.
Aaron, i certainly do hear ya on FINDING NEMO. And like you I am also hit and miss with De Palma! Some great ones, but others completely slick and forgettable. But yes this documentary is still fascinating. Have a great upcoming weekend my friend. Many thanks!
Looking forward to seeing DePalma. One of my favorite filmmakers.
John, there is no doubt you will love it! Thanks and have a great upcoming weekend!
Sam, I am very sorry I didn’t meet the deadline for ballot submission, but I will still be very active in the comment section for the science-fiction countdown.
Ricky, I completely understand. Thrilled to hear you’ll be following the countdown my friend. Have a great weekend!
Sam — I’m pretty sure that if I looked up “action packed” in the dictionary, there’d be a photograph of the Juliano family!
Hahaha Laurie, thanks for that! We’ve certainly been active in recent weeks, as everything seemed to come together at the same time. Have a great upcoming weekend my friend!
Greatly looking forward to the science fiction countdown! My husband Mark was happy to enter a ballot.
Celeste, i was grateful to get mark’s ballot! he did a terrific job with it too! Countdown will begin two weeks from today. Have a great weekend my friend!
The following Bette Davis two snapper-with-a-twist-and-a-kiss made my week: La Davis to con man Cagney in ‘Jimmy the Gent’ : “You’re the greatest chiseler since Michelangelo.”
Thanks, scripter Bertram Millhauser and TCM.
Gotta love it Mark!! I know the film well and do recall that classic line!! Millhauser wrote a gem there, and great that TCM continue to make all this possible! Have a great weekend my friend!
My partner is on a bicycle tour of the San Juan Islands and Vancouver Island. 2 daughters were home for a wedding of a friend and so it was a busy time. Librarian/ teacher daughter arrived here not feeling well so I gathered her up and got her to healthcare. She has ear infections and a sinus infection – we got her drugs! End of school year gift. Then daughter #2 came back from wedding not feeling well – ear infection. The nice thing about this is that I made chicken soup in my completed remodeled kitchen (delightful) and then they rented WOMAN IN THE VAN from Xfinity and we watched it twice. Not a fabulous movie but just right for healing. We also watched Goodwill Hunting again and then hoped to see YOU’VE GOT MAIL I now know how to use that function on the TV. Everyone slept instead of that movie! Been reading some incredible books right now and that is fun and still pursuing healing. Daughters psyched about seeing Finding Dory but each had a friend they wanted to see it at home with – I think I will skip that one for now. Been trolling your site to find more movies I can watch on the TV – tho we still have one problem our Westie loves watching TV (We just have our first TV in his 5 years) every time a dog, horse, pig, animal or shouting/gun fire noises come onto the TV He jumps up barking and scratches the cabinet and one can not hear a thing. Deafening. We have bunnies in the backyard which also causes a barking fest. We are working hard to train him out of this problem but it is most annoying!
Patricia, I am very sorry about the madady that has afflicted your daughter, and hope and trust the antibiotics are sorting things out. Just so awful when such things compromise our quality of life. As you have “come clean” with the animals residing in your midst, I will say we now have a chicken as a result of an unexpected rescue of it returning from a movie theater two weeks ago. It was on the train tracks in an industrial area, probably as a result of it falling off the track that transports them. It is actually a hen, and it was miraculous it didnt get hit by the speeding cars as it dodged them staying close to the crossing. Now we have chicken feed and let it in the yard daily (I supervise)..the whole nine yards! 🙂 That’s great that westie loves watching television! Animal noises can indeed drive you batty! Have a great week my friend!
Hey Sam,
We just saw Finding Dory yesterday and I’d agree with your assessment. Its fine but nothing outstanding. Kids liked it though of course….not as much as Frozen though. I’m looking forward to the sci fi countdown and will be excited to see some films I haven’t seen before. Of all the genres covered thus far, I’d say this is least up my alley, but there’s always ways to learn. Hope you have a great weekend my friend!
Jon, we are obviously on the same page then in regards to FINDING DORY. To be honest it has escaped my memory even further now, so it didnt make too much of an impression. But yes the kids do like it. I know that sci-fi isnt your most studied genre, so in view of that you may find it in your heart to forgive the indulgence we have now taken by entending the project to the levels of the past comedy and romance countdowns! 🙂 Still I’m sure you’ve seen many! Many thanks as always my friend!
Sam, hope this finds you doing great.
I am looking forward to following the sci-fi countdown and know there will be tremendous essays throughout. I cannot wait to see the DePalma documentary as I have long been an admirer of his work. I am really hoping I can catch it very soon.
Fairly quiet for me of late but I did manage to see the Monte Hellman noir, Road to Nowhere, and Rohmer’s A Tale of Winter. I was particularly a fan of the latter and again reminded of how unique and perfected Rohmer’s cinema style was.
Hope you have a fantastic week!
Jeffrey, no doubt the Rohmer is the great one there, and I have always known of your abiding approval of his work. Yes De Palma is a director who at the very least has made a few outstanding films. I’d certainly stand behind a half dozen. The documentary is exceptionally well crafted, and no doubt will please you exceedingly. Many thanks as always my friend!