by Sam Juliano
The summer officially goes into the winding-down stage when the calendar hits the first of August, and as they say with resignation it is “all downhill from here.” On a personal note my own stint as literature and writing instructor for the summer program concludes this coming Friday, so I have my four week vacation upcoming. We are still planning some day trips for that span, though not yet firmed up.
The science-fiction countdown is moving along nicely and we are now one-quarter the way through it. Thanks so much to those who are supporting the writers with great comments and likes -John Grant, Jamie Uhler, Jon Warner, Peter M., Frank, Tim, Stephen, Duane, Robert, and others have been Johnny-on-the-Spot and oh those writers. The essays have been uniformly excellent.
Aside from one visit to the theater, I’ve been mainly immersed in my ongoing viewings and daily conversations with Allan, and again it has been a glorious week of discovery and discourse, artistic immersion and entertainment, and some successful catching up. The week has been occupied with another run through Japanese cinema and some other assorted European goodies. I watched seventeen (17) films at home and the single title in the theater – Woody Allen’s Cafe Society, which turned out to be one of his better films of recent years. Favorite sequences – when the abusive next door neighbor was abducted by gangsters and ensconced in a cement slab and the wife lamenting her kin’s downward arc: “First he is a murderer, now he’s become a Christian.”
Cafe Society (2016; Woody Allen; USA) ****
I Am Waiting (1957; Nikkatsu Noir Eclipse) ****
Rusty Knife (1958; Nikkatsu Noir Eclipse) ****
Take Aim at the Police Van (1960; Nikkatsu Noir Eclipse) ***
Cruel Gun Story (1964; Nikkatsu Noir Eclipse) ****
A Colt is My Passport (1967; Nikkatsu Noir set) **** 1/2
Okoto & Susuke (1935; Yashujiro Shimazu) **** 1/2
Our Neighbor Miss Yae (1934; Yashujiro Shimazu) ****
Tower of the Lillies (1953; Tadashi Imai) ****
Dobu (1954; Kaneto Shindo) ****
Dona Barbara (1943; Fernando De Fuentes) *****
The Betrayal (1966; Tokuzo Tanada) **** 1/2
Vendetta of a Samaurai (1952; Kazuo Mori) **** 1/2
Policeman’s Diary (Seiyi Misamatsu) *** 1/2
A Hero of Tokyo (1935; Horoshi Shimizu) ****
The Warped Ones (1960; Kurahara Eclipse) ****
Boshido (1963; Tadashi Imai; boxed DVD) *****
A Squandered Day (1969; Drahomira Vihanova; Czech DVD) **** 1/2
Jeez, what a mass of movies! As always, I’m baffled as to how you stay the pace!
Thank you John! Your own tireless accomplishments in all the arts have been well established. 🙂
Sam, thanks for mentioning me, but it is always a pleasure. I’ve enjoyed the countdown immensely. I get dizzy when I see such a packed list of viewings. So many great films watched!
My pleasure Peter, you have been there for so long my friend. Yes plenty of great films for sure. Today I have already watched three- all by Duvivier (David Golder, Un Carnet De Bal and Panique with the latter a 5 star masterpiece and CARNET 4.5) and may be able to get two in tonight on blu ray in the Pagnol set. Saw stree yesterday including two Duvivier masterpieces, Belle Equipe and La Fin Du JOUR. What a ride. Thanks again!
I love August Sam! It is my favourite month of the year and the best one for vacation in my mind. I am off next week with the eldest grandson who is now 14 years old. We are headed into new territory on the north end of Vancouver Island. Shall have to see what comes of it in painting sketches and photographs. Only four days so likely will only have a small selection to bring home. Have a great vacation! 🙂
Terrill, your glove trotting has been quite an inspiration for your followers and of course for your sublime art. Sounds like the Vancouver Island visit is another that will yield some exquisite creativity! And that 14 year old grandson will make it that much more heartening and rewarding I am sure. Enjoy your time there my friend. many thanks as always!
Your remarkable extended conversation with Alan is an inspiration. There cannot be many dialogues of that kind, inasmuch as the two of you are unique in the breadth of your interests and intensity of your insights.
Our best wishes to Alan!
Those are mighty beautiful words Jim, and I have passed them on to Allan who instructed me to let you know how grateful he is for your kindness. Have a great week my friend!
Give my best to Allan. On vacation and brought his book among, but we’ve been doing so much that I haven’t read much of it yet. Now off to TIFF Bell Lightbox.
Aaron, I have already conveyed your kind words to Allan and he responded, saying that you and Andrea must now concentrate on having a great time on your trip to Toronto and the film festival!! Looking forward to a report my friend!! Many thanks as always.
Great to hear the fruitful dialogue continuing Sam! I plan to see Cafe Society this week.
Thanks very much Frank. I have a feeling you will like the new Woody Allen film. Have a great week!
All the best to Allan. It looks like you and he have a marvelous project underway. So many films worth watching and so many films so difficult to see. Well, that’s a better predicament to be in than taking the all-too-common limited view of nothing worth watching and nothing left to see.
Ah you said it perfectly there Duane! Seems now everyday more films are being added to the must-see list, even a few that were once seen but never on blu ray like the Pagnols set for this evening. I eill convey your kind words to Allan my friend. Have a great week!
Sam, your viewings and conversations with Allan seem unusually inspired, and are extremely inspiring to see. I look forward to continuing to follow. I have seen none of these films and hope to do something about that sooner than later.
This week I was able to catch up with two films, Allen’s Stardust Memories and the recent American indy Blue Ruin. I was glad to finally see the Allen as it is one of the few from that period I have yet to see and I was really impressed by Blue Ruin. If you have not seen it, I would be curious to hear how it hits you.
Keeping Allan and you in my thoughts!
Thanks so much for those beautiful (and inspiring) words Jeffrey, and for once again projecting the positive energy and sincere appreciation that conprises the best aspects of blogging! Yes there were many great films seen over the past week indeed, and I know you will in time get to them all. I must myself get to BLUE RUIN based on your stellar recommendation. I do of course love STARDUST MEMORIES. Have a fabulous wek my great friend!
My wife took in the new Woody Allen film on Saturday with friends. She thought it better than his last several, so in accord with you Sam.
Glad to hear that Ricky! Thanks so much for appraising me–have a great week my friend!
Yes August is here and we all have celebrations to look forward to – Well Terrill and YOU both have birthdays coming up at the end – Like the big finish celebration of the summer season 🙂
I hope it is a wonderful vacation for you and yours and lots of relaxation with good connections. Just was allowed to read my daughters Y/A novel and I think she has done a good job of it in the first 94 pages – makes one proud.
Roof repair starts Monday. Good thing for us as the chill is in the morning air already as we have had a cool summer
I did see FATHERS AND DAUGHTERS this week with Russel Crowe and I liked it very much. My husband liked it too, which was a nice part of our anniversary celebration. I got behind with my reading after having a TIA stroke on June 25th so have been hustling my way through the schedule at a rapid rate. Feeling a bit of pressure about everything to get the roof finished and to get caught up.
Wishing you well and am amazed at all your movies. Awesome
Patricia—
Thanks so much for mentioning our upcoming birthdays here! I see you have a lot going on, though you still managed to see FATHERS AND DAUGHTERS. Haven’t seen it yet–happy to hear the positive report. Kudos to your daughter for her writing! That’s really fantastic! Our official vacation won’t begin until after Friday’s summer school classes. Hope that all goes well with the roof repair my friend! Have a special week otherwise! 🙂
Sam – Four weeks of vacation to look forward to? Life is good. Really good!
I’m so glad you and Allan are having a back-and-forth blast. Seventeen films viewed at home? Holy Smokes!
You got that right Laurie! 🙂 Thanks so much for the kind words. Yes a real cinematic blast!!! Have a great week my friend!
I’m really looking forward to the new Woody Allen and hope it’s as good as you say Sam. It’s been a few years since we’ve had a good film from him. Great to see your continued conversations and film dialogue with Allan. How is he doing by the way?
4 weeks of vacation sounds great! Enjoy Sam! We are going to be getting into the Olympics now and the girls are very excited as the last time around they were too young to remember. Have a great weekend Sam!
Jon, I do have high hopes you will like this one somewhat more than the last several. Allan is in good spirits and we’ve certainly had a marvelous time with out back and forths. I also will be tuning into the Olympics periodically, though for me I have been and will continue to be negotiating a film binge. So great to hear the girls will be enjoying this year’s games!! Thanks and have a great week my friend!!