by Sam Juliano
By the time the next Monday Morning Diary is posted Christmas will be a day old. Hence I want to wish all our readers and staff and friends here and overseas a Merry Christmas. On a personal note it has been the worst year in memory. Losing the dearest of friends – one who served as a pillar of this site and as a staple in our lives – was a calamity still unthinkable. I also lost my young nephew and a brace of people who had reached ripe old ages. But this is the way of the world, and no doubt many others will identify 2016 as a year to blot from our collective memories. We can look forward to 2017 as a kind of rebound year – one where positive energy and happy events will help to alleviate at least some of the pain of the prior year.
I did see a few films this past week, but have to decided to combine the round-up with the viewings that will be negotiated over the next seven days. I also managed a second viewing of Nocturnal Animals, and I am happy to report the result was a positive one. (4.5)
Thanks to all those who have placed comments on the Caldecott Medal reviews. Typically, I have gone overboard, displaying a level of obsessiveness worthy of institutionalization, but the series is moving toward its final phase. Well, maybe not final – it does after all run until January 20th, but it is shall be say well underway.
I’d love to hear from those who have seen films or attended other events over the past week. Best wishes to all my cherished friends.
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Merry Christmas to you, Lucille, the kids and all those at Wonders in the Dark! I too am hoping for a much better year in 2017. My heart goes out to Allan’s family.
Thanks you so much Frank! Trust you had a great day my friend!
Marry Christmas to you and yours, Sam!
John, I trust you and Pam had a fabulous day, yesterday!
Sam, Merry Christmas to you and the family. I am enjoying the Caldecott run down this year as in the past. And, I look forward to the movie reviews that come through the site. I wish all a great year in 2017.
John, thank you so much for your continued interesting in the Caldecott series, which brings a big smile to my face. The best to you and yours in 2017. I trust you had a great day yesterday!
Sam, I wish the best to you and your family over the holiday season. I just wanted to let you know I have read every review in the Caldecott series. It is the best ever. I haven’t been able to comment on every piece, but a good many. Your level of energy and dedication raises the bar.
Celeste, thank you many times over for that! I much appreciate your loyalty and continued interest in the series, not to mention the many great comments you have left. I fully understand of course that you can’t put a comment under every review! ha! The very best to you and Mark in 2017!
Merry Christmas, Sam, to you and your family!
I’ve been frantically playing ‘catch up’ with 2016 films the past two weeks. The highlight of the past week was LA LA LAND, which I found rapturous and beautifully evocative of Jacques Demy musicals. I have also streamed LITTLE SISTER, THE CHILDHOOD OF A LEADER and A BIGGER SPLASH over the last week or so, with many more to come.
Pat—
This is indeed the frantic time, but also the time of the year we do annually look forward to! So thrilled to hear you adored LA LA LAND, though I was privately predicting you would! Great reference point there with the Jacques Demy musicals!!!!! Looking forward to hear what you through of those other three films. i did myself see FENCES and LION on Christmas day and loved both! Happy New Year my very good friend!
Hey Sam! Wishing you a very Merry Christmas my friend to you and all of your family. I do pray that you find rest and peace this Christmas season. Lord knows it’s been a rough year on many fronts. Sending good vibes as always.
We had a busy week of finishing up school for this year as now the kids are on break this week and next. We also had Holly’s birthday party on Saturday night. Today is her actual Birthday. She’s 9. Hard to believe. I know you’re well aware of how quickly time passes before you when you have children. Her ideal evening tonight will be Olive Garden, homemade cherry pie, and watching the BFG. She’s a big fan of the book and wants to watch the movie. So that’s what we’ll be up to.
I’ve been doing a good deal of reading and watching lately:
Read: Northanger Abbey by Austen- Beautiful and humorous.
Read: Villette by Bronte- Tremendous, sarcastic and ultimately very bittersweet.
Watched: Hell or High Water- I liked it. I’d give it 3/4 stars. I felt it was a bit thin and missing some pacing, but Jeff Bridges is always good and ultimately it was worth watching.
Re-watched: One Eyed Jacks- Saw the new criterion disk. Still shy of masterpiece, but a fascinating film from Brando.
Speaking of Brando…I’m sure you saw recently more corroboration of the late Maria Schneider’s insistence that the rape scene in Last Tango was an unplanned and unannounced attack on her in the name of artistic expression by Bertolucci and Brando. I’ve always felt something was wrong with that film and that scene in particular, especially after her account surfaced years ago. Sad that no one believed her when she told of this when she was still alive and only now are people realizing it.
Anyway, this week we’ll be heading to Chicago for the Holiday and will see both sides of the family. My wife and I also aim to either seen Manchester by the Sea or La La Land by the end of the weekend.
Many blessings Sam!
Jon, the very best to you and your beautiful family! Holly passed the nine-year-old landmark which is major! Yes this has been just about the most heart-breaking year on record. I have read both the Bronte and the Austen novels you report on here back in my graduate English lit days, and remember both quite fondly. No doubt you had some enrapturing reads there! I do like HELL OR HIGH WATER quite a bit and have no problem with your own response. Yes I did hear of Schneider’s report indeed. Geez talk about living the parts! But yes over the top to say the least. I have always liked ONE EYED JACKS. True it is not a masterpieces, but quite good with Brando in top form in the lead. Happy New Year’s my friend! Many thanks as always!
Happy Holiday to you, Lucille and your wonderful family. 2017 has nowhere to go but up.
Aye, Peter, I do hear you! Thank you so much for your loyalty and friendship for many years and the best to you and Sue in 2017!
Merry Christmas, Sam, to you and yours! Hoping the joys of the season can help to mitigate the sorrows of the past year.
December is also the month for catching some of the years best movies in the theater. There are a half dozen or so that I’m hoping to see but so far due to the unusual amount of snow and some single digit temperatures I’ve only seen one this month. Nocturnal Animals is a striking piece of work, I’m thinking 4/5 stars but not likely to make my top ten. Luckily, staying home I’ve been able to follow the Lav Diaz retrospective on Mubi and I also watched the new blu-ray of Abel Gance’s Napoleon.
Evolution of a Filipino Family (2004) ****1/2
Heremias: Book One – The Legend of the Lizard Princess (2006) ****
Melancholia (2008) *****
Napoleon (1927) *****
I continue to look forward to your recommendations as I’m hoping to spend more time in the theaters after Christmas.
Thanks you so much for the lovely, compassionate words Duane my excellent friend. The very best to you and yours in 2017!
I have that same blu-ray of NAPOLEON, which is one of the greatest in this format ever released. The film is finally presented with the proper score. I still need to see that Lav Diaz film which you rate might high there. MELANCHOLIA is indeed a masterful work, and have to see HEREMIAS, another you rank up there. I actually saw NOCTURAL ANIMALS a second time last week and liked it even more. As to Top 10, I haven’t yet sorted that out and won’t until I see films like ELLE, 20TH CENTURY WOMEN, SILENCE and TONI ERDMANN later this week. But we are both making headway. Have a great Christmas week my friend! Thank you as always!