Alas, last night’s Oscar party has yielded a tragic aftermath. For several years the author John Grant (Paul Barnett) and his wife Pamela have traveled all the way down from Hewitt (near Greenwood Lakes, NJ) to attend our annual party despite it being over an hour’s drive one way. He and Pam became very dear friends to Lucille and I and when they didn’t show up last night despite e mail assurances they were excited to attend again Lucille and I were deeply concerned. I sent on an email and it was answered by Pam who informed me she had sent me a correspondence from another address that he suffered a fatal heart attack last week. As per his wishes he was cremated. Since 2013 when we first met in a Montclair bookstore we hit it off in every sense and he was for the past seven years the most regular and and passionate commenter at WONDERS IN THE DARK, using the title “realthog.” He was a great writer and film noir expert. To say he will be missed understates our bond. I can’t imagine the world without Paul whose pen name was John Grant. A prince of a guy with a fabulous sardonic wit he was born in Scotland and is one of the most prolific writers and voracious readers of all-time. Paul was 70 years old. We were so privileged to know you. Your legacy is deeply pronounced, but your friendship was special beyond words. (first photo of John in Montclair in 2013; second at last year’s Oscar party with Adam Ferenz in the background) I was first introduced to Paul via my good Australian friend Tony d’Ambra who was a treasured film noir compatriot in an online connection that developed into actual meetings.
Archive for February 10th, 2020
R.I.P. John Grant (Paul Barnett) a.k.a. ‘realthog’
Posted in Uncategorized on February 10, 2020| 29 Comments »
Oscars 2020; Oscar-nominated shorts and Les Miserables on Monday Morning Diary (February 10)
Posted in Uncategorized on February 10, 2020| 4 Comments »
by Sam Juliano
Yes Parasite won big last night. No it was NOT my favorite film of the year, heck it didn’t even finish in my Top 10. (#16 in my Top 25) I like the film well enough but here’s the rub: I am a lifelong International film fanatic, but this past year I have SIX (6) foreign-language films ahead of “Parasite” on the aforementioned list. It is NOT the Second Coming of cinematic works, and by its very essence it is mostly emotionally distancing if deliberately so. Hence, here is my conclusion in a night that was totally predictable until we reached Best Director and Best Picture – it was great that the long maintained taboo against foreign films was broken, even if the choice was not the absolute tour de force I would have liked to break the snide. Yesterday morning I predicted 1917 to win but in parenthesis I added Parasite is gaining fast!” There are some very good trusted cinephiles who are celebrating and to them and all lovers of this good- if – not -absolutely-great-for-me film I hold up my glass for a toast. In any event 51 people crowded into the back room of the Tiger Hose Firehouse in Fairview last night for our 43rd annual Oscar party. As always it was a soulfully ingratiating affair, one where some get to see others for the first time in a calendar year and re-institute their friendship vows. It was quite a treat to have my beloved Cliffside Park High School English teacher Patrick J. Shelley (P.J.) and his lovely fiance Patty attend after a drive down from northern Connecticut. They are pictured above with my lifelong friend Tony Lucibello and Yours Truly. What a fabulous night!
-
"Juliano vividly evokes this apparent paradise on earth, even as he touchingly reminds us how fleeting it is and how hard a fall from grace can be"
Bob’s Neo-Westchester
-
Looking for a movie?
-
Latest Posts…
- Broadway Musical “Girl from the North Country” and Sixth Annual Allan Fish Online Film Festival on Monday Morning Diary (May 16)
- INGMAR BERGMAN’S ‘A SHIP TO INDIA’: “You long for something new, too…”
- Sixth Annual Allan Fish Online Film Festival, Spain and Portugal Film polling and Washington D.C. school trip on Monday Morning Diary (May 9)
- Spain and Portugal Film Polling!
- Results of marathon French Film Polling on Monday Morning Diary (May 2)
What’s the Buzz…
Genre Countdowns Decades Countdown Sam Juliano on... Ongoing SeriesThe WitD Team
Click on names for archives Writers/Founders Contributing Writers
Recent Comments
- mark s. on Broadway Musical “Girl from the North Country” and Sixth Annual Allan Fish Online Film Festival on Monday Morning Diary (May 16)
- mark s. on Broadway Musical “Girl from the North Country” and Sixth Annual Allan Fish Online Film Festival on Monday Morning Diary (May 16)
- mark s. on Broadway Musical “Girl from the North Country” and Sixth Annual Allan Fish Online Film Festival on Monday Morning Diary (May 16)
- vintageclark on INGMAR BERGMAN’S ‘A SHIP TO INDIA’: “You long for something new, too…”
- Sam Juliano on INGMAR BERGMAN’S ‘A SHIP TO INDIA’: “You long for something new, too…”
- mark s. on Sixth Annual Allan Fish Online Film Festival, Spain and Portugal Film polling and Washington D.C. school trip on Monday Morning Diary (May 9)
- mark s. on Sixth Annual Allan Fish Online Film Festival, Spain and Portugal Film polling and Washington D.C. school trip on Monday Morning Diary (May 9)
- vintageclark on INGMAR BERGMAN’S ‘A SHIP TO INDIA’: “You long for something new, too…”
- mark s. on Sixth Annual Allan Fish Online Film Festival, Spain and Portugal Film polling and Washington D.C. school trip on Monday Morning Diary (May 9)
- Sachin on INGMAR BERGMAN’S ‘A SHIP TO INDIA’: “You long for something new, too…”
- dylanfreak on Earth – 1939, Tomu Uchida
- vintageclark on Sixth Annual Allan Fish Online Film Festival, Spain and Portugal Film polling and Washington D.C. school trip on Monday Morning Diary (May 9)
- dylanfreak on Results of marathon French Film Polling on Monday Morning Diary (May 2)
- Sam Juliano on Results of marathon French Film Polling on Monday Morning Diary (May 2)
- dylanfreak on Results of marathon French Film Polling on Monday Morning Diary (May 2)
-
Recent Posts
- Broadway Musical “Girl from the North Country” and Sixth Annual Allan Fish Online Film Festival on Monday Morning Diary (May 16)
- INGMAR BERGMAN’S ‘A SHIP TO INDIA’: “You long for something new, too…”
- Sixth Annual Allan Fish Online Film Festival, Spain and Portugal Film polling and Washington D.C. school trip on Monday Morning Diary (May 9)
- Spain and Portugal Film Polling!
- Results of marathon French Film Polling on Monday Morning Diary (May 2)
- The Northman and French Film Polling on Monday Morning Diary (April 25)
- Passover, Easter Sunday and French Film Polling on Monday Morning Diary (April 18)
- French Film Polling and Easter week on Monday Morning Diary (April 11)
- FEDERICO FELLINI and TONINO GUERRA’S ‘AND THE SHIP SAILS ON’ “That’s Not Human…”
- Greatest French Film Poll has launched!
- Fairview Library book signing event, Indian Top 100 results and French polling launch on Monday Morning Diary (April 4)
- Jimmy Webb concert; tumultuous Oscar show; King Richard and final 2021 ‘Best of’ movie list on Monday Morning Diary (March 28)
- Production of “Cats” and India films polling on Monday Morning Diary (March 21)
- Cyrano and Dog on Monday Morning Diary (March 14)
- FEDERICO FELLINI and TONINO GUERRA’S ‘GINGER AND FRED’ “She said I’d win big”
Top Posts
Archives
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
Pages
- 5,000 Best Screen Works
- About
- Actor John as in Garfield…Challenge and Where To Sign…Lori Moore’s Petition…
- Allan Fish’s Decades Countdown
- Best of the 2000s
- Cinema & Television on Wonders in the Dark
- MOVIES OF THE 1930s POLL
- Ratings Key
- Sam’s Music and Opera
- Spreadsheet
- BEST MOVIES OF THE 1940s
- BEST MOVIES OF THE 1950s
- BEST MOVIES OF THE 1960S
- Best Films of the 1970s
- Best Films of the 1980s
- Best Films of the 1990s
- Best Films prior to 1930
- Movie Timeline 1878-1919
- Movie Timeline 1920-1929
- Movie Timeline 1930-1939
- Movie Timeline 1940-1949
- Movie Timeline 1950-1959
- Movie Timeline 1960-1969
- Movie Timeline 1970-1979
- Movie Timeline 1980-1989
- Movie Timeline 1990-1999
- Movie Timeline 2000-2009
- Movie Timeline 2010-2019
- Screen Images of the 70s
- Archive
- Fish’s Amended Oscars
Blogroll
- 21 Essays (Lee Price)
- 24 Frames (John Greco)
- A "Thriller" A Day (Boris Karloff's 'Thriller')
- Artist Frane Lessac's blog
- Attractive Variance (Jamie Uhler)
- Cine-File (Marilyn Ferdinand, et al.)
- Cinema Axis (Courtney)
- Cinemascope (Shubhajit)
- Classical Music Almanac (Kurt Nemes)
- Coffee Messiah
- Costume Drama Reviews (Judy's Mostly Television blog)
- Creativepotager (Southwestern Canada)
- Criterion Blues (Aaron West)
- David Schleicher
- Doodad Kind of Town (Pat)
- Douglas Florian's blog
- Elizabeth Varadan
- English One-O-Worst (Roderick Heath's English Literature Blog)
- Enic-CINE (Murderous Ink)
- Fairview Free Public Library (Fairview, N.J.)
- Film Freedonia (Roderick Heath)
- Film Noir (Tony d'Ambra)
- Filmacability (Dean Treadway)
- Films Worth Watching (Jon)
- Goodfellas Movie Blog (Dave)
- Hornak Watchlist
- Icebox Movies (Adam Zanzie)
- Imaginary Elevators (Dr. Emily Schneider)
- It Rains…..You Get Wet (Robert Tower)
- J. L. Wahman
- JacquiWine's Journal
- James River Film Journal (Anu)
- John Grant's website
- Living in Cinema
- Marilyn Ferdinand
- Mondo 70 (Samuel Wilson's Movie Blogsite)
- Movie Classics (Judy in the UK)
- Movie Projector (R. D. Finch)
- Murderous Ink (Vermillion and One Nights in Tokyo)
- Muriels (Steve and Paul)
- Nancy Tupper Ling (children's book author, librarian)
- Native Americans in Children's Literature (Debbie Reese)
- Noirish (John Grant)
- Not Just Movies (Jake Cole)
- Only the Cinema (Ed Howard)
- Outer Limits
- Overlook's Corridor (Jaimie Grijalba)
- Pat-Time Cinephile (Pat Perry)
- Patricia's Wisdom (Patricia)
- Petrified Fountain of Thought (Stephen Morton)
- Radiator Heaven (J.D.)
- Rather Have the Blues (Jim Clark)
- Read It Real Good (Alia Jones)
- Riding the High Country (Colin)
- Satyamshot (Kaleem’s blog)
- Scribbles and Ramblings (Sachin)
- Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast (Julie Danielson)
- Ten Best Films (Michael Anderson, Ph D film student at Yale)
- The Barefoot Librarian (Kimbrac)
- The Confidential Report – AnubhavBist
- The Dancing Image
- The Last Drive-In (Monster Girl)
- The Last Lullaby (Jeffrey Goodman)
- The Listening Ear (Weeping Sam)
- The Reluctant Blogger (Jeff Stroud)
- The Seventh Art (Just Another Film Buff)
- They Shoot Pictures, Don't They?
- This Island Rod (Roderick Heath)
- True Classics (Brandie)
- Tuesdays with Laurie (Laurie Buchanan)
- Unseen Films (Steve Kopian)
- Visions of Non-Fiction (David Van Poppel)
- WordPress.com
Top Clicks
Wonders in the Dark is a blog dedicated to the arts, especially film, theatre and music. An open forum is highly encouraged, as the site proctors are usually ready and able to engage with ongoing conversation.
-
Looking for a movie?
-
Latest Posts…
- Broadway Musical “Girl from the North Country” and Sixth Annual Allan Fish Online Film Festival on Monday Morning Diary (May 16)
- INGMAR BERGMAN’S ‘A SHIP TO INDIA’: “You long for something new, too…”
- Sixth Annual Allan Fish Online Film Festival, Spain and Portugal Film polling and Washington D.C. school trip on Monday Morning Diary (May 9)
- Spain and Portugal Film Polling!
- Results of marathon French Film Polling on Monday Morning Diary (May 2)
What’s the Buzz…
Genre Countdowns Decades Countdown Sam Juliano on... Ongoing SeriesThe WitD Team
Click on names for archives Writers/Founders Contributing Writers
Recent Comments
- mark s. on Broadway Musical “Girl from the North Country” and Sixth Annual Allan Fish Online Film Festival on Monday Morning Diary (May 16)
- mark s. on Broadway Musical “Girl from the North Country” and Sixth Annual Allan Fish Online Film Festival on Monday Morning Diary (May 16)
- mark s. on Broadway Musical “Girl from the North Country” and Sixth Annual Allan Fish Online Film Festival on Monday Morning Diary (May 16)
- vintageclark on INGMAR BERGMAN’S ‘A SHIP TO INDIA’: “You long for something new, too…”
- Sam Juliano on INGMAR BERGMAN’S ‘A SHIP TO INDIA’: “You long for something new, too…”
- mark s. on Sixth Annual Allan Fish Online Film Festival, Spain and Portugal Film polling and Washington D.C. school trip on Monday Morning Diary (May 9)
- mark s. on Sixth Annual Allan Fish Online Film Festival, Spain and Portugal Film polling and Washington D.C. school trip on Monday Morning Diary (May 9)
- vintageclark on INGMAR BERGMAN’S ‘A SHIP TO INDIA’: “You long for something new, too…”
- mark s. on Sixth Annual Allan Fish Online Film Festival, Spain and Portugal Film polling and Washington D.C. school trip on Monday Morning Diary (May 9)
- Sachin on INGMAR BERGMAN’S ‘A SHIP TO INDIA’: “You long for something new, too…”
- dylanfreak on Earth – 1939, Tomu Uchida
- vintageclark on Sixth Annual Allan Fish Online Film Festival, Spain and Portugal Film polling and Washington D.C. school trip on Monday Morning Diary (May 9)
- dylanfreak on Results of marathon French Film Polling on Monday Morning Diary (May 2)
- Sam Juliano on Results of marathon French Film Polling on Monday Morning Diary (May 2)
- dylanfreak on Results of marathon French Film Polling on Monday Morning Diary (May 2)
-
Recent Posts
- Broadway Musical “Girl from the North Country” and Sixth Annual Allan Fish Online Film Festival on Monday Morning Diary (May 16)
- INGMAR BERGMAN’S ‘A SHIP TO INDIA’: “You long for something new, too…”
- Sixth Annual Allan Fish Online Film Festival, Spain and Portugal Film polling and Washington D.C. school trip on Monday Morning Diary (May 9)
- Spain and Portugal Film Polling!
- Results of marathon French Film Polling on Monday Morning Diary (May 2)
- The Northman and French Film Polling on Monday Morning Diary (April 25)
- Passover, Easter Sunday and French Film Polling on Monday Morning Diary (April 18)
- French Film Polling and Easter week on Monday Morning Diary (April 11)
- FEDERICO FELLINI and TONINO GUERRA’S ‘AND THE SHIP SAILS ON’ “That’s Not Human…”
- Greatest French Film Poll has launched!
- Fairview Library book signing event, Indian Top 100 results and French polling launch on Monday Morning Diary (April 4)
- Jimmy Webb concert; tumultuous Oscar show; King Richard and final 2021 ‘Best of’ movie list on Monday Morning Diary (March 28)
- Production of “Cats” and India films polling on Monday Morning Diary (March 21)
- Cyrano and Dog on Monday Morning Diary (March 14)
- FEDERICO FELLINI and TONINO GUERRA’S ‘GINGER AND FRED’ “She said I’d win big”
Top Posts
Archives
- May 2022
- April 2022
- March 2022
- February 2022
- January 2022
- December 2021
- November 2021
- October 2021
- September 2021
- August 2021
- July 2021
- June 2021
- May 2021
- April 2021
- March 2021
- February 2021
- January 2021
- December 2020
- November 2020
- October 2020
- September 2020
- August 2020
- July 2020
- June 2020
- May 2020
- April 2020
- March 2020
- February 2020
- January 2020
- December 2019
- November 2019
- October 2019
- September 2019
- August 2019
- July 2019
- June 2019
- May 2019
- April 2019
- March 2019
- February 2019
- January 2019
- December 2018
- November 2018
- October 2018
- September 2018
- August 2018
- July 2018
- June 2018
- May 2018
- April 2018
- March 2018
- February 2018
- January 2018
- December 2017
- November 2017
- October 2017
- September 2017
- August 2017
- July 2017
- June 2017
- May 2017
- April 2017
- March 2017
- February 2017
- January 2017
- December 2016
- November 2016
- October 2016
- September 2016
- August 2016
- July 2016
- June 2016
- May 2016
- April 2016
- March 2016
- February 2016
- January 2016
- December 2015
- November 2015
- October 2015
- September 2015
- August 2015
- July 2015
- June 2015
- May 2015
- April 2015
- March 2015
- February 2015
- January 2015
- December 2014
- November 2014
- October 2014
- September 2014
- August 2014
- July 2014
- June 2014
- May 2014
- April 2014
- March 2014
- February 2014
- January 2014
- December 2013
- November 2013
- October 2013
- September 2013
- August 2013
- July 2013
- June 2013
- May 2013
- April 2013
- March 2013
- February 2013
- January 2013
- December 2012
- November 2012
- October 2012
- September 2012
- August 2012
- July 2012
- June 2012
- May 2012
- April 2012
- March 2012
- February 2012
- January 2012
- December 2011
- November 2011
- October 2011
- September 2011
- August 2011
- July 2011
- June 2011
- May 2011
- April 2011
- March 2011
- February 2011
- January 2011
- December 2010
- November 2010
- October 2010
- September 2010
- August 2010
- July 2010
- June 2010
- May 2010
- April 2010
- March 2010
- February 2010
- January 2010
- December 2009
- November 2009
- October 2009
- September 2009
- August 2009
- July 2009
- June 2009
- May 2009
- April 2009
- March 2009
- February 2009
- January 2009
- December 2008
- November 2008
- October 2008
- September 2008
Pages
- 5,000 Best Screen Works
- About
- Actor John as in Garfield…Challenge and Where To Sign…Lori Moore’s Petition…
- Allan Fish’s Decades Countdown
- Best of the 2000s
- Cinema & Television on Wonders in the Dark
- MOVIES OF THE 1930s POLL
- Ratings Key
- Sam’s Music and Opera
- Spreadsheet
- BEST MOVIES OF THE 1940s
- BEST MOVIES OF THE 1950s
- BEST MOVIES OF THE 1960S
- Best Films of the 1970s
- Best Films of the 1980s
- Best Films of the 1990s
- Best Films prior to 1930
- Movie Timeline 1878-1919
- Movie Timeline 1920-1929
- Movie Timeline 1930-1939
- Movie Timeline 1940-1949
- Movie Timeline 1950-1959
- Movie Timeline 1960-1969
- Movie Timeline 1970-1979
- Movie Timeline 1980-1989
- Movie Timeline 1990-1999
- Movie Timeline 2000-2009
- Movie Timeline 2010-2019
- Screen Images of the 70s
- Archive
- Fish’s Amended Oscars
Top Clicks
Wonders in the Dark is a blog dedicated to the arts, especially film, theatre and music. An open forum is highly encouraged, as the site proctors are usually ready and able to engage with ongoing conversation.