Red

Two years ago, my friend James McNally came up with the idea to make a concerted effort to finally scratch particular titles off his “movies to see” list, and he inspired many of us to do the same. Now even though James couldn’t complete the mission that he himself set out to do, he still came up with a great idea.

By keeping the tally to a mere dozen films, he made it a watchlist that was both enjoyable and attainable…as opposed to drawing up a to-see list of, say, fifty.

Of the twenty-two films I’ve watched these last two years, I can honestly say that I have enjoyed every last one, and that several of them deeply endeared themselves to me immediately. You have to love it when that happens – when you watch a classic film and end up asking yourself “How have I never seen this before?”

Likewise, I’m really impressed that several of my brothers and sisters in arms joined in on the project. I’m hoping that some of them will keep the project going and choose a new dozen films. I’m even more hopeful that some of the other movie-lovin’ bloggers who frequent this space will set out a dozen of their own to dig through in 2014! In case you’re new to the whole idea, here’s the skinny:

I intend to post my entries on the final Tuesday of every month, and at the bottom of each post, will likewise link to anyone else who is participating in the series. So if you want to partake, drop me an email (ryanatthematineedotca) when it’s up and I’ll make sure you get linkage at month’s end.

Last year, I put the power in the hands of my readers by allowing them to pick what I watched. Next year, I’m going back to choosing my own twelve (including an entire trilogy to cap things off). I’ll revisit the voting idea in the future, but for now I want to move a few to the front burner. Here’s what I’ll be watching…

THE AFRICAN QUEEN
BELLE DE JOUR
CHARADE
CLOSE-UP
DANCER IN THE DARK
GOODBYE, MR. CHIPS
JESUS OF MONTREAL
MAN WITH A MOVIE CAMERA
LE SAMOURAI
SHAFT
STAGECOACH
THE THREE COLOURS TRILOGY (RED, WHITE, BLUE)

74 Replies to “Blindsided (Announcing The 2014 Blind Spot Series)”

  2. Ooo nice. I have owned Man with a Movie Camera for a while now but still haven’t gotten ’round to watching it. I suck.
    I think I will take part in this.

    1. MOVIE CAMERA is one I’m especially looking forward to as it’s the only one in the Sight & Sound Top Ten that I’ve never seen. I’m told as a photographer, I’m really going to take a lot from it.

      Really happy to hear you’ll be joining in next year! Let me know when you choose your twelve.

  3. I’m getting a region 2 Kiarostami collection for myself for Christmas this year. Oddly enough it doesn’t have close-up but I’ll probably get that on region 1 criterion.

  4. Since I’m getting a ton of DVD collector’s sets for Christmas this year (99% movies I haven’t seen, almost all art house classics or near-classics) I will join in also and try to do a monthly blind spot on my blog each month starting in January.

  5. I’ve seen 8 of these (10 if you separate out the trilogy) and they are all worth watching, so YAY! Can’t wait to see what you think of them. I’m compiling my list and will have it solidified sometime mid-December. I’ll be sure to alert you once it’s up.

  6. I just finalized my 2014 list this past weekend and will most likely post it next week.

    Your list features a nice diversity in titles. There are only 4 titles that I have not seen: African Queen, Goodbye Mr. Chips, Man with a Movie Camera and Close-up (which is part of my 2014 list).

    1. That was deliberate. I tried to make sure I got a good dose of international flavour in there, so when I culled the list I deliberately made sure that at least half of my titles weren’t in english.

      Looking forward to seeing what you’re going to tackle in ’14.

    2. Everybody watch Close-Up in 2014! I know It’s on Dan’s shortlist for Blindspots 2014. Corey also thinks it’s amazing, so you know if we both like it, it must be objectively great.

  7. Nice list of movies! I haven’t seen them all myself, but you’re definitely in for some treats, especially African Queen, Dancer in the Dark and Stagecoach. I imagine you’ll quite enjoy Man with the Movie Camera as well.

    I’m still working on my list for 2014, but I have a couple that will definitely be on it. I’ve gone too long without seeing Oldboy and I’m gonna rectify that ASAP. I have managed to avoid spoilers so far, though, so yay me! I’m also tempted to throw Close-Up on there too.

    1. Of that whole list, African Queen and Stagecoach really feel like the ones I should have seen by now. The former is one of the few titles in the AFI 100 I have left to see!

  8. Oh, that is a great list. I’ve seen I’ve seen 5 of these (well, 7 if you count the trilogy). I’m still trying to finalize my own Blind Spot list. I just need one more film to add to the list and then I’ll email you.

    1. That list was stellar – I hope you post it on your site sometime soon so all can see what you’re in for. Maybe you can even reach into your readership and get a few new participants!

  10. I also need to see the Three Colours trilogy; I’m thinking that I’ll just do it as a marathon in the next year or so. This is a really strong list, Ryan. I’ve seen six of them, and I’m thrilled that you’re going to watch Stagecoach. Le Samourai is also a strong pick, and Dancer in the Dark is so devastating. Interesting choices throughout this group.

    I’m compiling my votes and will have my slate in place next week. It sounds like we’re going to have a great group next year.

    1. My only hope is that people can keep at it. Just like resolving to hit the gym on January 1st, blind spots tend to trickle off come March. Alas – anything than can get people primed to watch films they’ve long been meaning to see is a good thing.

  12. You’ve already moved on to 2014 and I still haven’t posted my november entry. I promise I’ll do it. Most probably tomorrow.

    As for your list, I have seen 7 of them and interestingly haven’t even heard of 3. Of those I have, close up, charade, belle de jour and stagecoach are certainly interesting. But the one most recommended would be three colors trilogy. No competition!

    I am actually working on my 2014 selections as well. I have about 9 finalised. Looking for some interesting contemporary films to add to the list. Should be up sometime in December.

    Thanks for organising this Ryan! Looking forward to take part in 2014 as well.

    1. I always get overeager when it comes to this sort of thing. Heck, as I work to finish Matineecast 100, I have to laugh at the way I was sussing it out in my head back in July!

      Always love reading your selections, so I’m stoked to hear that you’ll be participating again next year. Make sure to ping me when you’ve chosen your dirty dozen.

  13. I need to see Le Samourai and Belle de Jour, too — they seem promising. Charade is so much fun, Grant and Hepburn are great together! Plus it has one of my favourite lines of all-time. Hope you like it!

    1. I saw the terrible remake of CHARADE a few years ago. I’m hoping most of it has fallen out of my memory. Regardless of whether it has or hasn’t, I’m at least comforted in knowing that Grant & Hepburn will easily outclass Wahlberg & Newton.

  14. This could be my list, easily; the only one I’ve seen is Bleu. Which is a movie I dislike a lot, but a lot of people love it and the other two are supposed to be better. I might participate next year.

  15. I’ve heard a lot about the Three Colors Trilogy, but hesitate to put it on my own watchlist for my essentially blindside podcast because I rarely see them talked about outside of a trilogy and that’s a lot of movie to dedicate to one podcast.

    1. I think the trick is to span them out. The same way if someone suggested you watch the Lord of The Rings films or The Man With No Name movies.

      Tackling them all in one afternoon is suicide: space them out over a week or even longer.

  17. I really want to tackle this challenge, but there’s so many classic movies I haven’t seen, that I’m having a hard time narrowing it all down.

    1. A lot of people have been putting it to their readership. Point people towards your to-see list and see what gets the most votes.

      Or, just choose them as the year goes along.

  18. Since I didn’t join this year, I think I will take part next year, Ryan. I actually just read Dan Heaton’s post on this as well. I’ve only seen LE SAMOURAI from your to-watch list and I’ve been meaning to see more of Alain Delon’s work!

  19. Can i join? I usually posted classic reviews on last Fridays each month. Might as well do a blogathon 🙂 just pick one each month is okay?

    1. Of course you can!
      One each month is perfect, and they post on the last Tuesday of the month. I usually keep my eye out for late-arrivals in the days to follow.

      Any idea which twelve you’ll select next year?

    3. Ooooh! I would definitely like to read your takes on those three films. Join in if you feel like it, and be sure to ping me if/when you post your selections.

    4. I think I’ll post the link next week 🙂 Have a question though, should one movie assigned specifically for one particular month, or it’s free?

    5. It’s free.

      Some people map them out ahead of time, but I leave it open to my own preferences as the year goes on. That way, if I have trouble tracking something down, or if I hear of a screening coming up, I can work with it.

  20. I might try this because I haven’t really gotten to my BOT feature (Back on Track) which is kind of based on the same idea but it’s better to do it in a series together with others. 😀

  21. This is a really cool idea! God knows my letterboxd to-watchlist are piling up! I’m going to compile the classic titles for this one (since those are the hardest to get to!)
    Will definitely post my list soonish! 😀

    1. Welcome to The Matinee, Supernova!

      You can absolutely participate, the more the merrier. Posts go up the last Tuesday of the month (and I usually fire off reminders on twitter in the days and weeks leading up).

      Just email me a link to your post and I’ll link it at the end of my own.

  23. I like the idea, and I usually watch a lot of classic films anyway, so why not 🙂

    I have posted my 12 blindspot picks over at my blog today.

    1. Woah – you’re going to tackle the entire Story of Film as one of your selections? Good luck with that! It’ll take some time, so make sure you slot it into one of your quieter months. If you’re like me, it will actually make you hungrier to see a lot of the titles he mentions.

    1. I’m stoked that you’re going to participate this year.
      Definitely looking forward to Close-Up…even if it might have already been overhyped by Andrew and Corey already.

  26. I think my January blindspotting film is going to be Paolo Sorrentino’s “Il Divo”, a movie I never had ANY interest in seeing but got a Sorrentino box set for Christmas, plopped it in the player and just by the dvd menu thought “wow! This looks amazing!”

    Stay tuned….

    (As for the other 11 films, I intend to make a full list soon but I really have to get my best of 2013 list up over at my blog. I’m a lazy ass)

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  28. Too late to do it? Does it have to be 12 though? 😀 I’ve been so busy lately that I somehow missed this one and I’ve been participating in tons of things but I really want to do it.. I might do 2 every other month.. maybe that will help me.. I don’t know. I’ll still do it, I promise ! 😀

    1. Never too late to do it.

      I want to keep this series inclusive, so if people skip a month now and then or miss the “Last Tuesday of The Month” publish date, it’s not like it’s over & done with.

      Watch ’em when you can, write ’em when you like, ping me when/if you do. If you still want to watch a January entry, I’ll happily tack it on to the post that’s already up. If you want to wait until February, that’s cool too.

      Also, if you choose your films and want to switch one of them, by all means!

      The goal is to make people want to try new things…not to make it feel like school.

  29. Hi, I would love to join as well if you’re still taking entries. It’s really made me think of all of the films I’ve been meaning to see, but never have. Thanks.

    1. Welcome to The Matinee – and we’re always taking new entries!
      Just choose your films and start watching/writing. Whenever you have links, send ’em along to me so I can be sure to add them to the monthly round-up.

      Good luck!

      1. Hey Mariah – that’s a stellar list! I’m especially fond of the original EARTH STOOD STILL. Looks like I’ll have some homework to do myself before your posts go up.

  30. Is it too late to get in on this action? It would be hard to decide but there’s a few that have occurred to me as candidates that should make the list (a few Alfred Hitchcock films, like Psycho and The Birds, plus Touch of Evil all strike me as possible candidates) but I thought I was supposed to start this at the beginning of the year.

    1. ‘Morning John – Sorry for the late response, but welcome to The Matinee!
      You can jump in at any point, so feel free to make up a list of seven films to carry you through the rest of 2014 and join in on the fun.

      If nothing else, it can make for a great excuse to finally move certain titles up the queue. If you get one completed for 6/24, be sure to ping me so I can include it in the links round-up.

      Good luck and welcome aboard!

      1. Some interesting titles you’ve zeroed in on! Don’t be afraid to skew a few years older btw. Not to “tell you what you should watch” or anything, but use the opportunity to catch up on titles that have been on your to-see list for years over those that have been there for months.

        (Not that I’m not a huge fan of ALL IS LOST or BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR)

        I’ll be sure to link your first entry into Tueday’s round-up

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  32. Very intriguing list of films. I have seen eight of them and a couple are true favorites of mine.

    I love this idea. I’m such a big fan of the classics and I appreciate ANY promotion of them.

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