Ryan McNeil
In recent weeks, I’ve had people watch some pretty rough films for podcasting purposes. Guests weren’t all that fussed about THE RUM DIARY, J. EDGAR, and going back a bit further, COWBOYS & ALIENS. But folks – I offer to you that none of those were as bitter a pill to swallow as me enduring Paul haggis’ CRASH for a podcast I’m taking part in next week. Seriously folks – I’d rather watch a full COWBOYS & ALIENS trilogy than go back to that well again.
Thankfully the next seven days promise to be filled with cinematic glory, including screenings over the next three days of some films that rank amongst my most anticipated of the fall. So be sure to tell your friends, come back early, and come back often.
Here’s The Week at Hand…
Screenings
J. EDGAR – I’ll have more to say about this on The Matineecast tomorrow.
FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH – I’m beginning to love spending my friday nights on screenings of Cameron Crowe films.
Blu-Rays/DVD’s I’ve Never Seen
GOMORRAH – Speaking of screenings, I really could have done with one of this film. I found myself far too distracted while trying to keep up with it.
A SAFE PLACE – Ever seen heavy, bearded Orson Welles try to make a llama disappear? I have.
Blu-Rays/DVD’s I’ve Watched Before
THE MUPPET MOVIE – For how many years it’s been since I’ve seen this film, I might as well count it as a new one.
SIDEWAYS – Few things in film are sexier than Virginia Madsen’s monologue about why she loves wine.
CRASH (2005) – This one’s gonna leave a mark.
THE SOCIAL NETWORK – Guess what? It still kicks ass.
Boxscore for The Year
217 First-Timers, 152 Re-Watched
369 Movies in Total
How’s about you – seen anything good?
This week, well not a lot. I only re-watched Election and Bastard Out of Carolina. The only other new films I saw were The Green Hornet and Monsoon Wedding.
It’s been way too long since I’ve watched ELECTION. Perhaps I should give it another spin in advance of THE DESCENDANTS this week…
Okay I want to see screenings of Cameron Crowe films every Friday!
Yes about The Social Network and YESSS about Sideways.
Good week, finally. All firsts:
1) All About My Mother– Wow. Though I think I like Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown a tad bit better, this film really was quite spectacular and unlike anything I’ve ever seen. I am loving Almodovar.
2) The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn– Loved it. Too much fun, though apparently it’s more fun for a non-fan like me, contradictory to what I previously believed.
3) La Belle Personne– Léa Seydoux is just so beautiful. Nice film.
4) Run Lola Run– Bloody brilliant! And that soundtrack is addictive.
5) The Art of Getting By– Freddie Highmore should not act anymore. Bland as hell.
6) Now, Voyager– I really really want to be Bette Davis.
7) Like Crazy– Didn’t like it as much as I wanted too. The performances were good though.
This is a great week of watching, and I am officially jealous that you’ve seen TINTIN already!
Slumdog Millionaire
What’s Up Tiger Lilly
Stardust Memories
The Twilight Saga: Part 1
Melinda and Melinda
Zelig
Annie Hall
& half of Me and You and Everyone We Know
Ah ANNIE HALL…an all-time favorite.
“I don’t want to move to a city where the only cultural advantage is being able to turn left on a red light”
Continuing a string of great repertory screenings with “I Was Born, But…”, a late Ozu silent. I had seen it before but his films are always worth a re-watching. Unfortunately the piano accompaniment wasn’t very good; the delicate tone of Ozu’s comedies is challenging and the accompanist was “off” from the first scene.
It might be blasphemy to admit this, but I’ve never seen any Ozu.
Wow, more than 365 movies a year…. I’m feel jealous and sorry for you at the same time.
I’m aiming for an even 400 these days. What about you? The good news is that many of my friends these days are fellow moviegoers, so often when I’m out watching flicks, it’s still a social environment. What about you – seen anything good lately?
Not a whole lot this week…
Re-Watched: HP and the Deathly Hallows Parts 1 and 2 & La Femme Nikita.
First Time: Brokeback Mountain, The Lives of Others, & Sneakers.
Never seen SNEAKERS actually, and every time I see the title I get it confused with HACKERS.
Sounds like I’ll be the lone voice of reason on the movie club re Haggis Crash. Assuming Kurt continues his streak of being an asshole.
I’m hoping to stay *just* on the grumpy side of centre. I liked it a lot less the second time around, but I won’t be out to turn on the mic and piss all over it.
Ah, Movie Club…I was wondering why anyone would willingly subject themselves to “Crash” a second time…
And “A Safe Place” – well, there were some interesting elements to it, but as whole it’s simply didn’t do a thing for me. My least favourite of that set.
I got around to:
Leningrad Cowboys Go To America – Loved it. That’s why I like Kaurismaki.
Superbad – First rewatch since seeing it in theatres. Some very funny moments with characters that aren’t always the most likeable.
Chacun Son Cinema – Brilliant set of 3-4 minute films from one hell of an Art House directors lineup. First rewatch since TIFF 07.
Tabloid – Yeah, don’t read anythng about this before going into it. I stayed clear away from all reviews and it played great.
Crazy, Stupid, Love – You know, not bad. Some very funny moments, some nice moment and some moments that fell flat and almost ruined it. Emma Stone continues to be awesome and I just plain like Steve Carrell.
Attack The Block – As freakin’ great as everyone says it is.
On The Waterfront – “Conscience… that stuff can drive you nuts!”
Thunderball – Not the best and not the worst Bond. Pretty ridculous, but mostly fun. The Boy ranks it in the middle of the list so far (Goldfinger, Live And Let Die and View To A Kill top it for him).
Los Angeles Plays Itself – Fan-damn-tastic. A shame this will never get a proper release. Wonderful insights into Los Angeles, the nature of big city living and filmmaking.
The Seven-Ups – Good movie. Incredible car chase.
First of all buddy – that is one badass watchlist for one week. So much goodness packed into seven days!
Secondly, how did you track down LA PLAYS ITSELF. I’ve been wanting to see it for some time, but there are rights issues. How’d you do it?
Yeah, it was a pretty good week of film – nothing theatrical unfortunately. That will be rectified tonight as I go see “Cafe De Flore” – can’t wait to see it again as it is easily the best thing I’ve seen all year.
Details to follow tomorrow at the Blogger night regarding LAPI.
Pretty standard week, sorta…
Il Conformista: A very good film that left almost no impression on me. Considering the name, that might actually make it a rousing success.
Gunfight at the O.K. Corral: Disappointing, and a terrible theme song.
Kind Hearts and Coronets: Still enjoyable and charming.
Tongues Untied: Overtly sexual and powerful–and since it’s about gay black men, uncomfortable for many.
Papillon: Best prison movie from the ’60s or best prison movie?
Sneakers: You’ll have to wait for the podcast for this one.
La Femme Nikita: Another soon-to-be podcasted film.
I’ve actually never seen PAPILLON but the book is one that I really dug. Perhaps I should make a point of adding it on to my to-see list.
Hmm… I’ll have to check out your podcast to hear how much you dislike Crash. I haven’t seen it myself but will likely watch it this week as part of my ongoing movie project. There was quite a bit of discussion about me even bothering to include it on my list, although it apparently has quite a few supporters as well. I’m intrigued.
Since it won Best Picture, I believe it merits a watch if only for purposes of discussion. And in honesty I liked it the first time I watched it…I think my taste has just changed a surprising amount in six years.
I had similar problem with Gomorra even though I watched a screening of it at Cannes film festival. I guess that might have something to do with it. There was a lot o things going on down there to say the least.
I’ll have to come back to it sometime.
Don’t ever apologize for disliking Crash. To Crash I simply say, do you have any mayo to go with your ham-fisted message?
Whats up with the Crash hate? One start to wonder if you guys have it mixed up with Cronenbergs version?
Why the Crash hate? Well, I can only speak for myself, but it fits in with that old quote “There’s nothing I like less than bad arguments for a view that I hold dear.”
The overlapping stories and large cast had potential to make for a compelling and powerful statement about racism. What I saw was ham-fisted, over the top, bad melodrama with lousy cliche characters. I’ve heard people make the case that the characters weren’t so much cliched as archetypes, but I just can’t see that. It lost me earlier on when Don Cheadle says the title of the film with such a strong emphasis on it that I’m surprised he didn’t look at the camera and wink. Subtle it was not.
Granted, part of it was my expectation that I would get something that would provoke discussion on the issue. In that aspect, I thought it failed completely. I admit I haven’t seen it since 2006, but I really have no desire to revisit it. Even though I don’t love Cronenberg’s Crash, I’ll take it any day over the Oscar winner.
I actually haven’t seen Cronenberg’s version…..yet.
Good one! I’ll have more to say about CRASH when I podcast later this week.