Everybody’s Talkin’ 12 – 13 (Chatter from Other Bloggers)

I’m feeling on the lousy side of things today, so I’ll be keeping this brief. I also have a lot of writing to get to as I’ve been lucky enough to see both HER and AMERICAN HUSTLE this week, and I want to get my thoughts down before they get clouded behind whatever films I decide to watch next.

My lousy feelings have been nicely countered though by some very nice thoughts sent my way yesterday from two different friends. I don’t want to get into too much detail, but since I know they both read this space, I want to thank them each for their kind words. It’s amazing the smile that one can get from the smallest expression of kindness and thanks.

Some new sources of goodness await this week gang – dig in.

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For your listening and reading fulfilment, I give you…

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This week I finally caught up with THE GRANDMASTER, and my jaw literally dropped on several occasions. Right on cue, Andrew and The Boys have chosen it to discuss on the latest episode of TUMP. I expect great things.

Ten months ago, I wished a bit of a farewell to one of my favorite writers, Stevee Taylor, as she put aside her blogging pursuits for a while to focus on her studies. This week, she finished her studies, and did all of us very proud as she gave a speech summing up the experience. Give a read, give a watch, then go wish her well.

Dan Heaton has been working his way through many modern black & white films – which, of course, is right in my wheelhouse. This week, he revisited GOOD NIGHT AND GOOD LUCK – which is even more in my wheelhouse. Take a look at Dan’s thoughts on one of my favorite films of the century so far.

This week, I started following So’s Reel Thoughts (why I never was before is a mystery). So has me jealous as she lives in one of the greatest filmgoing cities in the world, which means I definitely look forward to keeping up with her comings and goings in the future. This week, she and fellow film enthusiast Kristen Sales caught up with BLUE IS THE WARMEST COLOR. I still haven’t seen the movie – for no good reason whatsoever – so their post-screening vlog really makes me want to correct that before we close the book on 2013.

Another site I started following this week belongs to a Brit named Amy Andrews. Amy is the caretaker and writerly person behind Oh! That Film Blog, and I highly enjoyed thumbing through it this week. One of the things that jumped out at me – something I give Amy huge props for – is that her reviews do not contain ratings. There’s no such thing as seeing a star rating and clicking for the explanation…or scrolling to the bottom to get the rating and considering that the final word. Instead – as it should be – she wants you to read through her pieces and consider her opinions as a whole. Smart lass. Tomorrow I’ll be catching up with SAVING MR. BANKS, and as I watch I’ll be thinking back on Amy’s review of the film.

As is to be expected, there has been a lot of talk about Christmas films lately (and a little too much about one in particular if you ask me). CAZ takes a moment in light of all of this to ask a very simple question: What makes a good Christmas film?
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As for a Tweet of The Week, David Ehrlich expressed something I think to myself all year long beginning around October 31st:
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wake me up when it’s #TIFF.

— david ehrlich (@davidehrlich) December 13, 2013

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Enjoy!