Everybody’s Talkin’ 12 – 24 (Chatter from Other Bloggers)

Dear Santa…

Once again it’s your big day. Right around now you’re likely loading up the sled with PS4’s, Samsung Galaxies, and all sorts of other goodies for girls and boys around the world. It’s probably a little late to be asking for things, but if anyone can make the impossible happen, it’s you.

Well, you and James Cameron anyway.

I’d like to think that I’ve been a good boy this year. I’ve done all I could to be a champion of good cinema – to spread the word of the best material and avoid piling on the bad material. I’ve tried to keep an open ear for other people’s ideas, and an open eye for new additions to the community. I believe that these sorts of things are important…that they’ll help me be a better writer, a better critic, and a better person.

So before you take flight over the Pacific Rim (great film, did that make it up your way?), I’m hoping you might have time to throw a few more things into the sled for some friends of mine…

 

For Stevee Taylor, Sam McCosh, and Andy Buckle, three round-trip tickets to Toronto…preferably during TIFF. It’s a pity that I’m only able to share their cinematic enthusiasm for the few hours a day our countries share daylight.

For Matthew Brown and Matthew Price of Mamo, paintball guns and life-sized cutouts of me. Something tells me they’d like to fire off a few rounds from time to time (and I deserve it).

For James McNally, an entire year of sold-out events at Shorts Not Pants. Doing something with such passion deserves to be rewarded.

For Mette Kowalski, Sofia Teixeira, and Nikhat Zahra, tickets to a vacation spot in Greece. Why Greece? Becasue it’s almost equidistant for all three, which would make a good spot for them to get together and record a live podcast.

For Andrew James of Row Three and his bride to be Emma, a welcome mat. They do such an amazing job of making their friends feel at home, give them a smooth path to their nuptials while you’re at it.

For Kate Bradford of Kate Has a Blog, better spam filters – she’s far too swell a person to get the unwanted silliness that clogs up her inbox.

For Andrew Robinson of GMan Reviews, whatever technical toy he wants that I’m likely too dumb to know about. The man is the second coming of McGyver…y’know, if McGyver was good with computers.

For Jess Rogers of Cinema Axis, a couch. The woman spends so much time listening to me sort through my own mental hang-ups, she might as well start training to be a shrink.

For Kurt Halfyard, lozenges.

For everyone else who has spent even a minute with me in person or online talking movies – who are far too numerous to name, but all have a special place in my heart – the blu-ray box set of their choice.

Finally for Lindsay, that clock from LABYRINTH that has thirteen hours. As she pushes even harder this coming year to get her film completed, she could do with an extra sixty minutes or so every day.

 

Thanks Big Man – we’ve left you some of Lindsay’s best cookies.

Merry Christmas!

– Ryan

 

P.S. – If by any chance you’re looking for last-minute ideas, I wouldn’t say no to a Criterion blu-ray of NASHVILLE. Just sayin’.