plato's cave one hundred and thirteen (being a film journal)

7.21.2020

Gregg Araki Mysterious Skin 2004

Great music in this film which feels like a beginning point the director took when starting the film, which was confirmed by an interview on the Criterion Channel where Araki said the novelist Scott Heim had these songs playing as he wrote the novel. Explosive beginning with Slowdive's cover of Syd Barrett's Golden Hair, soundtrack by Harold Budd and Robin Guthrie, and songs by Cocteau Twins, Sigur Rós, Ride, Curve, and many more Slowdives. Had never seen an Araki film, his style is very subtle and at the same time extremely explosive. Great film.

Alan Clarke The Firm 1989

(rewatch) 

Director's cut. After seeing this in an Alan Clarke retrospective at the MFA in around 1994, I used to tell people my favorite film was The Firm with Gary Oldman, and I would always get corrected; "you mean Tom Cruise". Finally seeing this on blu ray in the BFI box set. The more explicit shots are from an inferior print and a bit tough to watch in comparison with the loveliness of the rest of the transfer. Could watch this film over and over, my favorite by Clarke.

7.22.2020
Federico Fellini  Toby Dammit 1968
Terence Stamp / Edgar Poe.

Nicolas Roeg Bad Timing 1980
(rewatch)
Second time seeing this, the first time the sexual nihilism of Theresa Russell was frankly too much for me and I took a dislike to the film. Now that I am in my mid 40s and an emotional nihilist myself I can appreciate the beauty of the film much more, but honestly still find the story hard to deal with. Regardless of my issues with the film, Roeg is one of the most visionary filmmakers to ever work and this film shows off his complete mastery of the medium. His films are always such an extreme pleasure.

7.23.2020
David Mamet Homicide 1991
(rewatch)
This and Redbelt are two great films in the Mamet oeuvre. Joe Mantegna and William H. Macy just so great together especially with that strange Mamet dialogue that is always a bit disorienting. Was thinking how goddamn beautiful the film was and saw that Roger Deakins shot it. Great film.

Costa-Gavras Missing 1982
(rewatch)
One of those near perfect films. Indicator blu ray so amazing, will watch many times in the coming years. This along with Save the Tiger are two of my favorite Jack Lemmon post 1970 films.

7.24.2020
John Ford The Quiet Man 1952
(rewatch)
Another film I have seen quite a few times but never on 35mm, and the Olive Signature blu just blew me away, such a beautiful film that one can finally see properly on home video. Have rarely seen films at home look so clear. In itself, The Quiet Man is just one of the best, one of Ford's best, Wayne at his highest level, and Maureen O'Hara just spectacular. The humor we find from Barry Fitzgerald, Ward Bond and Victor McLaglen is really some of the greatest on screen humor I can think of. Perfect film.

Bernardo Bertolucci The Sheltering Sky 1990
The Master Musicians of Joujouka, Ryuichi Sakamoto, Paul Bowles, and Vittorio Storaro. Not a great film but worth watching.

Maya Deren, Alexander Hammid Meshes of the Afternoon 1943
(rewatch)
Endlessly rewatchable film. I love the Teiji Ito soundtrack which was added later in 1959. I had a CD of his music back in the 90s and listen to it like I was on a mission from God.

Maya Deren At Land 1944
(rewatch)
Had not seen in a long while and forgot about the John Cage cameo. Great film.

7.26.2020
Akira Kurosawa Yojimbo 1961
(rewatch)
Perfect film, seeing the Criterion blu ray which I had been wanting to get for a while. Overwhelming HIGH contrast photography by Kazuo Miyagawa, so much black in this film it often takes up 80% of the screen.

7.26.2020 - 7.28.2020
Craig Mazin & Johan Renck Chernobyl 2019
(rewatch)
Still overwhelmed by the Hildur Guðnadóttir soundtrack. Jared Harris, Stellan Skarsgård, and Emily Watson displaying lovely levels of actorshippe which at times really takes one's breath away. Palette by cinematographer Jakob Ihre very similar to Robert Polidori's book Zones of Exclusion: Pripyat and Chernobyl, very muted greens interacting with beige, gray and occasional splashes of more overt color.

7.28.2020
Haskell Wexler Medium Cool 1969
Robert Forster in this cinéma vérité classic. Narrative moves in and around the vérité interpolations. Classic editing and cinematography.

7.29.2020
Fear City: New York vs The Mafia 2020
For someone interested in 1970s and 1980s culture in NYC and America in general, this film's emphasis on the glorious abjectness of those decades made it worth watching. One argument that the period we live in is actually worse than what is shown here is that instead of people with character and vocabularies full of curses ripping us off, we are now being ripped off by banks and corporate  Fascism peddlers.

John Schlesinger Midnight Cowboy 1969
(rewatch)
Glorious film. Criterion Collection blu ray has great special features like Schlesinger's partner Michael Childers discussing his work on the film. The Joshua Light Show work in the Warholesque party scene is quite lovely. The photography by Polish dp Adam Holender is so stunning, and very much more inspired by photographers of the time than traditional Hollywood cinematographers which gives the film a very unique look.

7.30.2020
John Frankenheimer Ronin 1998
(rewatch)
Third time watching. This film has some good moments but in general the car chase is the most memorable part of the film. Great cast as well - De Niro, Natascha McElhone, Jean Reno, Sean Bean, Stellan Skarsgård (as a rotten SOB), Jonathan Pryce, Michael Lonsdale, and Skipp Sudduth. Story sort of overly complicated.

Abel Ferrara Fear City 1985
(rewatch)
The plot for this film pretty strange.... owners of a temp agency for strippers take the law into their own hands and hunt a serial killer with the our friends in La Cosa Nostra.

Maya Angelou Down in the Delta 1998
Wonderful only film by Angelou starring Alfre Woodard. Great film.

David Gordon Green George Washington 2000
(rewatch)

7.31.2020
Luther Price Run 1994
Beautiful film by the recently deceased Luther Price. In my days at MassArt they would play Price's Sodom film quite a bit, one hell of a powerful film. Hoping I can see that again soon and his other works on something besides youtube.

Andrew Haigh 45 Years 2015
Starring Charlotte Rampling and Tom Courtenay. Andrew Haigh has become one of this viewer's favorite filmmakers of the last decade. The films I have seen by him (Weekend, Lean on Pete, and 45 Years) are not only masterpieces, but also feel like completely different explorations. The subtitles of the two performers relationship here (connections and distancing) are spoken so softly in terms of Haigh's direction, that the film instantly becomes one of those films you actually want to watch again immediately after. Great film.

Paul Thomas Anderson Magnolia 1999
(rewatch)
Problematic film for PT Anderson but has some good moments like Tom Cruise.

8.1.2020
Paul Thomas Anderson Hard Eight 1996
(rewatch)

Great first film, endlessly have rewatched it.

8.2.2020
William Peter Blatty The Exorcist III 1990
(rewatch)

Pretty good for George C. Scott.

Billy Wilder The Apartment 1960
(rewatch) 

How could one not buy the Arrow blu ray and watch this film once a year?

8.3.2020
Samuel Fuller Forty Guns 1957
(rewatch)
From the Fuller at Fox MoC blu ray box set.  One of his best.

Robert Benton Kramer vs. Kramer 1979

(rewatch)

First saw this film in the theater with my mother at age five. Probably saw again in the 80s on HBO, but had not seen in a long time. After a recently seeing Marriage Story, it is hard not to be somewhat critical of that film which as I see it doesn't really add much to this. Very good film, which leaves an impression.

8.3.2020 - 8.6.2020

Larry David Curb Your Enthusiasm season ten 2020

Wonderful season, starts out with LD taking a selfie stick from someone and breaking it without making any reference to the activity. Goes from there....

8.5.2020

Samuel Fuller House of Bamboo 1955

(rewatch)

From the MoC Fuller at Fox box set. Bob Stack and Bob Ryan. Great film.

John Cassavetes Love Streams 1984

(rewatch)

Michael Ventura I’m Almost Not Crazy: John Cassavetes – The Man and His Work 1984

8.6.2020

Samuel Fuller Hell and High Water 1954

P.J. Hogan Muriel’s Wedding 1994

Toni Collette! Great film.

Garry Marshall Frankie and Johnny 1991
(rewatch)

In a mood to rewatch films this week I had not seen since high school. Funny how foggy these films are in my mind. Certainly has some good moments and worth watching. Pacino and Pfeiffer pretty damn good in this film.

8.7.2020

Alfred Hitchcock Notorious 1946

(rewatch)

Beautiful Hitchcock film I was not as familiar with, started a bit slow but really hit my wife and I like a ton of bricks when it got going. Such a beautifully photographed film by Ted Tetzlaff, this period by Hitch has some really lovely black and white camera work.

David Thompson Once Upon a Time…: Notorious 2009

 

8.8.2020

Tony Scott Top Gun 1986

(rewatch)

Not great but has some good moments. One of those films people endlessly talk about and I figured I should watch again as it has been 25+ years.

8.9.2020

Barry Shear Across 110th Street 1972

(rewatch)

One of those films this viewer watched a bunch of times in high school, along with Shaft and the sequels. Great film, really great moving film.

8.10.2020

Gavin O’Connor The Way Back 2020

Ben Affleck as drunken high school basketball coach.

Michael Powell Peeping Tom 1960

(rewatch)

A film that should be consumed numerous numerous times. Great lines like "take me to your cinema" and "The back of my neck told me. The part that I talk out of" spoken by the blind mother. Perfect film.

8.11.2020

Maurice Pialat Police 1985

I love Pialat but this one seemed a little flat. The mysterious last shot with Gérard Depardieu and Górecki's Symphony No. 3 is ultra beautiful.

Atom Egoyan Exotica 1994

I have never seen a film with Bruce Greenwood so young. Very good film.

8.12.2020

Francis Ford Coppola The Godfather: Part II 1974

(rewatch)

One of the great De Niro performances, as well as John Cazale which goes without saying.

 

8.12.2020 - 8.27.2020

Larry David Curb Your Enthusiasm season nine 2017

(rewatch) 

In this post-fascist world, my wife and I just need some Larry David to bring up our spirits.

8.13.2020

Robert Florey Murders in the Rue Morgue 1932

Edgar G. Ulmer The Black Cat 1934

(rewatch)

Lew Landers The Raven 1935

From the Masters of Cinema release Three Edgar Allan Poe Adaptations Starring Bela Lugosi.

Curtis Harrington Night Tide 1961

(rewatch)

Hard to not want to watch this one over and over. Great looking transfer on the Indicator blu ray.

Rainer Werner Fassbinder Ali: Fear Eats the Soul 1974

(rewatch)

Personally one of my favorite Fassbinder films.

 

8.14.2020

Peter Yates Breaking Away 1979

(rewatch)

Saw this as a kid when I was not old enough to understand, now seeing it the film just speaks so clearly and perfectly. Perfect film.

 

John Boorman Deliverance 1972

(rewatch) 

Had not been able to bring myself to rewatch this, last time I was a teenager. Not as tough of a watch though as I remembered, great film.

 

8.15.2020

Kihachi Okamoto Sword of Doom 1966

(rewatch)

Glorious violence.

 

Joshua Brand, John Falsey Northern Exposure season one 1990 

Purchased the British edition of the blu ray for my wife and really enjoying going through this unique show.

 

8.17.2020

Norman Jewison Moonstruck 1987

(rewatch)

Good stuff, I can see why Criterion is putting it out.

8.17.2020 - 8.24.2020

Larry David Curb Your Enthusiasm season ten 2020

(rewatch) 

Praise Larry David.

 

8.22.2020

Matthew Vaughn X-Men: First Class 2011

(rewatch)

8.23.2020

Danny Boyle Yesterday 2019

This film had a good start, but went a little astray. Works good as a romantic film, and some very good actors. Not without interest.

Noah Baumbach Greenberg 2010

Not a bad Los Angeles hipster film.

8.24.2020

Hal Needham Rad 1986

(rewatch) 

I watched Rad many times as a early teenager, I believe on HBO. Holds up pretty well, especially the slow motion sequence with Send Me An Angel by Real Life.

John G. Avildsen The Karate Kid 1984

(rewatch) 

One of those films I came to really dislike through the 90s and into the 2000s. Now watching it, I see there are moments of interest, especially Pat Morita's presence in the film. I actually find myself routing for the bad kids a bit now as I found Daniel-san pretty vexatious.  Still just not a film I really like much but as they say - not without interest.

8.25.2020

Samuel Fuller Underworld U.S.A. 1961

(rewatch)

From the Fuller at Columbia blu ray set. Great stuff.

Nicolas Roeg Walkabout 1971

(rewatch) 

Perfect film.

8.28.2020

Nicholas Ray In a Lonely Place 1950

(rewatch) 

Once a year or every two year type of film.

Ronald Neame The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie 1969

(rewatch)

8.28.2020 -8.31.2020

Larry David Curb Your Enthusiasm season eight 2011

(rewatch)

 

8.29.2020

Bong Joon-ho Barking Dogs Never Bite 2000

Bong Joon-ho's first film.

 

Paul Schrader The Comfort of Strangers 1990

This film had some moments but got a little out of control at the end. Not a bad film but not one of Schrader's best perhaps.

8.30.2020

Mike Leigh Vera Drake 2004

(rewatch)

What I remember as a pretty emotionally tough film, turned out to be a quite pleasant and lovely film on the second go around. The shot of Imelda Staunton's face when the police arrive at her flat (above) has a level of actorshippe up there with Gena Rowlands' breakdown in A Woman Under the Influence or Isabelle Adjani in Possession. A slow transformation from slight emotion to a state of emotional death. Great film with pretty much all of Leigh's actors.

 

8.30.2020 - 9.8.2020

Richard Price The Outsider season one 2020 

Not bad.

9.1.2020 - 9.8.2020

Larry David Curb Your Enthusiasm season six 2007

(rewatch)

Continuing process of going backwards through Curb Your Enthusiasm, but decided to do six and seven one after tother.

9.2.2020

Taika Waititi Jojo Rabbit 2019

Because I look at color for a living, it has become more pronounced in my life the last couple of years. One recent trend on line is the film color palette analysis where specific films are represented in stills and color swatches shown below. For some reason this trend has begun to get bothersome for this viewer, perhaps because it reduces the great art form to interior or graphic design. Watching this film and looking at the extreme control of color present just started getting painful to watch after a while. All "in" colors like earthy yellows, teals, muted greens very much present and calling (too much) attention to themselves. Too much control.

Martin Campbell Casino Royale 2006

(rewatch)

My wife and I decided to rewatch the recent Bond films with Daniel Craig in order. Starts out with one of the best Bond films ever.

9.3.2020

Marc Forster Quantum of Solace 2008

(rewatch)

Continuation of Casino Royale, not as good but Mr. Craig makes it worth watching, possibly this personal viewer's favorite Bond.

9.7.2020

Charlie Kaufman I’m Thinking of Ending Things 2020

plato's cave one hundred and twelve (being a film journal)

7.9.2020

Václav Marhoul The Painted Bird 2019

I especially liked the sadistic scenes with Udo Kier, one where the violence begins after some frighteningly bizarre distorted cat sounds. Some quite lovely photography by the Czech photographer Vladimír Smutný, the above window image has a solid Josef Sudek quality about it. Overall not a great film but has moments.

John Carpenter The Fog 1980
(rewatch)
Watched the Shout! blu ray which was certainly a more beautiful method of entry than I had previously experienced. Wonderful Carpenter film, certainly up there with The Thing, They Live, Escape From New York, and Halloween. Man I love Tom Atkins, he is great in Halloween III: Season of the Witch as well.

7.10.2020
Robert Siodmak Criss Cross 1949
(rewatch)
As stated by my friend Colin Sheffield, this film back in the day was a bit of an entryway drug into Film Noir. Something about it just pulled me in heavy back in 1997 or so after seeing it at the Castro Theatre in one of their Noir fests. Perhaps for Percy Helton's performance as the bartender, or the gritty photography by Franz Planer, or for capturing the now deceased Bunker Hill in such a beautiful way, or the attractive femme fatale Yvonne De Carlo? Could just be because I watched the hell out of it the next few years and really just had the film memorized. Always holds a special place in my heart, and having not seen the film in 10-15 years, the Masters of Cinema disc was really something special. Must see film, especially for those not sure if they should take the film noir journey, a journey I have not taken as far as some but am certainly more than an enthusiasts.

Mike Newell Donnie Brasco 1997
(rewatch)
Great Al Pacino and Michael Madsen performances, music has something to be desired.

7.13.2020
Howard Hawkes Rio Bravo 1959
(rewatch)
Another viewing this week of one of those films I probably watched too often in my youth but had not seen in a while. Perfect Western!

7.14.2020
George Armitage Miami Blues 1990
(rewatch)
Jennifer Jason Leigh, Alec Baldwin, and Fred Ward. Pretty good film with alcoholic and toothless degenerate cop Ward up against nihilistic Baldwin. Shot by the great and underrated Tak Fujimoto responsible for Silence of the Lambs, The Sixth Sense, Melvin and Howard, Something Wild, Gladiator, among many other notable films.

7.15.2020
James Mangold Ford v Ferrari 2019
Mangold has made some great films like Heavy, The Wolverine, Logan, Cop Land, and 3:10 to Yuma. One of those directors you can count on to make a solid film.

Ridley Scott Black Rain 1989
(rewatch)
Not a great film by the master but has its moments. Certainly worth it for a moment with Luis Guzmán.

Bruno Dumont L'Humanité 1999
(rewatch)
Second time watching this. Criterion release is beautiful. Overwhelmingly moving opening and closing shots.

7.16.2020
Michael Winterbottom The Trip 2010
(Rewatch)

7.17.2020
Don Siegel Charley Varrick 1973
(rewatch)
As a middle school kid, Siegel was one of my favorite directors before I really thought much about that sort of thing, mostly with many viewings of his Escape from Alcatraz and Dirty Harry. Over the years I have really come to appreciate his vision of rawness with films like The Lineup, Coogan’s Bluff, The Shootist, The Beguiled, and perhaps this film as the finest example of Siegel's extremeness of rawness. First quarter of the film spent on a white knuckle bank robbery and then transcends into an entirely different type of work which is totally unique to Siegel's vision of the world. Also watched the doc  Last of the Independents: Don Siegel and The Making of Charley Varrick included on the Indicator blu ray. Charley Varrick was initially titled Last of the Independents.

Joel Coen Blood Simple 1984
(rewatch)
Another one of those just utterly powerful and unique films within an already perfect oeuvre. Shot by the great Barry Sonnenfeld, responsible for Misery, Raising Arizona, Three O'clock High, and Miller's Crossing. I was disappointed the Criterion Collection blu ray did not have the Kenneth Loring commentary, does anyone out there know a way of getting that?

Steve Kloves The Fabulous Baker Boys 1989
Beau and Jeff Bridges film.

7.18.2020
George Marshall Destry Rides Again 1939
(rewatch)
Word is this is one of those films used to get non-western film enthusiasts to convert. Plain to see why. I love the bartender's line as he serves drinks "I set 'em up and you drink 'em down, I set 'em up and you drink 'em down, I set 'em up and you drink 'em down".

John Mackenzie The Long Good Friday 1980
(rewatch)
Wonderful Bob Hoskins and Helen Mirren film. God it really moves, like a jack rabbit with its tail on fire.

7.19.2020
Alan Clarke George’s Room 1967
Clarke collaboration with writer Alun Owen, from the BBC series Half Hour Story, the only one in color. Very good.

Alan Clarke The Hallelujah Handshake 1970
From the BBC1 series Play for Today. The story of a sleazebag that infiltrates two churches to wreak havoc. Good business.

Alan Clarke To Encourage the Others 1972
In this television film we see Philip Stone as a the solicitor Humphreys, famous for his role of Grady in The Shining and the dad in Clockwork Orange.

John Huston Fat City 1972
(rewatch)
Fat city is slang for one is doing well, and in a good situation financially. Quite different from the transient lifestyle we see on the screen. Conrad L. Hall gave this film a really subtle look with a mostly unsaturated palette with occasional bits of color like Susan Tyrrell's yellow dress. Especially noticeable in the bar scenes, just so beautiful. When one goes to Stockton California where the film takes place, you can see where the inspiration for this light comes from, this area in California has a unique look and other worldly to a foreigner. Apparently Monte Hellman was potentially to direct this film.

Thinking of other boxing films I love :
The Set-Up
Rocky franchise
Champion
Million Dollar Baby
Raging Bull
Killer's Kiss
The Fighter
The Harder They Fall
Unforgivable Blackness: The Rise and Fall of Jack Johnson
The Boxer
The Quiet Man
When We Were Kings
Body and Soul
Requiem for a Heavyweight

Monte Hellman Two-Lane Blacktop 1971
(rewatch)
Seeing Hellman's Cockfighter and Two-Lane Blacktop in 1997 after moving to San Francisco it became clear I had some major gaps in my film education. These films for many years, until Criterion released TLB, were these great unknown films that were a motivation to keep looking under rocks for more jewels to feed the hole. Back in those days if you said TLB was one of your favorite films you would hear some big time crickets, now everyone has seen this film and it has been accepted in the canon. See here a previous post on this film.

Orson Welles The Lady From Shanghai 1947
(rewatch)
Indicator blu. My strongest memory of this film is Glenn Anders (as George Grisby) drinking beer in Sausalito.

7.20.2020
Ben Wheatley Free Fire 2016
Many bullets. Favorite part of the film is probably Cillian Murphy's 1970s presence. So far the only Wheatley films I had seen were Kill List and a failed viewing of High-Rise. Dig the 70s Boston vibes.

Emir Kusturica Arizona Dream 1993
Wasn't crazy about this film except the Vincent Gallo interpretations of Cary Grant running from the plane in North by Northwest. If one could only go into a bar and see something like that!

Sidney Lumet Night Falls on Manhattan 1996
(rewatch)
One of the few Lumet films I can't really get into. Has some good moments though, like Ian Holm, James Gandolfini, and Shiek Mahmud-Bey.

plato's cave one hundred and eleven (being a film journal)

6.11.2020

Sidney Lumet The Offence 1973

(rewatch)

One of the strangest and most original opening sequences; the camera moves in slow motion through a fragmented British police station, abstracted by a glowing enigma of light. Bits of action happen but presented in a way where the spectator realizes there are ellipses. Much of the film feels like it was shot by the great British experimental filmmaker Chris Welsby, with elements of the Red Riding novels by David Peace sprinkled in. Truly unique film. I love the British films by non-Brits throughout the 70s and 80s, like Jerzy Skolimowski Moonlighting plus The Shout, and Robert Altman's Images.

6.12.2020

Robert Altman Nashville 1975

(rewatch)
Endlessly rewatchable.

6.13.2020

Alan Rudolph Afterglow 1997

6.14.2020
Christian Duguay Screamers 1995
Science fiction film with Peter Wellers, popular with modern-day cinephiles.

John Cassavetes Shadows 1959
(rewatch)
First film I saw by Cassavetes back in 1994, and with it I fell in love with his work. Such a powerful work which resonates very strongly in today's white racist oppressive world.

6.15.2020
Neil Jordan Mona Lisa 1986
(rewatch)
Watched twice, once with Neil Jordan and Bob Hoskins commentary. Love this film.

Neil Jordan Angel 1982
Neil Jordan double feature. Purposely somewhat incoherent film with Stephen Rea, where he is a saxophone player whom gets into some dirty business. Very interesting sound work in the film, highly artificial. Especially good when they do the live music sequences, also Bressonian footsteps echo throughout film.

6.16.2020
Frank Perry Last Summer 1969
This film reminded me to much of Skolimowski's Deep End with the "when is she going to take her cloths off" nonsense.

Oliver Stone Born on the Fourth of July 1989
(rewatch)
Born is an exception to this viewer's anti-Stone general way of thinking. The film spassed a rewatch, perhaps because it avoids Stone's usual flashy edits, camera work and processing of film, done in the style of the times but certain to alienate many viewers (Natural Born Killers!). It doesn't hurt to have Willem Defoe play such a crazed out role.

6.17.2020
Frank Perry David and Lisa 1962
Keir Dullea (2001, Bunny Lake is Missing) and Janet Margolin romantically entwined institutionally (in the mental sense) with a setting not unlike One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Titicut Follies, Shutter Island, or Shock Corridor. Excellent writing by Eleanor Perry with Margolin's rhyming talk. Loved the film.

Hirokazu Kore-eda Maborosi 1995
Kore-eda's first feature film. Tragic, dark, romantic, silently emotional. A perfect example of the magic of a slow film.

George Roy Hill Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid 1969
(rewatch)
Conrad L. Hall's groundbreaking photography especially present in the famous bicycle sequence. Not a great western for this viewer, perhaps a bit slow at times, but it has a truly perfect ending (see image above).

6.18.2020
Ken Loach Poor Cow 1967
Slowly going through the films of Ken Loach. His first feature Poor Cow is spectacular.

6.19.2020
William A. Wellman The Ox-Bow Incident 1942
(rewatch)
One of those truly perfect westerns, discussed elsewhere on this site regarding the opening and closing shots with trotting dog.

John McNaughton Henry: Portrait of a Serial Killer 1986
(rewatch)
A 1980s film thankfully not in the tradition of John Hughes. Raw yet poetic at times, certainly a film one never forgets. As a young man I was of the mind that 80s films were sentimental Reagan era nonsense, but seeing works like this has shifted my view that actually those bad films are more the minority. Great film I will probably rewatch as I now have the blu ray in my library.

Neil Jordan The Crying Game 1992
(rewatch)
Many times in the dark with this film, one of my favorite 90s films. Noticeable reference to Charles Ives' The Unanswered Question in Anne Dudley's score when Forest Whitaker's Jody is referenced.

Alexander Payne Sideways 2004
(rewatch)
Endless rewatch film.

6.20.2020
Tony Richardson A Taste of Honey 1961
(rewatch)
From the the BFI boxset Woodfall: A Revolution in British Cinema. Absolutely breathtaking film with beautiful tactile grain jumping all over the screen.

6.21.2020
Joel Coen Fargo 1996
(rewatch)
Endless rewatch film.

6.22.2020
Robert Altman McCabe & Mrs. Miller 1971
(rewatch)
Going through my blu ray library lately, watching the wonderful Criterion Collection disc. Perfect film.

6.23.2020
John Carpenter Vampires 1998
Filling in holes by my favorite directors. Went through these films by Mr. Carpenter the last few days: The Ward, In the Mouth of Madness, Village of the Damned, Body Bags, Ghosts of Mars, and Vampires. Of these; Vampires was the more successful film for me personally, yet not really a film I would rewatch. It was suggested to me that disliking these films by Carpenter means he is not a great director, an idea perhaps a tad offensive. Must one respect an entire filmography for a director to be a great one? Does the merits of an auteur depend on consistency? Who the hell cares?

David Cronenberg Shivers / They Came From Within 1975
(rewatch)
Arrow blu ray with great special features in addition to this absolutely gorgeous transfer. Probably the Cronenberg film I have rewatched the most. This great film has an atmosphere not unlike J.G. Ballard's High-Rise, another work that moved this young man immensely.

Robert Mulligan The Man in the Moon 1991
From To Kill a Mockingbird director, starring Reese Witherspoon in her first role, Sam Waterston, Tess Harper, and Gail Strickland. Classic 90s cinema. When I see Waterston, I think of his unforgettable "moral structure" dialogue in Crimes and Misdemeanors, Tess Harper for her Breaking Bad presence.

6.23.2020 - 6.26.2020
Derek Cianfrance I Know This Much is True 2020
From The Place Beyond the Pines and Blue Valentine director Derek Cianfrance, whom studied film with the two late greats Stan Brakhage and Phil Solomon. Music by the utterly profound Harold Budd, every second of the music and sound design is just pure bliss. I love that it takes place around the period of the late 1980s and early 1990s, with George H. W. Bush and the like, not unlike The Big Lebowski. Definitely one of the best recent television shows, a medium that I had about given up on the last year or two. Always so impressed with how Mark Ruffalo had to reteach himself how to act after suffering from facial paralysis and hearing loss due to the brain tumor vestibular schwannoma.

6.24.2020
John Carpenter Someone’s Watching Me! 1978
Made for tv film with Lauren Hutton and Adrienne Barbeau. Entertaining at times but a little too close to De Palma's Hitchock. Hutton's quirky behavior is grading.

John Carpenter Cigarette Burns 2005
Udo Kier hires Norman Reedus (The Walking Dead) to hunt down an apocryphal snuff film. Very Giallo. Not a film I would rewatch but not completely without interest.

Hirokazu Kore-eda After Life 1998
Perhaps too wordy and concept oriented at times. Not as engaging as other Kore-eda films for me, but worth seeing. Definitely an alternative use of video technology to the modern Japanese Horror films like Ringu.

Nickolas Dylan Rossi Heaven Adores You 2014
Elliott Smith documentary. Very good. Wasn't crazy about seeing Portland footage when the story had shifted to Mr. Smith living in NYC, especially because I noticed repeat shots of certain streets and expressways, but the city really does photograph well.

6.25.2020
Joseph Losey The Go-Between 1971
My wife and I are on a mission to see all Joseph Losey films, all Julie Christie films, and all Alan Bates films, The Go-Between worked in all three. Really wonderful film, as was the performance of the young Dominic Guard. The novel by L.P. Hartley apparently is a must read. The film is a rather pleasantly plain story with layers of complexity (as it is from a child's perspective) and subtleties. The great Harold Pinter wrote the screenplay, and photography by Gerry Fisher (Highlander, Mr. Klein, The Offence, The Romantic Englishwoman, Wise Blood, The Ninth Configuration [one strange film I wish I could get into], Running on Empty, and The Exorcist III). Scored by the Frenchman Michel Legrand. All signal a film of the utmost seriousness.

6.26.2020
John Milius Conan the Barbarian 1982
Could not remember if I saw this as a kid, and wasn't sure when the film ended. Great ambiance but not really a film I would see again. Surprised by the amount of nudity. I must speak about this in my next confession.

Chinonye Chukwu Clemency 2019
This might be the first film since plague times I have really felt a strong connection with, such a powerful film. Alfre Woodard, Aldis Hodge, and Wendell Pierce! Last shot reminiscent of Call Me By Your Name, with Woodard just beyond moving, not too many actors could pull something like that off.

Kenneth Lonergan You Can Count on Me 2000
(rewatch)
One of those films my wife and I watch pretty often... at least this is our third times in the last 6 years or so. Perhaps Lonergan's best film in a filmography of all great works?

6.27.2020
Michael Mann Manhunter 1986
(rewatch)
Theatrical release on Scream Factory blu ray.  Fantastic interpretation of the Red Dragon novel by Mann.

Hirokazu Kore-eda Still Walking 2008
(rewatch)
Really great Kore-eda film, that perhaps takes a couple few viewings to pick up some of the subtitles.

6.28.2020
Nicholas Ray Johnny Guitar 1954
(rewatch)
Watched the Olive Signature blu ray and feel like this was the first time seeing the film, having never seen a 35mm print. Lovely transfer of this perfect film.

6.28.2020 - 6.29.2020
Derek Cianfrance I Know This Much is True 2020
(rewatch)
Second time seeing this in the week.

6.30.2020
John Carpenter Christine 1983
Still going through the unseen Carpenter films. I love the above sequence at the drive in movie theater.

Graeme Clifford Gleaming the Cube 1989
(rewatch)
Growing up a skateboarder, this film was key to a high school kid, as well as the early Powell films like The Search for Animal Chin, the bmx film Rad, the surf film North Shore, and many others. This film really has zero interest now besides the "action sequences" but brought back memories watching.

7.1.2020
Atom Egoyan The Adjuster 1991
My wife and I had wanted to revisit Egoyan films, and were happy to see a bunch show up on the Criterion Channel. Don't think I had seen this one, not super crazy about it but always find Elias Koteas to be worth watching. Worth watching.

7.5.2020
Clive Donner The Caretaker 1963
(rewatch)
Strange as hell film; editing, photography (shot by Nicolas Roeg), acting, the whole lot. Harold Pinter stories always get one's head spinning.

7.6.2020
Alan Clarke Shelter 1967
First disc in the BFI Alan Clarke box set Dissent & Disruption: Alan Clarke at the BBC. Nice film, extreme desires occurring between a woman and man who apparently want to "get physical", but pretend to hate each other. These 25-30 minute shorts from the BBC Half Hour Story series, 1967-1968.

Alan Clarke The Gentleman Caller 1967

Alan Clarke Goodnight Albert 1968
From the writer of Scum Roy Minton, whom also penned The Gentleman Caller. Rather nice credit music on these early shorts by Jack Parnell.

Alan Clarke Stella 1968

These early Clarke films have some great photography. This film starts with the camera looking up at the characters from the floor, following Geraldine Moffart around, and from time to time obscured by objects such as beds.

Alan Clarke The Fifty-Seventh Saturday 1968
Perhaps the best of these Half Hour Story shorts. A young woman suffers depression and puts all her energy into an older married man.

Alan Clarke Thief 1968

Thomas Vinterberg The Hunt 2012
(rewatch)
Arrow Academy blu ray with alt and deleted scenes, including alternate ending where Mads Mikkelsen's character is shot in the forest, rather than a miss. Such a great film, I would like to see a horror sequel where he takes revenge on all the folks that brought him misery. I love as an American getting all these British blu rays, where the translation is rendered arse instead of ass.... how lovely.

Ron Fricke Samsara 2011
Lovely 70mm photography.

7.7.2020
Jonathan Demme Melvin and Howard 1980
(rewatch)
Classic early 80s film from Demme with Jason Robards as Howard Hughes, Paul Le Mat as his buddy Melvin Dummar, Mary Steenburgen + Pamela Reed as Melvin's two lady friends, and Gloria Grahame as Melvin's mother-in-law. Really great low key film, with music by Bruce Langhorne.

Willard Huyck, Gloria Katz Messiah of Evil 1973
(rewatch)
Great film, second time seeing this. So many powerful sequences, especially the Ralphs grocery store one with the stunning Anitra Ford.

Gloria Katz The Bride Stripped Bare by Her Suitors—Even 1966

Willard Huyck Down These Mean Streets

John Ford The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance 1962
(rewatch)
Perfect details make this film endlessly watchable and rewatchable. Contains the great line "when the legend becomes fact, print the legend", which is a quote one can perceive the world by. Lee Van Cleef and Strother Martin are wonderful as Liberty Valance's sidekicks.

John Cassavetes Husbands 1970
(rewatch)
Reunited with another old friend - the great Cassavetes film which could be an endurance test for some, or not much different than reading a fine Beckett novel for others, with a method of arriving at transcendence through repetition, grit, and a hint at nonsense.

 7.8.2020
William Lustig Vigilante 1983
Second time watching this the since the beginnings of plague times. For anyone who has only experienced Robert Forster as an older actor, this is a great film to see him young.

Rowdy Herrington Road House 1989
(rewatch)
Watching Shout! blu ray. Great film, endlessly worth repeat viewings, an essential 80s film. Interview with Herrington situates this film as a modern western.

Christopher Guest Waiting For Guffman 1997
(rewatch)

Joan Micklin Silver Between the Lines 1977
John Heard film from the director of Chilly Scenes of Winter. Also has Gwen "I never get enough" Welles from Nashville, Jeff Goldblum, and Joe Morton whom is very good as he always is.

tape322

Austin Rockman & Dark - Tape322
Artwork by darkness moves

plato's cave one hundred and ten (being a film journal)

5.8.2020

Hiroshi Teshigahara Antonio Gaudí 1984

(rewatch)

Immersion into the classic score by Toru Takemitsu, Shinji Hori, and Kurôdo Môri always brings one into a complete dream state. This loving portrait of the work of Antoni Gaudí slowly shifts around and through these unique buildings, and is unlike anything this viewer has seen in terms of a documentary of an architect, artist, or designer. Such a great film.

Edgar G. Ulmer Detour 1945

Mel Brooks Young Frankenstein 1974

(rewatch)

Stunning actorshippe by Teri Garr, Gene Wilder, Peter Boyle, Marty Feldman, Cloris Leachman, Madeline Kahn and Kenneth Mars. Put together so very well by Brooks and his dp Gerald Hirschfeld, set decorators Dale Hennesy and Robert De Vestel, and editor John C. Howard. Always a pleasure to watch this one.

David Cronenberg The Fly 1986

(rewatch)

This period of Cronenberg never excited me as much as the earlier period (Shivers, Scanners, The Brood), but figured no harm in giving it another chance. Certainly not a bad film, enjoyed more this viewing.

Michael Winterbottom 24 Hour Party People 2002

(rewatch)

Another second go at a film that never seemed very enticing.

5.9.2020

John Cassavetes Faces 1968
(rewatch)
Cassavetes fills this most beautiful film with some of the dirtiest, classless businessman bottom feeders in Los Angeles, most valiantly exemplified by the great actor Val "I'm old enough to be your father" Avery. The scene when Seymour Cassel is first introduced is a perfect example of the magic of music, photography, editing, and actorshippe in cinema. Perfect damn film, Cassavetes could really put a film together like no one else.

Clint Eastwood The Bridges of Madison County 1995
(rewatch)
Solid Eastwood film. I very much like the story within the story, but on rewatch can do without the story itself. Streep and Eastwood give some beautiful performances.

5.10.2020
John Flynn Rolling Thunder 1977
(rewatch)
Some of these less showy 1970s films need two or three viewings to get into the groove, but generally pay off quite well after you put the time in. Not exactly sure why that is, perhaps it has to do with getting past the sometimes abstract narratives to a viewing position where mood and feeling are completely absorbed, not unlike meditation with the journey from non-comfort to bliss. Really love the transition from mellow beginnings in this work, to completely out of control. Second time seeing, and ready for a third.

Pietro Germi Divorce Italian Style 1961

Richard Brooks In Cold Blood 1967
(rewatch)
Heavy contrast black and white photography by Conrad L. Hall where blacks are completely without light. The documentary Visions of Light: The Art of Cinematography covers Hall's work brilliantly, centering on the end rain/tear section. Robert Blake and Scott Wilson give performances that are beyond natural, must have been a bit shocking at the time. I am use to Scott Wilson from The Walking Dead, but one can see him in The Right Stuff, Monster, The Host, The OA, In the Heat of the Night and many other films.

5.11.2020
William Wyler The Collector 1965
(rewatch)
Just one great film. Second or third time seeing, this time on the lovely Indicator blu ray. Putting my wife and myself on a Terrence Stamp kick.

Ben Stiller The Cable Guy 1996
Didn't mind this film but would have enjoyed it much more if Jim Carey had just toned it down a slight bit. One of those great actors that I often times don't enjoy watching, but still the film had some moments.

5.12.2020
Stephen Frears The Hit 1984
(rewatch)
For this viewer, The Hit is one of those nearly perfect films, that with its many facets disguised as being simple, and an extreme level of subtlety. The film is like a bit of cake in the fridge calling you in the night to take just one more bite. Strangely it has many similarities with another film that one could describe this way - Sexy Beast. Here we find Terence Stamp's character Willie Parker, after a 10 year sabbatical from the mobster life, on a trip to meet his maker. In a way the film mirrors Stamp's own life with his years away in India after a breakup with Jean Shrimpton.

5.13.2020
John Sayles The Secret of Roan Inish 1994
Finally getting to see this as it is streaming on amazon. Great film, John Lynch! One of the best Sayles films, in a career full of great films. When is there going to be more appreciation for this master?

Nanette Burstein, Brett Morgen The Kid Stays in the Picture 2002
Not in tune with the montage of heck style of this film.

Phil Joanou Three O'Clock High 1987
Shot at the stunning Art Deco Ogden High School in Utah. Strange atmosphere for the late 1980s. Film is a little too slow at times, but has a nice anti-80s edge, like the character instead of being content that the nice girl likes him, instead says "it is going to be a good day" when 2 other ladies give him attention, including a kiss from his rather attractive teacher.

5.14.2020
David Cronenberg Rapid 1977
(rewatch)
Many of these films I am rewatching lately I find I am enjoying much more than when I was in my twenties and thirties, and at that time I thought they were pretty good. Perhaps in those times of youth viewers are always expecting more, and perhaps too critical of what the viewer sees as not perfect. This is not really as high up on my Cronenberg list as Scanners or They Came from Within, but Jesus H Christ Cronenberg can really make a film with an uncomfortable atmosphere, totally unique to himself.

Harold Ramis Groundhog Day 1993
(rewatch)
Many rewatches seems fitting for this film, one of the few rom-coms I can sit back with. Bill Murray sure is one hell of a great actor.

5.15.2020
Alfred Hitchcock Lifeboat 1944
(rewatch)
Classic underappreciated Hitchcock film. Watched the masters of Cinema bly ray, much better image quality than my old VHS tape. Love the theme of the film that people appearing superhuman because they are so far ahead of everyone intellectually and physically, have just resorted to cheating and trickery. The blagards.

Ron Howard Parenthood 1989

Wolfgang Petersen In the Line of Fire 1993
(rewatch)
Not one of the best Clint Eastwood films, but pretty damn good.

5.16.2020
Sergio Leone The Good, the Bad and the Ugly 1966 Director's Cut
(rewatch)
Very familiar with the theatrical version, but had only seen the extended cut a couple of times. This time really noticing the difference in the sound design between the new and standard scenes. Also watched with the Christopher Frayling commentary, excellent and informative.

5.17.2020
Jonathan Glazer Birth 2004
(rewatch)
Such powerful camerawork by Harris Savides, and the way Glazer sets up these masterful shots is unreal. Great looking film, but the second viewing I wonder how I feel about the ending and the presence of the Anne Heche character, doesn't sit in my stomach well, but the awesomeness of the film makes me not really care in a way.

5.18.2020
Ingmar Bergman Autumn Sonata 1978
(rewatch)
Finally was able to purchase the Criterion box set Ingmar Bergman's Cinema, and plan on going through in the next 6 months. Randomly started with Autumn Sonata as I had only seen once and remember the Ingrid Bergman performance being spectacular. The extras have a Ingmar Bergman interview where he discusses her initial acting being too overboard, but how she was finally able to transition into this stunning performance that we see now, really not much like it.

John Carpenter They Live 1988
(rewatch)
Attempting to build a small blu ray library for myself, who knows how easy or hard it will be to see this films in the future with streaming? This of course being an essential film for my desert island cinema, and even though I have watched a couple dozen times since I was probably 8-10 years old, I was almost trembling with excitement to watch it again. Also watched a second time with Roddy Piper and John Carpenter commentary, on Shout! blu ray.

5.19.2020
Alfred Hitchcock Suspicion 1941
Joan Fontaine, Cary Grant, and the always wonderful Nigel Bruce. Worth seeing, but not an essential Hitch film.

Clint Eastwood Pale Rider 1985
(rewatch)
Great tag line; ... And Hell followed with him. Very nice to see Michael Moriarty here. I used to try and watch about 6-8 Eastwood films a year all in a row, and rotate them the next year slightly, so I would see most of his films about every 4 years. Hadn't really done that in the last 6 years so I am making up for it hopefully in the next few weeks by watching a ton. I could see the tone he gets not being for everyone, but it sure suits me fine and more than that, I find the atmosphere of his films really hypnotic and just always what I am in the mood for.

5.20.2020
Ann Turner Celia 1989
Beautiful Australian film somewhere between Alice in Wonderland and horror. The young actress Rebecca Smart is so good in this, top-notch performance.

Hal Ashby The Last Detail 1973
(rewatch)
Two films with Michael Moriarty in the last couple of days.

Woody Allen Irrational Man 2015
With Joaquin Phoenix, Emma Stone, and Parker Posey. Started really nice with Phoenix as a alcoholic professor, it would have been nice to hang out in that world, but the film gets too complicated with murder and very heavy handed with the music. Not without interest.

5.21.2020
Bruce Beresford Don’s Party 1976
70s Australian craziness.

John Ford Wagon Master 1950
(rewatch)
One of those lesser known Ford films, at least I always thought, that is right up there in his top ten.  This Ford film always stood out so much due to the pure darkness that enters the film as we encounter the Cleggs, makes you shake in your boots as you watch. Beautiful film shot by Bert Glennon, dark blacks and extreme contrast as I love.

Clint Eastwood Play Misty for Me 1971
(rewatch)
Eastwood's first directed film. Has a sort of b movie quality to it, which really gives a great quality to the film on a rewatch. Great film, Jessica Walter gives a wonderful performance. I never knew that was Don Siegel as the bar tender.

5.22.2020
Krzysztof Kieślowski The Scar (Blizna)1976
Kieślowski's first feature film. Seen in the Arrow blu ray boxset Cinema of Conflict: Four Films by Krzysztof Kieślowski, this film is so stunning and gorgeous visually and sonically you will find yourself gasping for air. The recurring sonic theme of a drone with foley-like percussive sound is most rewarding, and gives the film a real dark and pensive quality. There is also a moment when Stefan Bednarz is gazing at the magic hour landscape from his room, and the camera mimics his gaze but shifts with interruptions as he turns on the light to reveal himself reflected in the glass out of focus and abstracted. So lovely.

Krzysztof Kieślowski Concert Wishes 1967

Howard Hawks His Girl Friday 1940
(rewatch)
Rosalind Russell so very good in this film.

Jerzy Skolimowski The Shout 1978
(rewatch)
Based on a short story by Robert Graves. Have been watching this film a lot lately, such a great one, so bizarre! This and Moonlighting are two of my favorite films

5.23.2020
Clint Eastwood The Outlaw Josey Wales 1976
(rewatch)

One great Western by Clint.

Stuart Staples Minute Bodies: The Intimate World of F. Percy Smith 2016
Micro photography by F. Percy Smith along to Tindersticks album.

Alfred Hitchcock Vertigo 1958
(rewatch)

This along with Dirty Harry helped a young man move to San Francisco back in the good old days.

5.24.2020

Pedro Almodóvar Pain and Glory 2019

(rewatch)

Second time with this film, as excellent as the first time.

5.25.2020

Stephen Quay, Timothy Quay Street of Crocodiles 1986

(rewatch)

Terry Zwigoff Art School Confidential 2006

John Landis The Blues Brothers 1980

(rewatch)

These guys know how to treat Illinois Nazis.

Carl Reiner The Jerk 1979

(rewatch)

Had not seen this since I was a little fellow. Still love the stuff with M. Emmet Walsh; "die gas pumper".

5.26.2020

Bruce Beresford The Club 1980

Australian football film from the heavy Bruce Beresford. Joins the ranks of good sports films for people who hate sports.

Ivan Passer Cutter’s Way 1981

(rewatch)

Now that I am finally getting into buying blu rays, one of the better American companies has folded - Twilight Time. Picked up a few before they got super expensive, like Passer's fantastic 1981 John Heard and Jeff Bridges film.

Alan Parker Birdy 1984

One of those films it is hard to believe I have not seen, as it is a perfect blend of abstraction in cinema and narrative perfection. The section where we experience flight with Peter Gabriel's intense score truly took my breath away. Great film!

Gene Saks Cactus Flower 1969

(rewatch)

5.27.2020

Paul Schrader Blue Collar 1978

Very nice story and actors but somehow doesn't work for this viewer, but I think I am in the minority.

David Miller Lonely Are the Brave 1962

(rewatch)

One of the best Westerns for this viewer, and also a monumental Kirk Douglas film as well. Just so damn touching and deep, it is hard not to find tears in one's eyes.

5.28.2020

Sergio Leone A Fistful of Dollars 1964

A fond film school memory is riding my bicycle to a LaserDisc only store in Boston around 1994, I wish I could remember the name, and renting many LaserDiscs and making an occasional purchase. This store had every LaserDisc made and a very knowledgeable staff whom loved recommending films. Discovering the Criterion Collection discs was like a heathen discovering the holy bible. I would often go and rent discs and for films I loved or figured I would love I bought. One day I randomly picked up A Fistful of Dollars and Yojimbo and brought them up to the register to buy. The fellow working there said “oh very nice connection”. I didn’t understand the connection because I was a dumb kid, and asked him to explain and he said "this one (pointing to A Fistful) is a remake of this one (pointing to Yojimbo)". The concept of that was again like discovering some sacred text, and I went home and watched them both in the order they were made. Since then I have purchased the DVD and now he blu ray, and seen the film many times in between. Very nice to see this restored version which really has a different hue than I remember.

Carroll Ballard Fly Away Home 1996

(rewatch)

One of Ballard's best films, why is he not spoken of more? He is one of the masters. Unreal photography by Caleb Deschanel.

5.29.2020

Robert Altman California Split 1974

(rewatch)

The perfect film on degenerate gamblers.

5.30.2020

Bill L. Norton Cisco Pike 1972

(rewatch)

This and California Split were two films I had seen once or twice back in the VHS days and were huge influences on me as a film enthusiasts, but ones I really needed to see again.

5.31.2020

Wim Wenders The American Friend 1977

(rewatch)

An almost yearly rewatch. Perfect film from a perfect novel. Dennis Hopper references his early career in Westerns with his many western outfits, and even Nicholas Ray's film Rebel Without a Cause with many of his movements and gestures throughout. God what a film!

6.1.2020

Ted Kotcheff First Blood 1982

I thought I had seen this film many a couple of times as a kid, but realized I never had when watching it. The first half of this film is just about perfect, and the second half pretty damn good. Not surprising it is so good as Kotcheff directs, his 1971 film Wake in Fright is a truly great work of art.

Sergio Leone Once Upon a Time in the West 1968

(rewatch)

Perhaps the Leone film that is best suitable to watching over and over. Pure poetry. Growing up watching and loving so many Westerns, I get slightly down when my wife notices the only women in most women are prostitutes or victims. This film stands apart from that often times correct statement regarding Westerns, with the magnificent Claudia Cardinale.

John Schlesinger Far From the Madding Crowd 1967

Shot by Nicholas Roeg; light abstractions galore. Great film from one of the most loveliest of novels by Thomas Hardy.

6.2.2020

Joseph Losey The Boy with Green Hair 1948

(rewatch)

Strange film which features Dean Stockwell as a boy. I remembered nothing from my initial viewing 20 years ago. Not really a Losey film I would revisit.

John Schlesinger Darling 1965

(rewatch)

This great film I have seen many times, some viewings hating it, most loving it. Such an emotional roller coaster and so beautifully acted by Dirk Bogarde and Julie Christie. Depending on where you are in your life this film can have an odd effect. As I enter my years of nihilism, I have no emotional/psychological reason most of the time to like or dislike a film so it was pure bliss.

6.3.2020

Luchino Visconti Death in Venice 1971

(rewatch)

Read the wonderful Thomas Mann book in high school, and when moving to Boston saw this film playing at the Harvard Film Archive. I think the film went over this 19 year old's head but sure left an impression. Björn Andrésen, the young boy playing Tadzio, is the old cliff jumping man in Midsommar. Shot by the great Pasqualino De Santis (Romeo and Juliet, 8½, Lancelot du Lac, L'Argent, etc.)

Liliana Cavani The Night Porter 1974

More Dirk Bogarde, here with Charlotte Rampling in this ex Nazi film. Avoided watching this for almost 30 years now, not sure if I should have broken that avoidance.

6.4.2020

Peter Fonda The Hired Hand 1971

(rewatch)

Beautiful Arrow blu ray with features including Peter Fonda commentary. One of those films to watch over and over.

Glenn Gordon Caron Clean and Sober 1988

Michael Keaton plays a alcoholic drug addict in recovery with Morgan Freeman.

6.5.2020

John Woo Hard Target 1993

Jean-Claude Van Damme action film taking place in New Orleans with Yancy Butler and Lance Henriksen. Not bad, Woo shows the gravity of some of his virtuosic filmic "poetry of violence" which alone makes the film worth watching.

Josephine Decker Shirley 2020

Didn't like the film. Too much try this and try that in the visual presentation and the story was really not film worthy.

6.6.2020

Mike Leigh Career Girls 1997

(rewatch)

Second time seeing this. One of those Mike Leigh films that is not amazing but nonetheless worth watching as it is a Mike Leigh film.

Andrzej Żuławski Possession 1981

(rewatch)

Second time seeing this and the subtle qualities which come forth on a rewatch make the film much more serious than the initial viewing. If one considers Gena Rowlands crazy episode in A Woman Under the Influence to be possibly the best bit of actorshippe in film history, one would have to admit that Isabelle Adjani's abortion scene in the train station is not far behind. Not too many films like this one, it has the Eastern European style Surrealism, but made so much more plain and non-grandiose by Żuławski almost in the way Lynch did in America. Great film.

6.7.2020

Sidney Lumet Serpico 1973

(rewatch)

In high school I had a handful of VHS tapes including Godfather 1 & 2, Dog Day Afternoon, and Serpico. Apparently a big Al Pacino fan. One of those films I have probably seen more than 20 times, and a viewing is like hanging out with a good friend. Interesting time to see it with all the police violence happening. So fucked that nothing changes, that making change is so futile.

Charles Burnett My Brother’s Wedding 1983

Very much a huge Killer of Sheep enthusiast, one of those films that I get goosebumps when I hear the name or when it enters my head. Still have yet to watch all of Mr. Burnett's other films, and saw this on Criterion Channel. Pretty good film, love the way Burnett shows folk's personality in subtle ways, the character development, or almost lack of development but just character stasis. Very nice.

6.8.2020

Jocelyn Moorhouse Proof 1991

Solid 1990s Australian film with Hugo Weaving, Russell Crowe, and Geneviève Picot, with Weaving playing a blind photographer. Great concept, very enjoyable film.

Donald Cammell White of the Eye 1987

Strange serial killer film with David Keith and Cathy Moriarty. Certainly not without interest.

Hal Ashby Coming Home 1978

Jesus what a film, and amazing performances by Jane Fonda, Jon Voight, and Bruce Dern all photographed by Haskell Wexler. Great story as well.

John Flynn Rolling Thunder 1977

(rewatch)

Double feature on post Vietnam films. Third time watching this film, which is quickly becoming one of my favorite 70s films. So gritty but smooth as can be at the same time.

6.9.2020

John Ford Rio Grande 1950

(rewatch)

Watched twice, once with Stephen Prince commentary on the Masters of Cinema blu ray. Not a Ford film I love, but it is growing on me the more I watch (three times the last couple of months).

Otto Preminger Bonjour Tristesse 1958

Just one of the most flat films I have seen, all round flat.

6.10.2020

David Worth, Mark DiSalle Kickboxer 1989

Another Jean-Claude Van Damme film. Not bad.

Tom Huckabee, Kent Smith Taking Tiger Mountain Revisited 1982/2016

Early performance by Bill Paxton. This film would have been more my thing at age 20, perhaps a bit too experimental for me now. Great looking and Paxton has a few disorienting sex scene. Worth watching.

6.10.2020

John Sayles Sunshine State 2002