Films Viewed (December 2007)

Je Taime, Je Taime

What Would Jesus Buy?

Strange Culture

SLC Punk

Last Year at Marienbad

Starting Out in the Evening

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street

The Walker

Blade Runner: The Final Cut

Margot at the Wedding

Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story

Sunshine State

Juno

Superbad (Extended and Unrated)

Fanny and Alexander: The Televison Version (Act One)

Romance and Cigarettes

Charlie Wilson's War

The 39 Steps

The Great Debaters

The Savages

Salon Kitty

Atonement

Key

The Charles

The Landmark

The Senator/ The Rotunda

Other (DVD, BMA, Suburban Multiplex)

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TOTAL: 22 (15 in movie theaters)

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NOTES: First of all... what a run! I usually peak around 18, but pressed on to 22 thanks to the holiday break and several films I sincerely wanted to see, playing now in area theaters. The films are listed in chronological order of viewing, so the last seven or so were the ones that lead to the bum's rush, most of which are still going strong locally The suprisingly pleasing Romance and Cigarettes is gone now, but I would say to consider the DVD when it arrives.

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I have just returned from the free screening of John Frankenheimer's Seconds at the BMA. Eric has once again picked a winner, and it seems as if people are making a habit out of attending (screenings are held on the first Thursday of every month). I wish him continued sucess there, and look forward to the upcoming offerings.

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Last month's BMA screening lead to the viewing of another film by Alain Resnais, Last Year at Marienbad, and after the formal inventiveness and cold beauty of that film, I have added him to the list of directors to explore when haunting the stacks at Video Americain.

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In terms of disagreements with the critical consensus, I enjoyed Noah Baumbach's Margot at the Wedding. I certainly would not give it an "F," as Sun critic Michael Sragow did. Yes, there were nods to Bergman, and not everything worked. But why not take risks as opposed to re-creating your previous hit?

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I could go on, but will stop here. As always, let me know if you would like to hear more about any of the film's screened. One word of caution: The Savages is pitch black, and is nowhere near as gently humorous as the trailer makes it out to be. Still worth seeing, to be sure, but don't go if you "just want to laugh." For that, I would highly recommend Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, a film that has not done well nationally, for reasons unknown. In that instance, by the way, I am on the same page with Mr. Sragow, a critic I respect even when I disagree with him, unlike the critics of some other local publications.

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Next up, film distribution in Baltimore in general in December. Sorry about the dotted lines. Blogger keeps erasing my paragraph breaks for no discernable reason.