Despite my love of film, I do not much care for certain aspects of Oscar season.
Yes, I watch every year. Yes, I appreciate different parts of the telecast. I am also in the minority in that I have seen many, if not all, of the films in competition in the main catagories.
But still, the reduction of the cinematic arts to a horserace does bother me.
I guess it is the same as when a yearlong church attendee is crowded out on Christmas eve. Several questions are natural, inevitable: Who are you people? What are doing here? Why do you care about this now?
I must admit I tire of conversations with people who are still trying to make the time to see No Country for Old Men, There Will Be Blood, and so on. What more can I say to them except that these films are of quality and are worth their time? Box office returns indicate that they won't make it out, may never make it out (give or take Juno). But still they must talk to me, since I am the "movie guy."
Now granted, since most people now see films via little red envelopes, the Oscars becomes a reason to rent. It is also widely assumed that films make more money at the box office after winning an award (I think the truth of that bit of folklore is best reflected in the sentiments expressed here).
Maybe I should just stop being so miffed about all this and be glad that people are talking about something besides for sports for a change around the ol' watercooler. Each year, it is certainly an uncomfortable fifteen minutes in the spotlight for me, but maybe more people will see better films as a result. Or maybe not.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Fims Viewed (January 2008)
You're Gonna Miss Me
Seconds
The Golden Compass
The Mirror (Tarkovsky)
Sabotage
Ann Everton- Short Films Collection
The Lady Vanishes
Rebecca
Dinosaurs Alive 3-D
There Will Be Blood
The Diving Bell and the Butterfly
Suspicion
Les Enfants Terribles
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Key
The Charles
The Landmark
The Senator/ The Rotunda
Other (DVD, BMA, Suburban Multiplex)
TOTAL: 13 (10 in movie theaters)
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NOTES: The month began with another great free screening at the BMA (Frankenheimer's Seconds, which made it clear once again that the fact that I have never seen the original Manchurian Candidate is a serious lapse). Be sure to make a note of tonight's free screening at 8:30 of Xala, which was written up this week in the City Paper without the usual sneer or smirk.
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I did not make it out much this month, either renting or heading to my local house. I have been in lock-step with the Hitchcock revivals, filling in blanks or re-watching old favorites, and have enjoyed once again the Charles' chronological survey of a filmmaker's work (I gained much from series on Ozu, Kurosawa, and Bergman).
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I did enjoy watching the collected works of local filmmaker Ann Everton. The collection is available as a free rental at the Charles Village Video Americain, and I would say to check it out if you are up for an adventure or simply watch some of the films online.
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I don't think there is much to say about Film Distribution in General this month. I did miss Youth Without Youth's local bow, but for the most part the game has been to have as many Oscar-nominated films at your theater as you can manage (I got a kick out of the Charles' low-tech message board list in the lobby as a response to the Landmark's ads trumpeting thier nominated films). I also always enjoy when the Landmark is playing the same film as the "dollar movie;" this time it's No Country for Old Men that is unspooling at both the high and low end of the film landscape.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Best Films of 2007 (for cash)
I submitted this list to the Film Comment 2007 readers poll in the hopes of winning some Criterion Collection DVDs. I am not a fan of lists like the one that I have composed. In my notes below, also submitted, I assumed the voice of what a person from New York City would assume a person from Baltimore would talk like. I do hope they find my comments delightfully provincial and earthy.
1. There Will Be Blood
2. Syndromes and a Century
3. No Country for Old Men
4. Killer of Sheep
5. Starting Out in the Evening
6. Lady Chatterley
7. The Darjeeling Limited
8. Zodiac
9. Margot at the Wedding
10. La Vie En Rose
11. The Lives of Others
12. Golden Door
13. Black Book
14. Juno
15. Black Snake Moan
16. Control
17. Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
18. Inland Empire
19. Lars and the Real Girl
20. Michael Clayton
Notes: Well, there are a lot of films in my top twenty in which people "kept it gangsta," whereby they exacted revenge or commited horrible acts in the name of selfishness, competition, or justice ("There Will Be Blood", "Before the Devil"). Others "kept it gangsta" simply by getting on stage night after night ("La Vie En Rose"). To choose some of these films may lower my "cred" with certain cineastes ("Black Snake Moan," "Margot at the Wedding"), but I imagine other choices may please them ("Lady Chatterley," "Golden Door"). Ultimately, I do not care. I live in Baltimore and I take what I can get from our local film houses (Hey, I managed to catch "Syndromes" twice which ain't half-bad). I had to cut a few well-done films ("Sweeney Todd," "Rescue Dawn," "Superbad") in favor of others, but oh well. That just serves as more proof that it has been a good year overall.
1. There Will Be Blood
2. Syndromes and a Century
3. No Country for Old Men
4. Killer of Sheep
5. Starting Out in the Evening
6. Lady Chatterley
7. The Darjeeling Limited
8. Zodiac
9. Margot at the Wedding
10. La Vie En Rose
11. The Lives of Others
12. Golden Door
13. Black Book
14. Juno
15. Black Snake Moan
16. Control
17. Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
18. Inland Empire
19. Lars and the Real Girl
20. Michael Clayton
Notes: Well, there are a lot of films in my top twenty in which people "kept it gangsta," whereby they exacted revenge or commited horrible acts in the name of selfishness, competition, or justice ("There Will Be Blood", "Before the Devil"). Others "kept it gangsta" simply by getting on stage night after night ("La Vie En Rose"). To choose some of these films may lower my "cred" with certain cineastes ("Black Snake Moan," "Margot at the Wedding"), but I imagine other choices may please them ("Lady Chatterley," "Golden Door"). Ultimately, I do not care. I live in Baltimore and I take what I can get from our local film houses (Hey, I managed to catch "Syndromes" twice which ain't half-bad). I had to cut a few well-done films ("Sweeney Todd," "Rescue Dawn," "Superbad") in favor of others, but oh well. That just serves as more proof that it has been a good year overall.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Film Exhibtion in Baltimore in General- December 2007
First, an apology for the delay. It has been hard to find the time.
December offered a ridiculous smorgashboard of films, the smaller films that could and the boundary-pushing ones that did not make the leap to a larger audience. I am a fan of both, so I was well pleased just trying to keep up with all the offerings. I did think it was a bit smug to list the number of the golden globe nominations next to the films playing at the Landmark, but I think all involved with that debacle wound up with egg on their face.
In the end, it seems as if the Charles, the Senator, and the Landmark walked away from the season with cash in hand. I was all over town, enjoying the ride. I even made it out into the county to enjoy the godless pleasures of the Golden Compass, which I enjoyed thoroughly.
I have yet to see There Will Be Blood, a fact that astonishes many close friends. I am looking forward to the film, and hope to see past the hype into what one can only hope is a truly great American film (pans aside). This weekend should put a fix on that, if I can spare the two hours and forty minutes required.
Although some of the more adventurous among our ranks have had their hackles raised by what they perceive to be a "safe" choice for a series, I have been personally enjoying the Charles theater's 25 film Hitchcock revival, which will run until sometime in the future. This week's selection, The Lady Vanishes, was an unexpected delight (despite the obvious politcizing towards the end of the film). It will play again on Thursday at nine, and I say find the time.
Speaking now of film rental, one video store has closed, while another has opened. I must mark the passing of the great Baltimore County-based chain Movie Time Video. Their stock was remarkably deep and varied, and they provided many an enjoyable evening of strolling through their stacks to take home another find during my college years. The next time you check your Netflix cue, remember what we are losing, chain by chain, store by store. Does anyone know if any of the locations are still open? Google can give one false hope.
On a more upbeat note, Vanguard Video has opened its doors in Mount Vernon. The store is smallish, but I can attest that it is "all killer, no filler." The store has trimmed the fat and is brimming with Criterion discs and Kung Fu flicks. I would say to stop by if you can navigate past the ongoing construction. Information including hours and location can be found here.
Well, that's it for now. I promise more content soon. I do wish to avoid being one of those bloggers who starts out all fired up and stops posting. We shall see... I shall at least add some useful links in the near future.
December offered a ridiculous smorgashboard of films, the smaller films that could and the boundary-pushing ones that did not make the leap to a larger audience. I am a fan of both, so I was well pleased just trying to keep up with all the offerings. I did think it was a bit smug to list the number of the golden globe nominations next to the films playing at the Landmark, but I think all involved with that debacle wound up with egg on their face.
In the end, it seems as if the Charles, the Senator, and the Landmark walked away from the season with cash in hand. I was all over town, enjoying the ride. I even made it out into the county to enjoy the godless pleasures of the Golden Compass, which I enjoyed thoroughly.
I have yet to see There Will Be Blood, a fact that astonishes many close friends. I am looking forward to the film, and hope to see past the hype into what one can only hope is a truly great American film (pans aside). This weekend should put a fix on that, if I can spare the two hours and forty minutes required.
Although some of the more adventurous among our ranks have had their hackles raised by what they perceive to be a "safe" choice for a series, I have been personally enjoying the Charles theater's 25 film Hitchcock revival, which will run until sometime in the future. This week's selection, The Lady Vanishes, was an unexpected delight (despite the obvious politcizing towards the end of the film). It will play again on Thursday at nine, and I say find the time.
Speaking now of film rental, one video store has closed, while another has opened. I must mark the passing of the great Baltimore County-based chain Movie Time Video. Their stock was remarkably deep and varied, and they provided many an enjoyable evening of strolling through their stacks to take home another find during my college years. The next time you check your Netflix cue, remember what we are losing, chain by chain, store by store. Does anyone know if any of the locations are still open? Google can give one false hope.
On a more upbeat note, Vanguard Video has opened its doors in Mount Vernon. The store is smallish, but I can attest that it is "all killer, no filler." The store has trimmed the fat and is brimming with Criterion discs and Kung Fu flicks. I would say to stop by if you can navigate past the ongoing construction. Information including hours and location can be found here.
Well, that's it for now. I promise more content soon. I do wish to avoid being one of those bloggers who starts out all fired up and stops posting. We shall see... I shall at least add some useful links in the near future.
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
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.
Sunday, December 30, 2007
Top Five Movies about Iraq that I didn't See in 2007
Well, it has become obligatory that we take our experiences and rank them in a subjective order so that others can "discover" them. Here is my attempt at such a list.
2007 featured a lot of films unspooling which attempted to deal with our new long national nightmare, not be confused with the old one. When these films first started to appear, I would go and see them, leaving the theater feeling all topical and edgy. But then I saw Gunner Palace and realized you can make a terrible movie out of a terrible war very easily.
I did not attend these films as I do not think that popular entertainments about such topics have much of a chance of transcending the moment in which they were created. I will stick to Frontline, Bill Moyer's Journal, and other options to continue to explore the issues surrounding our nation's fantastic blunder.
1. Redacted
This Brian De Palma film, savaged by Film Comment, was given only a six day bow at the Landmark. It may represent the film industry hitting rock bottom when it comes to its depiction of the war. I would not know, since I avoided it as one avoids an open sewer.
2. No End in Sight
Now, this one I should have been seen, and I may still rent it and digest it (with the help of some form of hard liquor). This lauded documentary, about our new eternal war in the Middle East and the corporations sponsoring it, hit Baltimore in the dog days of August. At that time, I was confronting another cycle in the edu-mill. There I was, sweating to death, at a historic personal low, and Baltimore's film exhibitors ask me to go see a movie called "No End in Sight?" Sorry, guys.
3. Rendition
Why is Reese Witherspoon so emotively overacting in all the trailers for this film? I never found out. A serious and depressing topic made into a glossy Hollywood film. I chose not to Pick Flick, and I was not alone. This was one was technially not about Iraq, but what the heck...
4. In the Valley of Elah
Paul Haggis received an Oscar for his last film, which it did not deserve (ask anyone outside of LA). To not go to this film not only said you don't want to see any more lame movies about a deadly serious war, it also allowed you to have revenge on Paul Haggis. I, for one, could not pass that up.
5. The Kingdom
Jamie Foxx and the gang cook up another hot and sexy thriller, this time based on current events. This is the kind of film I often attend with my father on a lark, and even he didn't want to see this one.
2007 featured a lot of films unspooling which attempted to deal with our new long national nightmare, not be confused with the old one. When these films first started to appear, I would go and see them, leaving the theater feeling all topical and edgy. But then I saw Gunner Palace and realized you can make a terrible movie out of a terrible war very easily.
I did not attend these films as I do not think that popular entertainments about such topics have much of a chance of transcending the moment in which they were created. I will stick to Frontline, Bill Moyer's Journal, and other options to continue to explore the issues surrounding our nation's fantastic blunder.
1. Redacted
This Brian De Palma film, savaged by Film Comment, was given only a six day bow at the Landmark. It may represent the film industry hitting rock bottom when it comes to its depiction of the war. I would not know, since I avoided it as one avoids an open sewer.
2. No End in Sight
Now, this one I should have been seen, and I may still rent it and digest it (with the help of some form of hard liquor). This lauded documentary, about our new eternal war in the Middle East and the corporations sponsoring it, hit Baltimore in the dog days of August. At that time, I was confronting another cycle in the edu-mill. There I was, sweating to death, at a historic personal low, and Baltimore's film exhibitors ask me to go see a movie called "No End in Sight?" Sorry, guys.
3. Rendition
Why is Reese Witherspoon so emotively overacting in all the trailers for this film? I never found out. A serious and depressing topic made into a glossy Hollywood film. I chose not to Pick Flick, and I was not alone. This was one was technially not about Iraq, but what the heck...
4. In the Valley of Elah
Paul Haggis received an Oscar for his last film, which it did not deserve (ask anyone outside of LA). To not go to this film not only said you don't want to see any more lame movies about a deadly serious war, it also allowed you to have revenge on Paul Haggis. I, for one, could not pass that up.
5. The Kingdom
Jamie Foxx and the gang cook up another hot and sexy thriller, this time based on current events. This is the kind of film I often attend with my father on a lark, and even he didn't want to see this one.
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Quick Take- Sweeney Todd
I have just returned from a sneak preview screening of Sweeney Todd at the Senator theater, and I can verify a few things. If you hear "Tim Burton" and "Johnny Depp" in the same sentence and have no more questions, you will not be dissatisfied by this film. The sullen goths of our nation will packing the mall cineplexes without a doubt starting Friday (this is why they will briefly abandon their natural habitat).
However, if you are a newly-minted fan of the Johnny Depp is hot variety, let me warn you: there will be blood. Lots of it. One fellow previewer commented that she would have never seen this film if it wasn't for free, I assume due to the gore-level. Finally, a musical for the Saw generation!
But how will the American popcorn purchasers (horror die-hards aside) react to such a film? It seems that Hollywood is betting that our nation's mood is best reflected by a holiday movie season filled with murderous barbers, apocalyptic visions of the last man on earth, and a fantasy epic initally penned by an Athiest. In my mind, there is a connection between the recession-bound Reagan-hangover late 80s and the dark times in various media (See Batman, Watchmen, Robocop, etc...), and I theorize that there may be a similar link here. Since the weak performance of one of these films at the box office, I do wonder if Hollywood is in the right place at the right time with this.
And what of the film, finally? It resonated with me and I recommend it (screenings begin at the Charles on Friday, a suprise to me, as I envisoned trudging out to the county to see this one). I feel that my deep appreciation of the film may have something to do with being raised on the stage by a musical-loving mother and my subsequent rejection of that world. This is a film both in tune with the history and tradition of the musical but also pushing hard against it. Outside of watching a college production of Assassins, I am not that familiar with Soundheim, and I walked away thinking of Victorian penny deadfuls, Poe's more clever "perfect crime" short stories, and the saga of Jack the Ripper, especially as brought to life by Alan Moore's From Hell (as opposed to the film by the Hughes brothers). How Soundheim had the audacity, nerve, gall and (dare I say it?) genius to create the source material for this film is beyond me.
Well, that is it for now. I am looking forward to seeing many more films this month, and will be adding a top five list or two to the site soon.
However, if you are a newly-minted fan of the Johnny Depp is hot variety, let me warn you: there will be blood. Lots of it. One fellow previewer commented that she would have never seen this film if it wasn't for free, I assume due to the gore-level. Finally, a musical for the Saw generation!
But how will the American popcorn purchasers (horror die-hards aside) react to such a film? It seems that Hollywood is betting that our nation's mood is best reflected by a holiday movie season filled with murderous barbers, apocalyptic visions of the last man on earth, and a fantasy epic initally penned by an Athiest. In my mind, there is a connection between the recession-bound Reagan-hangover late 80s and the dark times in various media (See Batman, Watchmen, Robocop, etc...), and I theorize that there may be a similar link here. Since the weak performance of one of these films at the box office, I do wonder if Hollywood is in the right place at the right time with this.
And what of the film, finally? It resonated with me and I recommend it (screenings begin at the Charles on Friday, a suprise to me, as I envisoned trudging out to the county to see this one). I feel that my deep appreciation of the film may have something to do with being raised on the stage by a musical-loving mother and my subsequent rejection of that world. This is a film both in tune with the history and tradition of the musical but also pushing hard against it. Outside of watching a college production of Assassins, I am not that familiar with Soundheim, and I walked away thinking of Victorian penny deadfuls, Poe's more clever "perfect crime" short stories, and the saga of Jack the Ripper, especially as brought to life by Alan Moore's From Hell (as opposed to the film by the Hughes brothers). How Soundheim had the audacity, nerve, gall and (dare I say it?) genius to create the source material for this film is beyond me.
Well, that is it for now. I am looking forward to seeing many more films this month, and will be adding a top five list or two to the site soon.
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