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The National Film Registry

January 4, 2012 By 13 Comments

Last week, the Library of Congress’ National Film Preservation Board announced the latest 25 films to be added to National Film Registry for being “culturally, historically or aesthetically” significant. ”

More significantly, once a title is added to the registry, the Library makes every effort to preserve the film for future generations to enjoy. The full list of films run the gambit from full, feature length films, short subjects, documentary and experimental works.

When I was younger, I was obsessed with this list; year after year I would go about composing my list and submitting it to the Library for consideration. I also used this list as a checklist for films that I must see.

It has been several years since I have done that but it is still pretty cool to see what the selections that are made from year to year.

The Class of 2011 is as follows:

  1. Allures (1961)
  2. Bambi (1942)
  3. The Big Heat (1953)
  4. A Computer Animated Hand (1972)
  5. Crisis: Behind A Presidential Commitment (1963)
  6. The Cry of the Children (1912)
  7. A Cure for Pokeritis (1912)
  8. El Mariachi (1992)
  9. Faces (1968)
  10. Fake Fruit Factory (1986)
  11. Forrest Gump (1994)
  12. Growing Up Female (1971)
  13. Hester Street (1975)
  14. I, an Actress (1977)
  15. The Iron Horse (1924)
  16. The Kid (1921)
  17. The Lost Weekend (1945)
  18. The Negro Soldier (1944)
  19. Nicholas Brothers Family Home Movies (1930s-40s)
  20. Norma Rae (1979)
  21. Porgy and Bess (1959)
  22. The Silence of the Lambs (1991)
  23. Stand and Deliver (1988)
  24. Twentieth Century (1934)
  25. War of the Worlds (1953)

 

Click here to view the complete list (from 1989-Present).

If you get a moment, take a look at the list. After looking checking it out, ask yourself: What films would you like to see on the list? your voice can be heard – nominations are open to the public. If you are passionate enough about a film not on the list, you can nominate your film by going to this site.

But before you go and try to nominate The Dark Knight, know that you can’t, well not at least for 2019 – the nominated film has to be at least 10 years old.

 

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Trick or Treat …

October 28, 2011 By 10 Comments

This year let’s go for the TREAT, shall we? In previous posts I have mentioned My Tales of Terror, and recommended Cat People. This year I am in a rather jovial mood, so I have decided to take a look at the “lighter” side of cinematic Halloween fare …

I Married a Witch (1942) Fun Veronica Lake vehicle.

Arsenic and Old Lace (1944) – previously mentioned in Cool Off with the Classics meme. If the word ZANY was ever used in the right way, it would have to be to describe this film.

Ghostbusters (1983) Who ya gonna call? I remember seeing this back in the day 1.5 in the theater. This was at a time when you did not get kicked out of the movie theater. I remember so clearly. Halfway through the second showing my brothers, my cousin and I snuck into see the end of Star Trek: The Search for Spock.

The Little Shop of Horrors (both versions!) The 1950′s version is worth seeing merely for the glimpse of a young Jack Nicholson!

Wallace and Gromit: Curse of the Were-Rabbit (2005) - another one that has gotten a previous mention on my site.

The Devil and Daniel Webster – part of Double Feature Theatre. Lesson: NEVER make a deal with the devil, especially now that Daniel Webster is around to help argue your case!

The Trouble with Harry – this list would not have been complete without a nod to Alfred Hitchcock! This is one of the lesser-known outings from the Master of Suspense. It is equal parts funny and macabre. As the poster explains, this is quite an unexpected offering from Hitchcock.

 

Then of course there is the Rocky Horror Picture Show, which I will not count because … I have not seen it all the way through in one sitting. But I have seen the Glee episode. Same goes for Shaun of the Dead. 

What films for Halloween do you really enjoy (in the fun way)? Please add your comments below.

 

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Coming to a (TV) Screen Near You (Whitechapel)

October 12, 2011 By 7 Comments

For the record, I am an unabashed ‘fan’ of the mystery surrounding the Whitechapel Murders involving the infamous, still unidentified “Jack The Ripper.” Well saying ‘fan’ may be a bit of a stretch. I have read several novels and short stories (including the fantastic Yours Truly, Jack the Ripper, written by Robert Bloch in 1943). In fact, a seminal childhood memories is of my grammar school friend reading this story to me over the phone one Friday afternoon. This was probably the moment which sparked my “Jack the Ripper” interest.

More recently on a trip to London, me and my friends stopped by the Sherlock Holmes Museum and among other forms of kitsch and paraphernalia, there was a sweet collection of bits related to the crimes committed in 1888.

This fascination goes beyond the printed page and jumps on to the silver screen. Among my favorite ‘Ripper-themed’ films are:

  • The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog (1923) dir by Hitchcock
  • The Lodger (1944) starring George Sanders and Merle Oberon
  • Man in the Attic (1953) starring Jack Palance
  • Time After Time (1979) starring Malcolm McDowell, David Warner and Mary Steenburgen
  • From Hell (2001) based on the Alan Moore graphic novel and directed by the Hughes Brothers. Starring Johnny Depp, Heather Graham and Ian Holm

So you are probably wondering where this all leading. While watching Law and Order: UK  as I do on Wednesday evenings, there was a preview for a ‘new’ series coming to BBC America. It is called Whitechapel  and it is premiering here in the States on October 26th.

The plot is pretty basic – in modern day London, there is a killer on the loose whose M.O. mirrors that of the Victorian-era serial murderer. Here are the opening credits.

So what do you think? Is this something that you are interesting in watching this?

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Photographer as a Profession (in the Movies)

July 26, 2011 By 6 Comments

I am a self-professed shutterbug. As much as I love movies, I list photography as another one of my main interests and hobbies. It is on that basis that I decided to create this list. My other inspiration for this post was my recent viewing of the slightly disturbing thriller Peeping Tom where our “antihero” is photography hobbyist; throughout the film his primary work is in the production of tawdry movies.  Anyway, a discussion of that film is an entirely different post for another day.

Here I would like to focus on films featuring photographers that have caught my attention over the years.

  • Blow – Up (1966) Not sure if this is really a favorite of mine; saw it in film class and it sticks in my find as still a very disturbing film. I do not know if I love or loathe what I saw on screen.
  • The Bridges of Madison County (1995) Lovely story in which the career of photographer is so romantic I wanted to go out to Madison County (or somewhere similar) and start photographing covered bridges.
  • Rear Window (1954) Another awesome thriller that is about voyeurism; the irony of course being that LB Jeffries’ profession of looking through a lens and observing others is juxtaposed with his looking outside his window
  • Funny Face (1957) Film in which I officially fell in love with Paris and made it a life’s mission to visist “The City of Lights”/”The City of Love”

  • The Truth About Cats & Dogs (1996) A cute film where the male protagonist is a photographer – that is why this makes the list. There was nothing exceptional about his photography except one can say it was integral to the plot’s development.

What are your favorite films that feature shutterbugs? Did I miss something?

 

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My Ten Favourite Firsts

July 15, 2011 By 12 Comments

Thanks to Anna at 5plitreel.com, here is another film questionnaire. I was not sure that I would be able to get to this so soon, but a sleepless night and some time on my hands has afforded me this opportunity. Hope you enjoy!

My Favourite Directorial Debut

The Night of the Hunter, Charles Laughton

Sadly his first and only directorial outing

 

My Favourite Acting Debut

Kate Winslet in Heavenly Creatures

 

The First Movie Theatre Experience That Moved Me


The Color Purple

 

The First Film Character I Had the Hots For


Luke Skywalker in Star Wars

 

The First Film Character That Annoyed The Hell Out Of Me

Crumb (Jabba’s annoying laughing sidekick), Return of the Jedi


 

The First French Film I Saw


The Red Balloon

 

The First Asian Film I Saw

I think it was The King of Masks

 

The First Movie Poster on my Wall


Rebel Without a Cause

 

The First Time I Thought The Film Was Better Than The Book

Not sure I have had this experience yet; the imagination is such a powerful thing.

 

The First Time I Realized Robert De Niro is a Genius


Midnight Run

Well that’s me. Let me know what you think? How about you?

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Favorite Films Set in Berlin

July 14, 2011 By 9 Comments

 

As many readers may know, I have recently returned from a trip to London. A natural consequence of my excursions is a renewed wanderlust – no sooner am I back in the States am I contemplating my next trip.

After some deliberation and consideration I have decided on Central Europe. In anticipation of this trip, I have put together a list of my favorite films from each of the cities I plan to visit. Over the next several months I will compile lists of my favorite films from each of these locales.

The first location I will focus on is Berlin. The criteria I have used in the case of Berlin is a bit loose in that the film only needed to be set in Berlin and not necessarily shot there – although I think that at minimum that criteria is met.

Without further ado .. here are my SIX films (stills below):

M (Fritz Lang, 1931) German Expressionism at its finest.

 

A Foreign Affair (Billy Wilder, 1948) Fine example of what a romantic comedy should be. The film was principally shot in Soviet occupied zone (source: Wikipedia). Features one of my favorite leading ladies of the era, Jean Arthur.

 

The Big Lift (George Seaton, 1950) As the title suggests, the Big Lift  takes places during the Berlin Air Lift (1948-9). Shot on location in Berlin, really seems to capture the scale of devastation and the recovery efforts made post-war.

 

Torn Curtain (Alfred Hitchcock, 1966) While not one of his finest outings, there are some great set pieces. One that immediately springs to mind is the scene where Paul Newman and a civilian go about the very difficult task of killing a baddie. According to Hitchcock, he wanted to show just how difficult it is to kill someone. This also marks the one-time-only pairing of one of my favorite directors and actors (Newman).

 

Bourne Supremacy (Paul Greengrass, 2004) A frenetically paced spy-story. In many ways, breathed new life into a somewhat stale genre.

 

The Lives of Others or Das Leben der Anderen in German (Florian Henckel von Donnersmarck, 2006) Don’t know what to say about this film except that I really really liked it. It was my first glimpse into seeing what life in GDR was probably like.

What do you think of the list? Is there anything that you think I left out? And before anyone says Wings of Desire or Run Lola Run please note I have not seen either (I know, for shame!)

 

UPDATE: Honorable mention to The Edukators and The Baader Meinhof Complex

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Favorite 15 Films Set in London

June 9, 2011 By 10 Comments

What can I say I like numbers that round off to 5′s and 10′s and I LOVE London. So in “honor” of my forthcoming trip to the British capital, I have put together 15 of my favorite films set in London. Please note I am not saying these are the BEST films set in London; they just happen to be my favorite ones.

  1. Eastern Promises
  2. Sherlock Holmes
  3. Wimbledon
  4. Love Actually
  5. About a Boy
  6. Midnight Lace
  7. The Bank Job
  8. Bend it Like Beckham
  9. Bridget Jones’s Diary
  10. Children of Men
  11. V for Vendetta
  12. Gaslight
  13. Notting Hill
  14. Dial M for Murder
  15. (on the fence) From Hell – mainly because while I do not consider myself a huge horror fan however, I am fascinated with the “Jack the Ripper” story and this movie satisfies that interest more so than any other narrative film that I have seen out there.

For a list of more films set in and around London, check out the Wikipedia entry.

What are some of yours?

 

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Random Movie Questionnaire (37 Questions)

June 7, 2011 By 11 Comments

This is getting kind of fun. I love answering movie questions because it really gets people to know who I am as a blogger and my film sensibilities.

This questionnaire in particular (via in so many words …) is a really great one in so much as it is a nice mixture of old and new.

1) Depending on your mood, your favorite or least-loved movie cliche.

As much of a romantic as I am when it comes to my movies I do have a love/hate relationship with the “happily ever after” cliche. It is on one hand satisfying and the other can be ridiculously unrealistic and trite.

2) Regardless of whether you eventually caught up with it, which film classic have you lied about seeing in the past?

I don’t lie; if I haven’t seen it I tell you and wait to see your expression :)

3) Roland Young or Edward Everett Horton?

Gonna go with Uncle Willie (Roland Young) from The Philadelphia Story

4) Second favorite Frank Tashlin movie?

5) Clockwork Orange – yes or no?

No. Only because I have not seen it – I think I may have to read the book first though.

6) Best/Favorite use of gender dysphoria in a horror film?

Norman Bates in Psycho? Or is that a severe Oedipal Complex? (Leaning towards the latter).

7) Melanie Laurent or Blake Lively?

Melanie Laurent. Her IMDB filmography looks more interesting.

8 ) Best Movie of 2011 (so far…?)

At the time of this writing I would say Jane Eyre. May change when I see Midnight in Paris this weekend.

9) Favorite screen performer with a noticeable facial deformity.

Cannot think of one of the top of my head.

10) Lars Van Trier?

Given his latest antics I would say no. But at one time I thought I liked Breaking the Waves. A moment of madness, really.

11) Timothy Carey or Henry Silva?

Henry Silva

12) Low-profile writer who deserves more attention from critics and/or audiences.

See #21

13) Movie most recently viewed theatrically, DVD, Blue-ray or streaming.

X-Men First Class

14) Favorite film noir villain.

MALE: Harry Lime as portrayed by Orson Welles in The Third Man (could not help but love his villainy)

FEMALE: Ellen Berent as portrayed by Gene Tierney in Leave Her to Heaven (just down right evil).

15) Best thing about streaming movies.

Instant gratification!

16) Fay Spain or France Nuyen?

France Nuyen

17) Favorite Kirk Douglas film that isn’t SPARTACUS?

Detective Story – if haven’t seen this film – see it!

18) Favorite movie about cars.

Don’t have one. But my favorite car in a movie is the car Grace Kelly drove in To Catch a Thief


19) Audrey Totter or Marie Windsor?

Marie Windsor – Grand Dame of “film noir”

20) Existing Stephen King movie adaptation that could use a remake/re-boot or overhaul?

Too many to name; there are several lame adaptations needing an overhaul.

21) Low-profile director who deserves more attention from critics and/or audiences.

I will focus on audiences – critics are usually students of cinematic history and really appreciated Preston Sturges’ contribution to American cinema but not many contemporary audiences know who he is.

22) What actor that you previously enjoyed has become distracting or a self-parody?

Nicholas Cage – lost patience after Leaving Las Vegas

23) Best place in the world to see a movie?

At home in the dark with grandma’s blanket on the couch and copious amounts of chocolate.

24) Charles McGraw or Sterling Hayden?

Sterling Hayden. I have been fascinated by his life story away from the movies.

25) Second favorite Yasujiro Ozu film?

Have not seen any of his films.

26) Most memorable horror movie father figure?

Jack Torrance in The Shining

27) Name a non-action-oriented-movie that would be fun to see in Sensurround.

Mama Mia – Pierce Brosnan singing  in Sensurround – something to stay in for.

28) Chris Evans or Ryan Reynolds?

TOSS UP Edge going to Ryan Reynolds, but after seeing trailer for The Green Lantern I am not so sure.

29) Favorite relatively unknown supporting player, from either or both the classic or the modern era.

I will go with the classic era and pick Dame Mae Whitty; she was excellent in The Lady Vanishes and several other films of the 1930s and 1940s. I would have gone with Thelma Ritter but I think she had SOME notoriety (at least in my mind). Also throw in one for William Bendix.

30) Real-life movie location you most recently visited or saw.

Mount Vernon (NY) East Metro North Station – it is where they shot the train station scenes for Eternal Sunshine on the Spotless Mind

31) Second favorite Budd Boetticher movie.

Nope sorry.

32) Mara Corday or Julie Adams?

Edge to Julie Adams because she was in Creature from the Black Lagoon and it freaked me out when I was a kid.

33) Favorite Universal International western.

Not sure my favorite westerns were made by Universal International

34) Favorite actress of the Silent Era.

Mary Pickford – when I was young I remember seeing a documentary of her life. Don’t remember much about her films but it is pretty cool that  Pretty she was a co-founder of United Artists; granted it was alongside the likes of DW Girffith. That said, she is a founding member of many of the institutions of modern Hollywood.

35) Favorite Eugene Pallett performance.

Friar Tuck in The Adventures of Robin Hood (one of my favorite films)

36) What could Multiplex owners do right now to improve the theater viewing experience for movie goers? What could movie goers do?

Owners – bring back real matinee pricing (before 5 or 6PM) so I do not have to be at a movie theater BEFORE IT OPENS to catch a 10:45AM show just so I can pay six bucks.

Moviegoers – find a babysitter, throw your mobile phones in a bin outside the theater before entering, and realize that you are not in your living room watching a movie.

37) What’s the biggest ‘gimmick’ that’s drawn you out to see a movie?

Not sure if it is a gimmick but when following the screening, they have a Q&A session with the people that have worked on the film . Saw a screening of North by Northwest this way (Ernest Lehman and Eva Marie Saint). Also saw Andrea Arnold and Michael Fassbender (Fish Tank) and most recently Joel Wright (Hanna) because of the Q&A sessions.

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Makes Me (Stevie) Wonder

September 15, 2010 By Leave a Comment
As much as I love motion pictures, I am almost as equally fond of music. And when I say music, I mean music in nearly all forms. In fact in my moments of of feeling awfully low, music is my refuge and salvation.  The refuge almost takes on an obsessive immersion. My latest obsession/immersion experience  into pop/rock/whatever escapism is Maroon 5. As I listened to their music, I started to think about Maroon 5/movie tie-ins, partly as a result of a conversation I had with my brother about Jennifer’s Body in which the character portrayed by Adam Brody asks his mates (prior to sacrificing Jennifer):

Do you wanna be a big loser, or do you wanna be rich and awesome like that guy from Maroon 5?

Maroon 5.

Okay. That’s what I thought.

[Read more...]

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5 Things I Like about Joseph Gordon Levitt

August 3, 2010 By 2 Comments

Last month I mentioned in my review of Inception (see previous post) that one of my favorite parts of the movie experience was Joseph Gordon Levitt’s performance and that amazing hotel hallway sequence. As a result I took a little time to reflect upon his transition from child actor to bona-fide adult thesp.

It is in that spirit that I submit, 10 5 Things I Hate Like about You Joseph Gordon Levitt

  1. He has grown into to looks. Many a moon have passed since he was alien-boy on 3rd Rock from the Sun, a show I admit to passively watching. Nowadays, JGL has a Keanu/Heath thing going on. Not too bad.
  2. 500 Days of Summer. I finally saw this in its entirety last week and overall I am glad I took the time to catch it. Favorite scenes: dancing in the park and the party near the end of the film.
  3. He gives a great interview. For this I am citing the same interview from The New York Times for these items.
  4. He either lives (or frequents) NYC. Thereby increasing my likelihood of having a celebrity sighting.
  5. A lot of other sources like (and love him) as much as I do. For evidence I refer to this post from totalfilm.com.

There are a bunch of other things I can probably come up with but I leave it you to the readers to offer any suggestions.

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