the disappointed cinephile

Nov
24th

Tue

Because everyone’s doing it! Here is the (I dunno, kind of boring) Top 10 of the ’00s that I submitted to this poll. Several weeks later I would probably change it up, but I’m not sure in what way(s). The ranking is utterly arbitrary, as rankings so often are.

1) Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
2) In the Mood for Love
3) The Prestige
4) Trouble Every Day
5) Zodiac
6) Devils on the Doorstep
7) Songs From the Second Floor
8) The New World
9) 25th Hour
10) Kings and Queen

Coming soon! Films that almost made the cut but for whatever potentially silly reason did not!

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Nov
22nd

Sun

A too-small sampling from a brilliantly trying bit from the “Patience” episode of Wonder Showzen. I saw this the same day I saw some repetitive (but in a good way!) films by Hollis Frampton. I’m not sure which was more assaultive.

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Nov
20th

Fri

I was on TV last night. Ca. the 9:30 mark. And I want Aaron Hillis' hat.

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Nov
18th

Wed

Six Emo Vampires

Also! Caps of 2012 and the reissued Rashomon, plus words on a double feature of Top Hat and Singin’ in the Rain that I just realized I can’t make.

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Nov
17th

Tue

Trailer for Band of Ninja (1967), Nagisa Oshima’s lone foray into animation. It is 135 minutes of still black and white drawings; Oshima simply shot the pages of the manga he was adapting, and threw in his own sound and kinetic editing. I want it.

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Nov
13th

Fri

I interviewed Jim Halpert. But not about matters Jim Halpert.

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Nov
12th

Thu

I'm the guy who needs to watch more TV

I don’t have cable. I live with an SD TV that has the digital converter box thingie, but I’ve not yet bothered to buy one for the TV in my bedroom, and don’t have any immediate plans to either. While I do have a few shows I watch, and have watched more than my fair share of whole runs of shows, I have historically gravitated more to movies. (The major exception is British comedy, with which I am exceedingly well-versed.) But no more, I say. Motivated by D’Angelo’s recent revelation, I demand more time suckage, particularly now that Mad Men is gone till next summer.

I’m currently on the third and regrettably final series of Black Books. Here’s some options for after:

Yes, Minister (and Yes, Prime Minister)
Green Wing
The I.T. Crowd
Wondershowzen
Tim and Eric etc. and etc.
Breaking Bad
Battlestar Galactica
Friday Night Lights
Sons of Anarchy
The Garry Shandling Show
Deadwood
Big Love
Weeds
Dollhouse
Um, The Sopranos (seriously)

Here, for the record, are the shows I regularly follow:

30 Rock
The Office US
Flight of the Conchords
The Thick of It
Peep Show
That Mitchell and Webb Look
It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia
South Park
Eastbound and Down
Little Britain
Mad Men
Daily Show/Colbert

And, lastly, shows I need to catch back up with:

The Wire (Season 4 has been sitting on my shelf for - egads - nearly two years)
Dexter (did Season 1, liked loads, just haven’t gotten around to it)
Aqua Teen Hunger Force (only up to volume 5)
Six Feet Under (bailed after season four; need I bother?)

I am, as ever, open to suggestions.

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Nov
11th

Wed

I didn't totally hate Precious.

Plus! Reviews of (Untitled) and The Maid, as well as a Six Pack on unadaptable novels (Brief Interviews With Hideous Men finally opens here).

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I’ve long wanted an old-timey, purely analogue, wind-it-yourself, develop-the-images-in-an-actual-dark-room cameras, which I would stock exclusively with B&W film. But the “Old Camera” app for iPhone will do. Honestly, you don’t even have to have a great eye; the app does a lot of the heavy lifting, and is unpredictable in what parts it will make dark and impenetrable. Here is the results of my snapping up a storm during my hike through the Wissahickon this weekend. (Alas, until I bother updating my Flickr account, to see all the photos you have to be my Facebook friend. Be my Facebook friend. Maybe.)

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