Monthly Archives: January 2011
King Vidor – The Big Parade, The Crowd
The Big Parade (1925) dir. King Vidor The Crowd (1928) dir. King Vidor Two of King Vidor’s late silent films are early landmarks in genre. 1925′s The Big Parade, much moreso than Griffith’s Birth of a Nation laid down the … Continue reading
The New World
The New World (2005) dir. Terrence Malick Watching a Terrence Malick film is like watching a sunset over the ocean while lying on a hot beach. It’s a beautiful experience, but you’ll fall asleep before it’s over. It is fascinating … Continue reading
Gun Crazy / Deadly is the Female
Gun Crazy (1949) dir. Joseph H. Lewis Gun Crazy was originally titled Deadly is the Female. Both delicious titles point away from Bart’s responsibility and towards the noir tradition of an inescapable fate. Bart’s obsession with guns isn’t any indication of … Continue reading
Suspiria
Suspiria (1977) dir. Dario Argento I have limited experience with giallo, but Suspiria immediately seems notably less exploitative, at least sexually. The movie is set in a ballet school co-ed dormitory, with young nubile girls sharing secrets, shoes and a … Continue reading
The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek
The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek (1944) dir. Preston Sturges In some ways, The Miracle of Morgan’s Creek was written by the Hays Code. Preston Sturges built the convoluted plot around the Code’s strictures, and the Code is the butt of … Continue reading
Trouble in Paradise
Trouble in Paradise (1932) dir. Ernst Lubitsch Two thieves meet, fall in love, and conspire to delude a rich, beautiful woman out of a small fortune. A word to the wise – if you’re in love with a dashing young … Continue reading
TSPDT 1,000 – 2011 Update
The 2011 edition of the They Shoot Pictures, Don’t They 1,000 Greatest Films List was published this week. The world of film is a broad, vast wilderness, and TSPDT provides a map. Not for the utility of getting from Point … Continue reading
It’s a Gift
It’s a Gift (1934) dir. Norman Z. McLeod It’s a Gift exists somewhere between silent comedy and modern sitcoms. It’s the first W. C. Fields film I’ve seen, and I very much enjoyed it. The plot isn’t of much importance … Continue reading
Black Orpheus
Orfeu Negro – Black Orpheus (1959) dir. Marcel Camus Black Orpheus is a Brazilian movie in the same way Slumdog Millionaire is an Indian movie. Orpheus was a French production with a French director, but starring (mostly) locals, featured a … Continue reading
Three Colors
Trois couleurs: Bleu – Three Colors: Blue (1993) dir. Krzysztof Kieślowski Trzy kolory: Biały – Three Colors: White (1994) dir. Krzysztof Kieślowski Trois couleurs: Rouge – Three Colors: Red (1994) dir. Krzysztof Kieślowski Kieślowski’s Three Colors trilogy is to be praised in addition to his … Continue reading
