Re: Netflix

I’m almost 99% sure that my Netflix queue is more aspirational than anything else. It’s a gesture toward the heady, cultured film viewer I wish to be than the consumer I am. What’s that Christina? You don’t want to watch Goddard’s Notre Musique for a third time? Shut up. Wait, what? You want to watch crappy horror movies from Netflix Instant instead? Oh girl…

French Trailer for Almodovar's "The Skin I Live In"

In addition to looking creepy as hell (and completely awesome), the trailer includes a track from my favorite electronic musician/producer, Trentemoller. Too perfect and stylish. 

This looks like everything Black Swan wanted to be but didn’t have the balls to be. Salo part deux?

“The more certain a director is in his beliefs regarding both life and artistic theory, the more honest his choices will be to the story (this is why Bresson’s are some of the most truthful films ever made). When there is truth there is no reaching. Reaching destroys movies because reaching is emptiness. You are grasping for something that is not there. It is the risk of reaching that scares filmmakers like Coppola, and this is boring and cowardly. It’s not easy to come out into the world with something big. Present a small idea, and you only risk being revealed as a small fool. If you’ve got the nerve to have a big idea people can accuse you of being a big fool. But who the hell cares? I’d much rather see 100 people trying to think about big things and failing than 100 people saying small things successfully.”

From “I Am Love” Vs. “Somewhere” 

No film was robbed more this year than “I am Love.” The music, the design, the acting and writing were all impeccable. “I am Love” IS a perfect film.

File Under Interesting but Unsurprising Facts

Michael Haneke, director of The Piano Teacher and The White Ribbon, lists Salò as his fourth favorite film of all time. 

Link
 View high resolution
Isabelle Huppert the master of playing women on the edge of complete oblivion. She makes insanity so engaging, even enchanting. I mean, have you seen The Piano Teacher? Looking forward to watching her new film this weekend. 

Isabelle Huppert the master of playing women on the edge of complete oblivion. She makes insanity so engaging, even enchanting. I mean, have you seen The Piano Teacher? Looking forward to watching her new film this weekend. 

Link
 View high resolution
Stills from the famous shower scene in Psycho. From 1000 Frames of Hitchcock

Stills from the famous shower scene in Psycho. From 1000 Frames of Hitchcock

Link
 View high resolution
I had my first Ingmar Bergman experience today with Cries and Whispers.  I won’t say it’s one of my favorite films but it was certainly unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Visually it is truly beautiful. Each close up of an actor is like a mini portrait. And the story is like the late 19th century version of Mean Girls. I don’t remember the last time I saw female protagonists so cruel to one another. I’m not entirely convinced that the redemption the film is after is ever achieved. 

I had my first Ingmar Bergman experience today with Cries and Whispers. 

I won’t say it’s one of my favorite films but it was certainly unlike anything I’ve ever seen. Visually it is truly beautiful. Each close up of an actor is like a mini portrait. And the story is like the late 19th century version of Mean Girls. I don’t remember the last time I saw female protagonists so cruel to one another. I’m not entirely convinced that the redemption the film is after is ever achieved.