tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2531345904528580427.post1473881579245119771..comments2024-03-24T20:01:47.103-07:00Comments on Hell On Frisco Bay: List By InvitationBrian Darrhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17693169310367670898noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2531345904528580427.post-91152503801645812782008-11-26T23:44:00.000-08:002008-11-26T23:44:00.000-08:00Kaifu, thanks heaps for joining the listing-party....Kaifu, thanks heaps for joining the listing-party. I can't really explain why neither of the two Edward Yang films I saw for the first time at this year's Asian American Film Festival made it to my own list- except to say that both <B><I>Baghead</I></B> and <B><I>They All Laughed</I></B> were tremendously enjoyable screening experiences. Looks like even though we attended a lot of the same venues, you saw a lot of stuff I didn't - though I really liked <B><I>Timecrimes</I></B> and <B><I>Woman on the Beach</I></B> for two.<BR/><BR/>Peter, I was pretty blown away by <B><I>Puzzle of a Downfall Child</I></B>. Maybe felt a tad overlong by the last reel or two, but really a wonderful film, much better than I'd expected going in. A double-bill with <B><I>L'Eclisse</I></B> sounds divine. Sign me up. I'll cross my fingers that the Rohmer and Lee films find their way to Colorado.Brian Darrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17693169310367670898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2531345904528580427.post-56344870618729841002008-11-26T17:51:00.000-08:002008-11-26T17:51:00.000-08:00Brian, your criteria make this a very interesting ...Brian, your criteria make this a very interesting exercise, so don't mind if I join the fun. Apparently I've got nothing in Q, X and Z -- I saw X-Files and XXY but not in theatres, others were completely blank.<BR/><BR/>As with Michael, I tried to use the ones not already mentioned here, though I wouldn't call them second choices.<BR/><BR/><BR/>All for free (2006) Sundance Kabuki, SFFS screen<BR/><BR/>A Bright Summer Day (1991) The Clay, SFIAAFF<BR/><BR/>The Class (2008) The Clay, French Cinema Now<BR/><BR/>Dinner with the President: A Nation's Journey (2008) Egyptian Theatre, Sundance Film Festival<BR/><BR/>The English Surgeon (2007) Sundance Kabuki, SFIFF<BR/><BR/>The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973) The Castro<BR/><BR/>Glasses (2007) Sundance Kabuki, SFIFF<BR/><BR/>Hollywood Chinese (2007) Sundance Kabuki<BR/><BR/>Idiots and Angels (2008) Embarcadero Center Cinema, SF Animation Festival<BR/><BR/>Jetsam (2007) Victoria Theatre, SF IndieFest<BR/><BR/>Kung Fu Panda (2008) AMC Van Ness 1000 (The only K-movie...)<BR/><BR/>Lady Jane (2008) Sundance Kabuki, SFIFF<BR/><BR/>Mermaid (2007) Egyptian Theatre, SFF<BR/><BR/>Not by Chance (2007) Sundance Kabuki, SFIFF<BR/><BR/>Operation Filmmaker (2007) Roxie, SF DocFest<BR/><BR/>Puujee (2007) Holiday Village Cinemas, SFF<BR/><BR/>Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired (2008) Holiday Village Cinemas, SFF<BR/><BR/>Stranded: I Have Come From a Plane That Crashed into the Mountains (2007) Sundance Kabuki, SFIFF<BR/><BR/>Timecrimes (2007) Egyptian Theatre, SFF<BR/><BR/>Under the Bombs (2007) Sundance Kabuki, SFIFF<BR/><BR/>The Visitor (2007) Eccles Center, SFF<BR/><BR/>Woman on the Beach (2006) Sundance Kabuki, SFFS screen<BR/><BR/>Yasukuni (2007) Holiday Village Cinemas, SFFkaifuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03958184537504956524noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2531345904528580427.post-79779657967230604802008-11-26T07:42:00.000-08:002008-11-26T07:42:00.000-08:00Interesting list. How did you like Puzzle of a Do...Interesting list. How did you like <B>Puzzle of a Downfall Child</B>? That was the last movie I saw when I lived in NYC, seen at the now gone Bleeker Street Cinema, in a double feature with <B>L'Eclisse</B>.<BR/><BR/>I'm still hoping to see the Rohmer and <B>Secret Sunshine</B> in some form in this lifetime.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2531345904528580427.post-14128317912909912252008-11-22T11:56:00.000-08:002008-11-22T11:56:00.000-08:00I'm so glad I asked for it! Great list, Michael. ...I'm so glad I asked for it! Great list, Michael. Not that I can actually confirm much of it- though I was momentarily considering using your selections for 'A', 'C', and 'Y' myself, I've seen an embarrassingly small number of the others. Quite thankfully, your 'worst of the year' pick is not among the ones I've seen. 'K' was actually a tough call for me- I first had <I><B>the Kid Brother</B></I> down until I decided to cut any film I'd seen on the big screen before, and I also strongly considered another short film <B><I>Kaleidoscope</I></B> but decided I'd given a big enough share to the Silent Film Festival already. <BR/><BR/>As for my own worst of the year, I bet your guess is the correct one. It's not a counterintuitive choice.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11188203309797275712noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2531345904528580427.post-13706643120606537632008-11-22T08:49:00.000-08:002008-11-22T08:49:00.000-08:00OK, you asked for it, Mr. Darr. Here's my list, us...OK, you asked for it, Mr. Darr. Here's my list, using your same criteria. In some cases, I listed my 2nd choice so as not to duplicate your own selection (being that we swim in the same Bay Area pool). The I's, L's, M's, P's and S's were particularly tortuous choices. Contained in the list is MY worst movie of the year.<BR/><BR/>ADVENTURES OF PRINCE ACHMED (1926, dir. Lotte Reiniger, SF Silent Film Festival)<BR/><BR/>BATTLE FOR HADITHA (dir. Nick Broomfield, Roxie)<BR/><BR/>CARNIVAL NIGHT (1956 dir. Eldar Ryazanov, PFA)<BR/><BR/>DUCHESS OF LANGEAIS (dir. Jacques Rivette, Palm Springs International Film Festival)<BR/><BR/>EXILES (1961 dir. Kent MacKenzie, Castro)<BR/><BR/>FRAULEIN (dir. Andrea Staka, SF Film Society Kabuki Screen)<BR/><BR/>GO GO TALES (dir. Abel Ferrara, SFIFF)<BR/><BR/>HAMLET 2 (dir. Andrew Fleming, Metreon)<BR/><BR/>I'M A CYBORG AND THAT'S OK (dir. Park Chan-wook, SFIAAFF)<BR/><BR/>JAR CITY (dir. Baltasar Kormakur, Palm Springs)<BR/><BR/>KATYN (dir. Andzej Wadja, Mill Valley press screening, listed by virtue of its being the only K-film I saw all year)<BR/><BR/>LEON (dir. Santiago Otheguy, Frameline)<BR/><BR/>MY FATHER, MY LORD (dir. David Volach, Palm Springs)<BR/><BR/>NIGHTWATCHING (dir. Peter Greenaway, Palm Springs)<BR/><BR/>OSS 117: CAIRO, NEST OF SPIES (dir. Michel Hazanavicius, Lumiere)<BR/><BR/>PATTI SMITH: DREAM OF LIFE (dir. Steven Sebring, Lumiere with Patti Smith in person)<BR/><BR/>RACHEL GETTING MARRIED (dir. Jonathan Demme, Embarcadero Cinema)<BR/><BR/>SOLITARY FRAGMENTS (dir. Jaime Rosales, Palm Springs and SFIFF)<BR/><BR/>TAKVA: A MAN'S FEAR OF GOD (dir. Ozer Kiziltan, Palm Springs)<BR/><BR/>URBAN EXPLORERS (dir. Melody Gilbert, SF DocFest)<BR/><BR/>VICTIMS OF SIN (1950 dir. Emilio Fernandez, PFA)<BR/><BR/>WALTZ WITH BASHIR (dir. Ari Folman, SF Animation Film Festival)<BR/><BR/>XXY (dir. Lucia Puenzo, Palm Springs)<BR/><BR/>YOU, THE LIVING (dir. Roy Andersson, Palm Springs)<BR/><BR/>ZIDANE: A 21ST CENTURY PORTRAIT (dir. Douglas Gordon and Philippe Parreno, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2531345904528580427.post-14700518186958526072008-11-22T08:04:00.000-08:002008-11-22T08:04:00.000-08:00Of course I'm dying to know which one was "probabl...Of course I'm dying to know which one was "probably the worst film I saw all year," although I'm pretty sure I can guess.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2531345904528580427.post-22804504804633558132008-11-21T15:38:00.000-08:002008-11-21T15:38:00.000-08:00I hadn't looked at too many of these before writin...I hadn't looked at too many of these before writing my own up, but upon following some of the chains, I find that the lists which have been given extra parameters/rules to be the most interesting ones- yours included, Thom and Gareth.<BR/><BR/>Though I think my main reason for going this route instead of listing "all-time" faves was probably just to avoid having to make a decision between <I><B>Vertigo</B></I> and <B><I>Videodrome</I></B>.<BR/><BR/>Ed, the Sonbert was amazing. It was programmed as part of a larger set of screenings of his films in various venues around town, instigated by Konrad Steiner of kino21 and Johnny Ray Huston, film critic for the SF Bay Guardian. Unfortunately this was the only night I was able to go.<BR/><BR/>And Gareth, seeing <B><I>My Sex Life...</I></B> on the big screen opened the door to a whole new appreciation for Desplechin (I had not been a fan of <B><I>Kings and Queen</I></B>). Since then I've revisited <B><I>Esther Kahn</I></B> on DVD, which I had not connected to at all on a previous try, and have swooned at his new <B><I>a Christmas Tale</I></B>. More on that one later...Brian Darrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17693169310367670898noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2531345904528580427.post-47457359030828184462008-11-21T08:47:00.000-08:002008-11-21T08:47:00.000-08:00I like your approach, especially since your viewin...I like your approach, especially since your viewings are so eclectic. After a while, the memes all roll into one unless you get creative like this. <BR/><BR/>I missed the Desplechin on the big screen when it played near me recently; a shame, because the DVD print is just terrible (the same is true of his more recent <EM>Kings and Queen</EM>). I don't usually get too worked up about print quality, so if I'm complaining there's a real problem...Garethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08544047015325046422noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2531345904528580427.post-26596299559688814032008-11-21T08:15:00.000-08:002008-11-21T08:15:00.000-08:00Holy shit, this must be the only one of these list...Holy shit, this must be the only one of these lists featuring Warren Sonbert. His name doesn't get brought up nearly enough, though it's understandable considering how difficult it can be to see any of his films. I still have strong memories of seeing a trio of his shorts (<I>Friendly Witness</I>, the early and uncharacteristic <I>Amphetamine</I>, and <I>Whiplash</I>) at a rare screening at my college cinema a while back. Amazing stuff, using avant-garde, formalist techniques to get at surprisingly rich and complex emotions. I really hope someone does him justice on DVD someday, a la the <I>By Brakhage</I> set, so more people can appreciate his brilliance.Ed Howardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18014222247676090467noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2531345904528580427.post-57219235591441525532008-11-21T07:08:00.000-08:002008-11-21T07:08:00.000-08:00This must be the list with the most movies I have ...This must be the list with the most movies I have not yet seen on it. I suspect my rental queue will be growing soon. I commend you for bending the rules so that the meme better fits the parameters of your blog. I altered the rules too and now I don't feel so badly about it. The list also makes a convenient record of your eclectic viewing choices, Brian. And how sweet it is to see classics playing alongside the new contenders for that description.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com