One of the many things that I miss about studying at BYU is the International Cinema Program. I didn't make it to most of the movies I wanted to see but when I did make it, I was always impressed with what I saw. One semester I was sitting in on a film and theory class taught by Dr. Greg Stallings, one of the co-directors of International Cinema. We were discussing film noir in class and by design, our discussions in class coincided with one of the two weeks of noir at International Cinema.
M, and The Blue Gardenia with some of my friends/colleagues, all within a short period of time, it was a grand experience. I didn't make it to Bob le fambeur but it's in my Netflix queue so I will see it soon.
During that class I saw many great movies and had great fun talking with the other students. We learned a lot and it was fun. I miss that, I miss my friends, I miss International Cinema. Right now I'm in a Visual Studies Film class that I was initially excited about. However, after three weeks, this is a class I will just have to push through to the end. The other students are very smart, use an extremely high vocabulary, and interact in the same way that those strange drama kids that you knew in high school did. It's not very fun at all, there is an obvious political/theoretical bent to the class and it often lasts about 4 hours. Maybe I'll rent a few of the movies being shown this semester at International Cinema and watch along with them. There's some really cool stuff being shown. I've been toying with the idea of a virtual film festival, where each participant watches the same movie during a given week, and then posts thoughts, interpretations, or whatever on a blog. If any of you are interested let me know, I think if we did one movie a month it would be doable for most.
Also, I really need some movie recommendations, I haven't seen an INCREDIBLE movie in a few months, mostly just good ones. I want to see something great, so send 'em my way folks!!
p.s. I tried to avoid using the word 'film' in this post out of spite. The folks in my visual studies class are so pretentious that they won't use the word 'movie.' Sorry bubs but I was raised on movies and if you don't like that you can frown upon me and my ignorance all you want.
12 comments:
I'd totally be down with a virtual movie/film club. Now that so much Criterion on Netflix streaming, it should be easier...
As for some good film noir, my favorite Melville film is "Le Samourai." It's so cool it's ridiculous.
Also, for a more recent noir, try "Brick" - it's a hard boiled noir set in a high school, which sounds like it shouldn't work, but it does. All the classic elements are there, from the femme fatale to the dialogue.
hey ben. i like the idea of the virtual film festival. suggestions for that: i've been wanting to watch more tarkovski and kurosawa, since i'm really unfamiliar with both of them.
totally game brother, lets start working up a list of titles and see if we can do one a month for the rest of the year!
I'm in too. And I can add a second testimony to Paul. Le Samourai is pretty awesome.
Speaking of Tarkovsky, I need to see Solaris. And like a million other films. I'm in.
you may watch my favorite movie The Pickpocket and a less favorite but excellent A man escaped by Robert Bresson.
Thanks for all the movie suggestions fellas. It looks like the virtual film festival is on and that there's demand for some Tarkovsky, maybe we'll start with Solaris or Nostalgia. I'll get a website set up and I'l be in touch soon.
Ben, I saw the documentary "The Cove" last weekend. A movie everyone needs to see. You should definitely check it out. As for the virtual film festival, I think it's a good idea. Let's not start with Solaris though. The one Tarkovsky movie I haven't been able to get all the way through. Slower than Stalker and twice as long. Nostalghia and The Mirror would be great though.
I'm down man. I'm afraid, though, I wouldn't be as much of a suggester as a watcher and enjoyer. I also miss international cinema. Let me know what's going on when and I'll do my best to be there.
PS. Film film film film film film
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Sigh, my film class unfortunately coincided with that whole Rulfo celebration. I mean, I like Rulfo and all, but we watched a ton of mediocre adaptations of his works and then talked about hoe mediocre they were. Oh, International Cinema, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways . . .
this sounds promising. I don't know if I can contribute more than your standard Mystery Science Theater 3000 commentary, but if a virtual movie group is going on, I want to be a part of it.
I'll try. I've been researching films/documentaries that feature nature in Latin America so I may suggest films as well known as 'Fitzcarraldo' and as obscure and perhaps impossible to procure as 'Araya' from Margot Benacerraf. We'll just have to see. In any case I'm game.
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