Dear Ndugu

I took my own advice and watched About Schmidt again. It's been a few years.

And despite my efforts, I found myself wiping tears from my eyes. Embarrassing? Who cares. That last letter to Ndugu that Schmidt narrates (after all the ironic, hilarious letters thoughout the film) is just gut-wrenching and then when you least expect it, sheer happiness sneaks in, the yearned-for cure, and finally causes the man to break down and weep. It's powerful stuff via understatement and you have to appreciate it.

Which got me thinking about other films that cause grown men to revert to sobbing boys. I'm curious to hear what others have to suggest before I list a few that I love and that have affected me blubberingly over the years.

Confessions?

The How About Project Part 8 (of 26)

Oops. Forgot about "the project".

So an easy one for me this time around. My three favourite Jean-Luc Godard films. Considering I haven't touched on the French New Wave yet, it seems a better than right thing to do.

3: Le Mepris (Contempt) (1963, with Bardot in full colour)
2: Les Carabiniers (The Riflemen) (also 1963, in black and white)
1: Alphaville: Une Etrange Aventure de Lemmy Caution (1965, with Anna Karina in black and white)

Ah, Bardot and Karina. Two of the most gorgeous women ever to grace the silver screen. The french knew how to cast films, and still do.

48 fps

That's right folks. Peter Jackson is filming The Hobbit at 48 frames per second. (And in 3D which won't bother me as long as I have the option of seeing it in 2D.)

Even clearer and and more astounding visuals in our genre flicks? Yes, please. Let's just hope that the theatres are able to keep up with the tech. I've read elsewhere that other tech-savvy filmmakers are aiming at a 60 fps rate. How cool would that be?

It may even mean the invention of a new home entertainment format to replace blu-ray. Who knows.

The Hobbit keeps getting more and more exciting...

How Great Is This Behind the Scenes Photo?

I love me a quiet evening of Kurosawa, and Toshiro Mifune was the man. I'm pretty sure this is a pic from the filming of Sanjuro, although it could be from Seven Samurai. Let me know if you know. For now, let's just enjoy its coolness.

R.I.P. Sidney Lumet

A great director has passed away. Best remembered for his astonishing films from the 70s, including Dog Day Afternoon, Serpico, and Network, which I recently watched for the first time and loved, he made a good number of other gutsy films over the decades which we should all seek out and watch. Deathtrap is first on my list, with a very non-supermanish Christopher Reeve. Any other recommendations?

The Cure For Sequelitis

Part sequel, part homage, part satire, part spoof. I'll say nothing else about what's embedded below except that I'd like to see more of this kind of thing if it means sidestepping the actual making of unnecessary sequels.

When Harry Met Sally 2 with Billy Crystal & Helen Mirren from Billy Crystal

The How About Project Part 7 (of 26)

Films with nuclear power plants as their settings, made before 1980. Cautionary tales or films too easily forgotten?

3: Incident At Browns Ferry (USA Documentary, 1977)
2: Fiend Without a Face (UK, 1958)
1: The China Syndrome (USA, 1979)

Yes, The China Syndrome starring Jack Lemmon, Jane Fonda, and a wickedly bearded Michael Douglas. Check that one out if only to witness the beard.

R.I.P. Elizabeth Taylor

A true legend. Her screen presence was commanding and, I dare say, addictive. Cat On a Hot Tin Roof is the first of her films that comes to mind when pondering her extensive career. I've never seen Cleopatra, so I'll be remedying that as soon as I can. She was a talented actress. I think I speak for the boys when I say she was also quite a looker back in the day.

Sheathing the Claws

Darren Aronofsky is no longer directing what will be a new stand-alone Wolverine film, featuring the character's time in Japan.

While reports say it is because Aronofsky does not want to commit to a job that keeps him away from his home and family for nearly a year, I suspect there's something more to it. (I'm surprised no one's yet theorized that the filmmakers may suddenly be steering clear of Japan what with all the ongoing turmoil there, creating a domino effect that has effectively halted production of the film.)

Aronofsky directing the world's favourite feral mutant felt too good to be true anyway, so really, I'm not that surprised. Just really disappointed. I was looking forward to finally getting one really great X-Men film.

Pessimistically (and because it's 20th Century Fox), I predict his replacement will be very underwhelming, as will the film.

And Japan could use some love right now.

What crap news.

The How About Project Part 6 (of 26)

Having finally read his entertaining and inspirational memoir, My Last Sigh, I felt compelled to recommend my favourite Luis Bunuel films this week. Highly, highly recommended especially if you've yet to experience his work:

3: The Great Madcap
2: The Exterminating Angel
1: The Phantom of Liberty

Of course, you really can't go wrong with any of his films. These just happen to be my faves thus far.