Foolish and Beastly

Once again, it's time for the White Elephant Film Blogathon. Last year, when Paul Clark asked for volunteers to take over hosting duties for the big event, I drew the short straw. So here is where we find ourselves.

Bully For You, Chilly For Me

Hey everybody. Over at GreenCine, I have a write-up of Delmar Daves' JUBAL and 3:10 TO YUMA, which came out in May from the Criterion Collection. However, I'm taking a break from my Criterion reviews to focus on another unhealthy obsession: making lists of movies. 

I Have A Way

"Bresson is a rarity among filmmakers: he apparently knows exactly what he does and why he does it... any study of Bresson must take into account his astute self-criticism."

 - Paul Schrader, Transcendental Style In Film

"A MAN ESCAPED would seem of all Bresson's films the most plot-oriented; it is about a prison break. But the title dispenses with any possibility of suspense - UN CONDAMNE A MORT S'EST ECHAPPE (a man condemned to death has escaped)."

- Paul Schrader, ibid. 

“‘Fear Eats the Soul’... there’s more truth in that title than most whole films.” 

 - Jennie (Naomie Harris) in TRISTRAM SHANDY: A COCK AND BULL STORY

* * *

Last year, I participated in The Skuriels, a joint effort between the Skandies and Muriels to come up with the twenty greatest films ever made (released in conjunction with Sight and Sound's decennial list). When considering my own ballot, my "short list" of around 150 films was weighed heavily toward certain directors: Scorsese, Lynch, Hitchcock, Welles, Tourneur, Dreyer, etc. etc. Of all the repeat filmmakers, Robert Bresson probably had the most impressive track record; six of the eight films of his I'd seen were contenders for my top ten.

Still More 2010 Film Minutae

Thanks to Steve Carlson, the 2010 Muriels ballots have been published. Mine is here. More later but a few quick caveats/errata:

2010 Report Card and Muriels Fanfare

Tomorrow, the honorable Steve Carlson and Paul Clark begin unveiling, day by day, the Muriel Awards. I'm honored to be a voter again this year, my second. In preparation, I figured I'd go ahead and list, in descending order, the 2010 films I saw that were eligible for the awards this year. I'm leaving out the top twenty in order to discuss them further and maintain the proper amount of suspense with regards to my ballot.

Now I know nobody reads this so I'm effectively nattering on to myself, in the style of a three am subway passenger. However, I hope in the coming days to actually start writing here more often. Movies, of course, will be on the docket. I'd also like to start picking my way through my impressive CD collection and write on some of my choice albums. Most importantly, this Friday I'll inaugurate Freeday Friday, a carnival of words and wonders to delight the mind and tickle the fancies. So there's that to look forward to.

Without further ado, my 2010 Movie Report Card (asterisks indicate films I have full intention to explore in future posts):