In the last two days Rick, Marilyn, Fox, Miranda and little old me, Ed Herlihy... uh... I mean, Jonathan, have been discussing forming an elitist, nose in the air film society whereupon we spend all of our free time deriding others' film taste and congratulating each others' pithy statements with phrases like "Hear, hear!", "Jolly Good!" and "That's the spirit old sport!"
Okay, actually it's nothing like that. It went down like this. Marilyn and Rick were a part of a film forum whose purpose was to have a member pick a movie, write it up and then everyone would discuss it. All of this was done on a separately created blog. After the first post by Girish I was informed by Marilyn and Rick that not much happened. I chimed in by saying that, essentially, if you want discussion then forget the separate blog thing. Let's all of us do it on our own blogs. That is to say, Marilyn picks a movie for the month, we all watch it (even if we've seen it before, just so it's fresh in our heads) and then the host writes it up at their own blog and since we all visit each others blogs anyway there's no added pressure to be a part of some separate forum. My almost unnaturally brilliant and ingenious idea was met with happy acceptance. So...
Each month we rotate the blogs. Marilyn starts it off, I'll take second, Rick takes third and so on. The details of all of that can be worked out later. For now there are a few things to clear up.
One - What should we call it? Marilyn mentioned she'd like to start off with Guys and Dolls and mentioned the line from it, " “The Oldest Established Permanent Floating Crap Game in New York.” That's too long to put on a sidebar widget but I like it. Maybe just "The Crap Game." And it's got the word "crap" in it. You gotta love that. I'd like suggestions on a name for 
this discussion group but for myself I do favor something that isn't film related like "Film of the Month Club" or "Reel Talk" or something obvious like that.
Two - Anyone can be a part of it. We all put up an announcement in our sidebar (and I'd be happy to design a simple widget for it) as to the title of the next movie and the date and place its write-up will be posted. Then, join in. Now I've noticed that lately Rick's place has the same "comment frenzy" atmosphere as this blog and while I'm sure both Rick and I appreciate a good stream of consciousness comment section (I know I do - Really, I do. I find the comments here extremely entertaining and I don't want that to ever stop) for the movie of the month write-ups I'd like everyone to actually discuss the film at hand. That was the point of the forum Marilyn and Rick belonged to: To really get at the meat of the film and dissect it. 
Three - That's up to you. Please comment away on this post as to any other ideas you have or suggestions you'd like to make for this but keep in mind, the simpler we keep it the better. Each month a blogger picks a movie, we all see it, they write it up at their place and we go discuss it. Let Marilyn, Rick and I know what you think. We've already got a few people (the five of us stated above and a couple of others I think) who want to do it. Let us know if you'd like to join in too. I know that anyone on my blogroll is more than welcome to be a part of it. Thanks.
*****UPDATE*****
The name of the club is the The Oldest Established Really Important Film Club, a combination of a line from Guys and Dolls, suggested by Marilyn and wholeheartedly endorsed by Wendymoon and myself and "The Really, Really Big and Important Club" jokingly suggested by Rick.
The order so far is:
Marilyn - January
Jonathan - February
Rick - March
Bill - April
Pat - May
Patrick McGoohan Flickhead - June
Ed - July
Fox - August
Miranda - September
Tom - October
Krauthammer - November
Ibetolis - December
Joseph Campanella - January
Others who have commented saying they want to participate but haven't said for sure if they want to pick a movie: Wendymoon, Joseph and Adam. If any of you want to pick a movie and write it up I say the next four spots are yours since you did comment that you'd like to participate. If you just want to watch the movies selected and join in the discussion, that's fine too. Let me know.
*****2ND UPDATE*****
Also, I just want to let everyone know that if you have a date to do a post and don't want to, just let Marilyn, Rick or me know a little bit ahead of time and we can either take the date ourselves, see if anyone who hasn't done one wants to do a movie or if someone who has wants to do a second movie. Thanks.
*****3RD UPDATE*****
By Sunday I should have the widget and centralized post done for the Film Club. Once it's done I'll let everyone know.
112 comments:
I'm in!
Sounds like fun, I would try to join in as much as possible.
As for names, I like "The Oldest Established Permanent Floating" part, perhaps with something else on the end (I'm not opposed to something obvious) like "Flick Pick". (Even though the part you seem attached to is the "Crap" part, this seems to have little to do with the idea, unless the movie picks are all crap. And who wants that?)
"The Really, Really Big and Important Club" is probably too long ...
btw, that order's fine with me: you take second if you want I'll go third. If that's ok with everyone, that is ...
Pat, I would expect you to be a part of it, definitely. Thanks for volunteering.
Wendymoon, I actually don't care about the "crap" part much, I was just hoping we could come up with something eye-catching and I agree, "The Oldest Established Permanent Floating..." with something after it would be perfect. Something akin to "Film Discussion" without sounding as stuffy as "Film Discussion." I like using the word "Flick" though.
Rick, I love it. "The Really, Really Big and Important Club" sounds exactly like a club that would never have us so we could name our own club that and show 'em how big we all are!
And beyond the first order of Marilyn, me and you I have no idea how the order will be decided. I just listed the three of us since we came up with that in our comments about it. Maybe each month or right here in this thread people could just say "I'll be number seven" or whatever and if no one has any objections we go with it.
Speaking of rotating the blog picks it occurs to me that with many bloggers each of us will only have to pick one film every 12-18 months so right there, there's a lot less pressure on the individual bloggers to have to constantly be hosting the discussion.
I don't know how everyone else feels but for me I would like to pick movies that I either do not like, but not for aesthetic reasons, like some Rob Schneider movie, but a well made film that divides people's opinions due to its content or moral stance or a film that I do like but feel is misunderstood or too unfairly derided.
I don't want to go with obvious choices that have been talked to death already like Funny Games or The Dark Knight but something that doesn't get a lot of air time on the blogs but would nevertheless create debate on both sides. I have a few in my head but won't decide for a while, until we're past our first discussion hosted by Marilyn.
This sounds great, count me in. If that isn't too presumptuous?
As for names, I like Rick's 'The Really, Really Big and Important Club". Punchy and straight to the point.
Ibetolis, presumptious - not at all. Glad you want to do it. And it does feel really, really big and important, doesn't it?
Thanks, glad to be aboard.
It really, really does feel very big and very important.
I'd love to be a member of any group with a name like that.
Sounds like fun.
I wasn't intending "The Oldest Established.." to be the name, just that the idea of a floating film club reminded me of it. Really, Really Big and Important Club sounds good - it's the only way I'll ever get into one of those.
Joseph, I hope it's still fun when we start doing it and start ripping each others throats out. Oh wait a minute, that does sound like fun.
But Marilyn I like "the oldest established..." thingy. There's got to be a way to combine that with "really big and important" somehow.
How about The Oldest Established Really Important Film Club. It's a lie, of course, because we just started it, but that appeals to my sense of the absurd.
I like it! I'll give it my vote.
I think if we just let everyone say I'll go next, as you suggest, it'll work out just fine. I am getting a good vibe from this already, but I'll try to tamp it down.
And Marilyn, I vote for your name as well.
Me too (good vibe that is). And now alas, I'm not feeling too well and I'm off to get some rest. I hope there is plenty more discussion when I return though. And thanks for helping get the word out Rick.
Great idea! Just one question, what's the prize?
You caught me before I signed off. The prize, my dear Adam, is the satisfaction of knowing you are a part of something bigger than yourself.
Oh yeah, and a year's supply of Milk Duds, provided by Coosa Creek, Inc.
That'll be the day.
The actual prize is the undying respect and admiration of a swell bunch of bloggers and otherwise ne'er-do-wells.
Feel better, Jonathan.
Hi, Jonathan.
I was sure I heard someone call my name. So I thought it might be permissible to drop by.
You guys are so decent and lovely. Almost brings a tear to my eye...
Anyway...
Sounds good so far. I particularly like the suggestion of picking something provocative. Films that provoke extreme reactions can make for really interesting discussions.
Like if someone chose HARD CANDY, for example. Stuff like that can really set the fur flying.
Thanks for being so welcoming.
You're in the will or the Oscar speech - whichever comes first.
Oh, this sounds great. I would love to be in on this, if at all possible. Should give me something to write every year or so.
And provocative is good, a lot of these sorts of things can devolve into "movie sure was good, huh?" "yep."
I'm a member of "that other group" Marilyn was/is a member of, and each month it's been pretty horrifying seeing writers compose these huge posts and only one or two people leaving comments. I've been thinking of dropping out of it because I'm not that great at comments and, quite frankly, the clientele there I find somewhat intimidating.
My fear of joining another forum would be writing some huge post on a movie that no one comments on. I'm filled with enough self-loathing and paranoia as it is: why add to the burden?
Lots of good people are showing interest! This is promising. I can't wait to drop Girls Just Wanna Have Fun or Diary of the Dead on Bill... er, I mean, you guys!
Flickhead-
I feel what you're saying. I'm pretty sure all of us have had that moment where we craft - what feels to us - an awesome post and no one comments, but I think Jonathan's idea of having a rotating blog host will remedy that.
For lack of a better term, I think the forum will be "marketed" better with a rotating host. To be honest, I just found out that Film Of The Month blog existed about a month ago. I woulda visited if knew about it. Since it was stationary - so to speak - I think word of mouth was slow in spreading. But if we have it floating around it could pick up steam.
Anyway, sorry, that was kinda long-winded. I don't mean to pressure you. If you just wanna be a fan of ours and check in once in awhile we'd be just as honored.
Flickhead, I certainly feel your pain. I contributed to that thing exactly once, got a few comments, and that was that. I absolutely didn't have enough time to compose something every month, especially up to the high standards set by its members, and still maintain my own blog.
One of the reasons we started this is to have a place where you can actually dig deeper than just surface stuff -- how good the acting is, cinematography, etc. -- and talk about context, subtext, etc.
I feel that if we rotate the blog home, we will minimize the time commitment whilst maximizing the fun. At least that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
To me one of the pros for this is that you can have an unlimited amount of members but there will always be a core group (the ones who have commented here plus others who always make the rounds) that wants to select movies and write about them and others who won't have any pressure to pick a movie and write about it but simply can watch the movie announced and join in the conversation. I know for instance that Marilyn, Rick, Fox, Miranda, Bill (I'm assuming), myself will always want to be a part of choosing a movie and writing it up and everyone else is welcome to join in with no pressure of picking the movie. And if they want to write up a movie then they just say they want to do one. It's that easy. I'd love to see Arbo, Flickhead, Kimberly, Peter, Adam, Sheila, Piper, Dennis, Larry, Gloria, Brian, Ed and any other number of bloggers join in and pick movies too or if they don't want to, simply watch the movie listed and discuss it.
Another reason I'm looking forward to doing this is because it won't allow me to come up with excuses for not seeing a particular movie. There could be movies or directors I've always avoided or just kept pushing to the back of the line that I'll have to sit down and watch.
One of my only concerns with the rotating blogs would be those that have comment moderation. I wonder, is there any way, just to call out two that I know or suspect will take part, Marilyn and Peter, to turn it off just for the discussion post and then turn it back on once its done. I suppose for the day, or days, of the discussion that blogger could simply have their e-mail on the ready so they can rapidly approve the comment and put it up. I think it would hinder discussion if we are waiting for a comment to post and several are commenting around the same time, perhaps making the same points because they can't see what someone else has already written.
I understand why some bloggers like Arbogast wouldn't want to take it off as he is a known critic blogging anonymously and wouldn't want someone taking advantage of the moderation being off to out him but for Marilyn and Peter that wouldn't be an issue.
What the dick? When the shit did all this happen? Do you people ever turn off your computers?
Anyways, I'm in! Sounds good to me. When does this whole thing start? January?
(Fox - thanks for your comment on my McCarthy post. I responded...)
My computer is wired into my brain which allows me to post and comment on a moments notice.
And yes, it starts mid-January.
"The actual prize is the undying respect and admiration of a swell bunch of bloggers and otherwise ne'er-do-wells."
And isn't that so much more valuable than Milk Duds?
I like Miranda's idea - go provocative - always gets a good discussion going. I'm always fascinated when a lot of bloggers all have very different, individual takes on the same film (as has happened this year with such films as "Burn After Reading," "Happy Go Lucky," oh, and that Batman film.)
Sounds like a great group of participants here, and it can't be anything but good. Looking forward to this!
I have a feeling, with all these people jumping in saying they want to participate, that it's going to be difficult keeping up with it. Pardon me if this has been covered, and I missed it, but will there be an announcement at the end of each new post about where the next discussion is being held?
Pat, that was my idea too you know. Geez. But seriously, is there anything more valuable than Milk Duds? Really?
I hope no one picks a movie that's already been talked to death like Funny Games or The Dark Knight. I'm not saying they can't but I'd like the idea to be more about movies that we haven't seen discussed much around the web yet.
Bill, it shouldn't be difficult to keep up with at all. After the post is written we all discuss it. It won't be any different than what we do now with the single exception that, say, before you posted on Viridiana earlier in November, we would have all made a point to watch it before hand and it would have been announced that "the next movie will be Viridiana written up by and hosted by Bill."
That's the main difference. Also, we really want to talk about the film, the subtext, interpretations, etc rather than "It's a great movie, thanks for the write up!" There's nothing wrong with that but this the idea is hashing it out.
Jonathan-
Oh, I compeletely agree with you - let's not rehash old controversies. And maintstream films like "The Dark Knight" get talked to death everywhere, so for this club, I think you'd probably want to focus on films that are older and/or less well known.
There should be plenty of titles that would provoke some lively discussion.
One film discussion I might like to eventually host (when it comes out on DVD, which should be soon) is "I Served the King of England," a great Czech film I saw this summer which has garneed some mixed critical reactions. I know Marilyn has also seen it,and I'd be interested to hear what others think.
So there WILL be an announcement. Good.
When is it my turn? Because I'm going to choose the hell out of a movie when the time comes.
I think it would be easy to find out where the next crap game will be held. If Jonathan would be so gracious as to design a little ad, like the blogathon ads, we can all post it.
As for moderation of comments, I'm off of work between Christmas Eve and January 5 and a lot of that time will be devoted to making changes on my blog. I'll find a way to keep spam out so I can open the comments; there's got to be a way. I'm going to see about upgrading MT so that some of the annoyances on my site are abated.
David Hudson at Greencine Daily has always been very kind about publicizing things like this, so I think we can count on him to get the word out so we can have the entire blogosphere rolling in our firmament.
Count me in, both to comment and eventually to pick a film. I was/am also a member of that other film club, and have been fairly frustrated with the lack of activity and response over there. I joined that club in the first place because I love the idea of a monthly film club where we all talk about the same film. This sounds like it'll work much better.
I think it'd be a big help to have a widget that announces the current movie and where/when the discussion is going on, as well as what/where/when the next movie will be. Then we can all paste that on our sidebars for prominent advertising. One of the problems with that other forum is that nobody ever knew what the next movie would be so there was no time to get ahold of it and watch it before the discussion got started.
Pat and Bill - No order has been settled on yet except for Marilyn, me and Rick for the first three. I know both of you and Fox want to host a movie and I don't want to decide who goes when so everyone can volunteer to go at any point in the line and then discuss it here to determine who goes when.
Like Bill could say, "I want to go after Rick."
And then Fox would say, "No, I want to go after Rick!"
And then you'd say, "Fox, don't make me punch you in the mouth."
And then it would go back and forth and finally Marilyn would step in and say, "Bill you're fourth, Fox you're fifth" or vice versa and everyone would say "Okay" and shut up about it.
But seriously, Bill, Pat and Fox and everyone else who wants to pick a movie just suggest a time when you want to do it. We really are an agreeable bunch.
Marilyn and Ed - I'll work on designing a sidebar widget this weekend. Actually, I already designed a simple one but I need to make it a little bigger so movie info and blog location can be put on it.
No worries. I don't have to duke it out with anyone for a time slot.
Afte all, violence is never the answer. I'm all about peace, baby, peace.
I'm happy to host whenever a slot opens up and happy to chime on others' chosen films in the meantime.
Your truly,
Easygoing Pat
I have to admit, as much as I like discussion, I also like the idea that you have to know someone to find out where the next crap game will be held. Call it the Chicagoan thing about clout in me. But don't worry about that - I think we'd all like to have maximum participation.
finally Marilyn would step in and say, "Bill you're fourth, Fox you're fifth" or vice versa and everyone would say "Okay" and shut up about it.
Marilyn's mean ... I'd shut up about it if I were you guys ...
But I think, Jonathan, there'll always need to be a little top-down management, and it looks like between the several of us we can get it done.
A widget is a great idea, and it might also help to have a write-up that we can link to -- maybe Jonathan's will do -- to explain the concept a bit more.
I thought Marilyn had said she's tried to turn off comment moderation before, and it hasn't worked ...
Rick, Will you PLEASE read this comment thread before you speak for me. Oooh, that makes me SO MAD! I'm going to have to go kick a dog now.
Pat, thanks for the peace lovin' attitude.
Rick, you're right, I think it will be easy to work out. And I can modify this write up after we've commented it out to include a summation of everything said here that will act as a permanent link for any new reader who wants to join in and find out what the basic goal of the club is.
And I will never speak for Marilyn. I'm not stupid.
Y'all are funny.
And I definitely know something about funny.
I adore you, Pat. You have such great taste.
But I CAN NOT take credit for the provocative angle. Jonathan DID say it first. I just agreed with him.
Had to. Provocative is my middle name. You should see me OFF the net.
Anyway, I have recruited two fabulous men: Craig Kennedy (of LiC) and Nick Plowman (of Fataculture). They are both raring to go.
So I said I would speak for them initially (have to do everything for men - hold them by the hand and tell them where to park), but that they would have to e-mail or schmooze the proper people in order to know what was going on.
Eventually.
I mean, I can't be responsible for EVERYTHING.
But it looks like everything's crackling and getting off to an auspicious beginning.
*contented sigh*
I like the sound of this...
Marilyn, so sorry.
But you've proven my point that you're mean ... and I've got a dog you can kick if you're in need.
I hate to be a WordPress pimp, but I do nothing with comments ... they have this Askimet super-secret program that has a super-secret formula that does a good job of taking out the spam automatically. No stupid scrambled words, no secret handshakes, nothing.
Rick - I'd happily get on the WP bandwagon if I could migrate my entire site and learn the application easily. I'm hoping that an MT upgrade will be sufficient.
I'll join if Marilyn agrees to not kick the dog.
Kicking the dog ... is that an euphemism for something sinister? Or maybe like "jumping the shark" as in "Happy Days really kicked the dog in it's sixth season"?
I'm with Miranda: this strange thing is shaping up well.
Mea culpa on my incorrect attribution for the "provocative" angle. So, sorry Jonathan!
This is what happens when I try to skim long comments threads too quickly in an effort to catch up.
Rick, and everybody - I've personally never had a problem with spam. I get it occasionally, maybe once or twice every six months and that's it! Which is why I've never bothered with the word verification thingamabob. I hate that stuff. As you see here on my blog, you just type your comment and name and publish. Hint to other blogspot users: drop the word verification thing. If you get mega spammed put it back on but my hunch is, nothing's going to happen.
I also don't use the icons. It gets distracting on long comment posts to see all the pics of red cat's eyes, foxes and Arbo's character of the month covering up his face.
So who has the fourth spot? I'll take it, if it's still open.
I don't recall anyone picking it so it's yours.
As of now it would be Marilyn, me, Rick, Bill.
Anyone for spot number 5?
I'll volunteer for spot #5.
I'll take somewhere around spot #7 or so, as long as we're calling it.
As a Prisoner to this sort of thing, I'll take #6.
"Who is number one?"
"You are number six."
I've updated the post with the listings.
God almighty, scheduled 7 months out already! Good work, y'all.
And Jonathan, I get 400-500 spams -- some comments, but most spurious pingbacks -- a day. Askimet catches them all and then I can open up my bin and look at them, if I want. I usually just delete them.
I suspect Blogger is doing something similar on the front end it's just not telling you about.
400-500 a day? Wow, that's a lot. Blogger must be doing something then. Wordpress sounds like it allows you to look behind the scenes more whereas Blogger seems more for the novice who doesn't want to do that or figure the HTML out. I love the behind the scenes stuff myself but I'm not switching, too many links tied to this address to start over now.
Unfortunately too busy to claim a month, but I will happily participate in the discussions as people bring films forward!
Thank you for my coveted position @ #6.
"Be seeing you!"
Brian, I look forward to your participation and anytime you want to write up a movie yourself, let us know.
Flickhead - Welcome to the Village.
I'm going to choose a film to discuss this March! By hook or by crook, I will!
By Hook or By Crook. Sounds good, Bill. Nice choice.
Hm. The main character's name is "Shy". I wonder if that's relevant in some way.
I will take August... or September. Whichever Miranda wants I will take the other. I yield to the lady.
I wish Arbo wanted to play with us. I really like his takes on movies. Do you think he's embarrassed to be seen with us OUTSIDE of Cinema Styles?
I just don't think it's Arbo's kind of a thing but I'm sure he will be happy to discuss the movies when the posts go up.
I'm going to choose a film to discuss this March! By hook or by crook, I will!
As Gawd is my witness, ah will never go blogless again!
Any conceivable way in which I could, y'know, participate hereabouts?
Tom, if October's not too late for you, you can have that spot. Then we've almost got the year filled up. And of course please, please, watch the movies announced and discuss and debate them with everyone. I'm more than happy to have you as a part of it.
May I have November please Herr Johnathan?
But of course!
I was going to give up my spot in August if I couldn't switch with someone and just go on stand by.
Summer is ALWAYS really busy for me.
Summer and December would probably be the only times that it would be too hectic for me to take on hosting responsibilities. In addition to holiday season, December is also birthday month for me.
I'm counting down the days as we speak...
But I see that Fox said this: "I will take August...or September. Whichever Miranda wants I will take the other. I will yield to the lady."
Fox, you're a chivalrous sweetheart. That's awfully generous of you.
So, Jonathan...
Seeing as Fox has made it clear that he doesn't mind, may I switch with him and take September?
As Matty Walker said, "It's awful and it's horrible...and it's what I most want."
Miranda - Happy soon to be Birthday! I've made the switch.
Jesus, this is turning into a whole big thing now, isn't it?
This sounds like a great idea!
I'm totally down with picking a film. As long as you guys wouldn't mind watching CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST.
Seriously though, I'm in....
I know you're joking (aren't you?) about Cannibal Holocaust, but I have a feeling this club is going to force me to watch several films from which I have, for one reason or another, been intentionally keeping my distance. Which I suppose is a good thing.
I'd love to pick and host a film, count me in for whatever months you got spare.
Bill - I know how you feel, I go out of my way to avoid some films but I don't always think that's a good thing.
Yeah, I'll be fine if someone picks Cannibal Holocaust (for instance). It'll force my hand, and then I can say I've seen it, and put it behind me forever!
Joe and Ib, Welcome. good to have you aboard!
I'd love to be forced to watch movies that are, how shall we say it? Dodgy? That way, see, my wife can say "What the HELL are you doing with Cannibal Holocaust?" and I'll be all like "I've gotta watch it for my fellow really big club members. They're counting on me!"
It'll be sweet.
Rick, Bill, Joseph, Ibetolis -
Y'all can rest assured that I will take pleasure in having the power to make all of you watch whatever I want you to watch!
The Tales of Hoffman or Howling 3: Marsupials ... I haven't decided yet.
Thank you, Jonathan.
You are a peach...
I'd love to be forced to watch movies that are, how shall we say it? Dodgy? That way, see, my wife can say "What the HELL are you doing with Cannibal Holocaust?" and I'll be all like "I've gotta watch it for my fellow really big club members. They're counting on me!"
Rick -
Are you secretly hinting that you want me to pick Chasin' Pink (NSFW if you're thinking about Googling it!) when my month is up?
Sorry I've been off line today but on the good side, I'm a peach! Thank you Miranda. I've been telling people that for years and no one listens.
Now then, to be a pain in the ass organizer for a moment. I plan on picking a film I either don't like or others don't and I want to know why. However, I will not be picking something just for the sake of provocation. I will be picking something for the sake of both honest film discussion, i.e., how well the film accomplished its goals, its overall cinematic quality, etc. and, hopefully, something that challenges the viewer emotionally or intellectually or both. With that in mind - and this is simply my opinion so please chime in with yours - I would rather this not be used to simply pick a bunch of crappy exploitation flicks in a game of one-upmanship over the last film chosen. I'm not saying that is anyone's intention but I hope I'm not alone in the desire to really discuss great cinema and I think we have a wonderful opportunity here to do that.
I'm not trying to sound like a stick in the mud, really I'm not. I'm just saying there are so many great works of art out there that inspire both reverence and animosity in cinephiles that I think we have more than enough to choose from without being provocative simply for the sake of being provocative. In other words, and I am trusting Miranda is in agreement since she brought up the film Hard Candy, I would, and I think Miranda too, like to choose films that don't cause vehement disagreement because of how they're made so much as to what ideas they put forth in their making. I hope that makes sense. Everyone let me know.
And Joseph Campanella and Ibetolis will get the next two slots. Thanks to both of you for wanting to take part.
Well, here comes ol' Stick-in-the-Mud Jonathan, to ruin everyone's good time.
May I simply ask that nobody go for maximum pain? The White Elephant blogathon did me in with Theodore Rex. Remember this is time out of our lives we'll never get back!
What if Rick drops the 510 minute Satantago on us? Which he just might b/c he talks about that movie a lot.
Speaking of a Theodore Rex-like experience...
I watched The In Crowd last night, and it was a record-book dull experience. But when I listened to the commentary I kind of started liking it because the two actresses were so sweet and funny. They didn't try to pretend their movie was anything more than what it was and it was very charming.
Oh, you know, Satantango would be great. I would be grateful to be forced to watch that one. And we have a month between posts, after all.
Bill - Remember. There's animal cruelty in Satantango. Think of the kittens!
Yeah, Marilyn, I know. But I read recently that Tarr has claimed that the cat was always under the supervision of a vet, and that the cat later became Tarr's pet. So, if that's true, then I can handle it.
Does this mean I don't have to watch Cannibal Holocaust?
Oh, pooh...
Meanwhile, what's January's film? Shouldn't I be watching it soon?
Hi, everybody. It sucks being busy and not being able to engage in the comments. I wouldn't mind Satantango at all, but I don't want Rick to think he's being pressured to pick something he doesn't want to. Anyway, time to go put my stick back in the mud.
Oh if someone wants to pick Cannibal Holocaust that's fine too, I was just saying I want everyone to be excited about their choices and really expect they can get good discussion from them.
As for January, Marilyn suggested Guys and Dolls but I don't know if that's been confirmed or if she wants to do something else. It's up to Marilyn. She's got the pick.
Oh yeah...Flickhead has a point. But then again, you said this thing gets going mid-January, didn't you, Jonathan?
Yes, I picked Guys & Dolls and picked January 12 to start. That gives everyone enough time, I hope, to get the movie and watch it. I don't know whether it will stir up controversy, but I know some of the things I want to discuss.
Jonathan, so what you're saying is (I think)...
No provocation for provocation's sake. We don't have to pick something that's similar to a history lesson or morally uplifting.
But you don't want (and I don't think anybody else actually wants this either) groups of people divided with widely diverging viewpoints taunting each other over hard won stances and stating, "Yeah, well, you suck..."
HARD CANDY was the first film that I thought of when you were discussing provocative cinema.
I loved it. But there will always be a certain (fairly large) portion of people that will find it extremely offensive. If not completely out of bounds.
I respect their feelings completely. It's not for the faint of heart. In the same way that THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS isn't either.
I'll probably choose something that I own for the sake of familiarity. But my DVD library goes well into the hundreds and covers a lot of different genres. (Including some foreign films.)
So I could pick practically anything.
I'm not really too worried because I don't have to actually write and choose until next fall. By then a lot of people will have hosted so we'll all have a better idea of what works well and what doesn't.
So I'm really just content to listen and learn from you, Marilyn, Rick, Pat, Fox and everybody else here...
Guys and Dolls it is. And Miranda, that's an excellent summation of exactly what I was saying.
And Bill, you e-mailed me saying you wanted to do The Care Bears Movie. Does that still stand?
So it's Guys and Dolls and NOT Cannibal Holocaust...10-4, Eleanor...I'm off to Netflix...
I'm not really too worried because I don't have to actually write and choose until next fall. By then a lot of people will have hosted so we'll all have a better idea of what works well and what doesn't.
OR,... I could be murdered, Bill could become computer illiterate, Rick could go full-on monk, Lapper could "be over it", and Marilyn will have found a cooler group of boys to play with...
... then this will all be a distant memory.
P.S. If I AM murdered, will someone still do my month in my honor?
Lapper could "be over it"
If by that you mean "the whole blogging thing" I get those feelings at least two or three times a week and I'm still here so we should be okay.
As to Fox being murdered let me just be clear to everyone here: If some unlucky accident should befall him, if he should be shot in the head by a police officer, or if he should hang himself in his jail cell, or if he's struck by a bolt of lightening, then I'm going to blame some of the people in this room and that, I do not forgive. But, that aside, let me say that I swear, on the souls of my grandchildren, that I will not be the one to break the peace we have made here today.
or if he should hang himself in his jail cell
Sometimes the wireless here at Huntsville is really sketchy, and you guys have NO IDEA what it's like blogging in the middle of a prison riot.
Marilyn, as regards the kittens ... Tarr swore the cat wasn't harmed in the making of Satantango, and that in fact it's his pet, but he did have this suspicious-looking fur muffler around his neck.
And Fox: I can't go full monk until I go partial monk, which won't happen until January 5, 2010, in consonance with the new banking regulations. God's ways are mysterious.
Finally, I wasn't trying to suggest with my last comment that we do Jonathan's feared one-ups-manship. I plan to choose one I have seen but that I'd like to revisit with a community of serious-minded film folks and talk about. It will probably be a bit obscure, perhaps, to challenge folks (it may be a Tarr, but not the 510 minute Satantango, that's a major ordeal to watch if you like Tarr, as I certainly do.
EVERYONE-
I've never even seen CANNIBAL HOLOCAUST. Maybe I should pick it so we're all forced to watch it. I don't know though. I hear it's pretty bad.
I agree with Lapper, in that, the movies we pick should not just be the most obscure thing we can find, but should be a movie that will truly spark some intellectual film discussion and maybe turn some people on to movies that they may have never looked at otherwise.
Pumped about picking a movie. Even if it is in a year!
I would love to participate if you have any more room. I'm sorry I haven't visited this blog sooner...but thanks to Rick's advertising, here I am. :-)
Matthew, glad you'd like to participate. I'll put you on the blogroll.
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