I'm not getting paid for Cinema Styles and I never will. My job isn't to see every movie out there and report back to the world on how I think it went. My real job, in fact, is to do a lot of stuff that would bore most people to tears (including myself) and, as a result, I'll never write about it.Movies I see and write about because I love them.
When I see one I don't like, generally speaking, I don't write it up. Sometimes I do but not often. I'd rather promote the movies I think are worthwhile than pick apart a movie I don't like (although I have done it, don't get me wrong). Mainly, what I'm trying to say is, I no longer feel embarrassed about not having seen so many films that I want to see or that I should see. There are thousands of them and, frankly, if I started watching all the movies I haven't seen right now, and kept going around the clock for the next thirty years, I'd still miss some.
I'll see what I see, when I see them and if I don't, I don't.
Just a few years ago, when I started writing online, I remember thinking things like, "I can't admit I've never seen The Earrings of Madame de..." I felt I'd done something wrong by not seeing it and every other classic film out there. But then, The Earrings of Madame de... showed up at the AFI, I saw it on the big screen and I loved it. So it all worked out. It took me until my forties to see it but so what, right?
None of this sounds like a big deal to most people but to a bonafide film lover it's a hard thing to
accept. That is, to accept that you're never going to see them all and that's okay. With each passing year I see fewer new movies in release and more classic films and it's still not enough. In fact, there are more directors whose entire oeuvre I haven't seen than directors in which I have. Chaplin, Keaton, Kurosawa, Fellini? Nope. I've seen plenty of their works but not all. Hell, there are big time directors of which only one or two of their films I've seen. Claude Chabrol I never saw until Ray Young of Flickhead had his blogathon a couple of years back. How pathetic is that?Of course, let's be honest, it's not easy seeing the entire life work of any one director but even harder for one pre-1970s. Back then they directed hundreds of movies in a career. John Ford? He directed 146 movies. I'll never see them all. Michael Curtiz? 173. Forget about it. D.W. Griffith? 535! That's five hundred and thirty five! I just... I mean... it's... 535! Okay, so a lot of them are shorts but they're still the works of Griffith and, brother, I'm never seeing all of them.
And I wouldn't want to. I've got limited time, both daily and over the long haul. Why go for quantity over quality? However, there are some directors for which I have seen all their works (and I'm not counting one and outs like Charles Laughton) but it's usually because their output wasn't tremendous in quantity. One that immediately come to mind is Stanley Kubrick but, really, even casual film fans have probably seen at least half of his movies.
So as my time wanes and the decades spent obsessing about movies mount up, it's time to stop worrying about what classic films I still haven't seen and take it easy. The truth, for all of us, is that none of us will ever see more movies than movies we won't see. The overwhelming numbers means that even the most obsessed and dedicated movie fan will never see more than a fraction of a percent of all movies ever made. Think of that. Most movies ever made will go unseen by all of us! It's a difficult thought to consider but one the movie lover must acknowledge. And once you do, once you break free of the delusion that you have to see everything, somehow, inexplicably, the movies seem even better. And that's something I accept, unconditionally.
36 comments:
The Earrings of Madame de ...? At the AFI? Silver? In Maryland? A couple of years, I think.
If it was the Saturday night showing, Katie-Bar-The-Door and I were there, too. We hadn't seen it either.
Great movie.
I never realized until the advent of the Internet how lucky I was growing up with opportunities to see a lot of classic films on TV, and I do mean a lot - it wasn't on the big-screen, but it was better than not seeing them at all. I'll keep chipping away at the edifice tho, one film at a time. Keep writing about films you like, it's the real dessert in the process.
tdraicer: I find I'm watching fewer new movies and more tv: anything by Joss Whedon, A Game of Thrones, lots of British stuff (the advantage of a multi-region player and Amazon UK). I still love movies, but there is a novelistic aspect to great tv (literally in the case of Thrones) that can make even long movies seem like short stories.
And when I do watch a movie, it is often a favorite I've seen before; sometimes (if it was on Million Dollar Movie when I was a kid) countless times.
There is room in my life for new (or new-to-me) films, but between tv and rewatching, not that much.
I think the quantity thing comes when the fever first comes over one. I didn't become a serious cinephile until I was about 40. I had seen a lot of films that cinephiles see, but more by chance than by design. I knew I had a lot of work to do, and I did it. As I started to feel like I had a grasp on the "majors," I started trying to please myself and follow my own nose more. Now, I don't feel compelled to see much of anything except when I'm doing film festival coverage. I don't know it all, and never aspired to, and I know I'll never rival people like Jonathan Rosenbaum for depth and breadth, but I do all right by a lot of people's standards and that's just fine.
I saw The Squaw Man back in 1918..that was enough for me.
I often find myself wishing some strange force of nature would strike all the tv networks from the airwaves so I would be forced to re-watch all the over 300 movie titles on DVD I've amassed over the years.I have a habit of somehow prefering to watch movies I have on dvd when they turn up on network tv..I did this back in the days of VHS too..
MM, I can't recall if it was the Saturday night showing or not but, yes, it was a couple of years ago at the AFI Silver in Maryland. I've seen a few old movies there for the first time and what a great place to see them.
Vanwall, seeing old films on tv is how I've seen the overwhelming majority of old films. I've been lucky to see many at revival showings and regularly at the AFI but, for the most part, tv's been it. I saw Citizen Kane around 10 times on tv before finally seeing it on the big screen in 1988 at the old Key Theatre in DC.
And when I do watch a movie, it is often a favorite I've seen before
I've had that problem for years, which, of course, isn't really a problem. I'll get a dvd from Netflix (or just rent one online from Amazon or i-tunes) that I've never seen (and, at first, seem excited to see) and then - nothing. It just sits there while I watch some comfort movie I've seen 27 times before.
Also, with tv, I watch them online or DVD after they've concluded their run or season so I go through them in a week or two and I'm done. Game of Thrones is on Netflix Instant now, I see. Maybe that'll be my next one.
Now, I don't feel compelled to see much of anything except when I'm doing film festival coverage.
I'm kind of surprised (hence this post) at how little compulsion I feel to see anything new anymore. And I mean at the time of release (I'll still rent something within a year or so of its release if it is of interest to me). Right now I want to see Tree of Life and will (it's at the AFI through July) but that's all.
Also, just as a footnote, I haven't even seen all of Terence Mallick's movies, and the guy's only done, what, five? The New World I still haven't seen.
I saw The Squaw Man back in 1918..that was enough for me
If this were Facebook, I'd give that comment a big "like."
Christopher, I too (and I'm sure everyone here) watch movies on tv that I have on DVD just a few feet away from me. It's weird but falls into the same comfort movie category tdraicer and I were talking about. A cherished (or just well liked) movie can grab a hold of you the second you see a moment from it as you flip through the channels. I don't try to fight it.
Greg -
I love this post. This is a state of mind I'd like to get to.
Right now, I'm in a bit of a compulsive stage, but that's mainly because I'm preparing to submit a vote and write for the "50 Greatest Musicals of All-Time" series at Wonders in the Dark in August. So sometimes, I watch two musicals a night - revisiting many, seeing some others for the first time to fill in gaps in my musical knowledge. It's not unlike the stage that Marilyn describes.
But just two weeks ago I saw "Night of the Hunter" for the very first time. I think I beat myself up for maybe 10 minutes for taking 51(!) years to get around to seeing it, but them I just concentrated on what a great, thrilling, terrifying-yet-beautiful movie it is and how wonderful it was to have seen it at all. So I'm getting there.
And my secret shame is that I've never seen any of Godard (unless you count the showing of "Vire Sa Vie" that I slept through in my college Intro to Film class.)
Pat, Night of the Hunter really is the greatest movie ever made by a director who only directed one movie.
And there are plenty of directors, from Resnais to Ozu to Godard, where I've only seen one or two of their films. Bresson, I've seen one. Others, like Truffaut or Bergman, I've seen several. A lot of it has to do with knowing your own sensibilities and knowing what movies will appeal to you and which ones won't. We see as many as we can because sometimes we're wrong about that but that still plays into it.
I'd love to have someone stop by and say, "You know, I still haven't seen any Spielberg." Or Hitchcock. Or Scorsese.
Pat - I can't wait to see your musicals list. Please let me know when it's up.
Well, we could make this into a game of cinematic confessions. (Cough, neverseenanyTarkovsky, cough). It's all fun and games until someone says they've never seen Citizen Kane.
I think I have a touch of the compulsion, especially when I'm confronted with some new list of essential films, but my time never keeps up with my appetite. I can live with that.
Great post, Greg. If you want to start a cinephile advice column ("Dear Godardian..."), I'll support you.
Marilyn, are you doing anything for good old Sam and the Wonders in the Dark musical series? I'm not but maybe I should. Sam and Allen, by the way, are probably the closest I'll ever come to knowing cinephiles who have seen maybe double what the average cinephile has seen.
Rachel, if I start a cinephile advice column, I'll credit you with the idea.
It would be odd to meet a cinephile who hadn't seen Citizen Kane but I know for myself, I read about it for a few years before I finally had the chance to see it. Keep in mind, these were the days before cable, video and online demand. Still, it was actually nice to take in other film works first and get a basic feel for cinema before jumping in to Kane. That way, its greatest stood out more.
I had the incredible pleasure of watching Citizen Kane (I think it was my second viewing), with a friend who had never, ever, been spoiled about the ending. We were in college at the time. After that final shot, said friend jumps up in his chair, yells, "What!", sputters for a few minutes, and then slumps back with this look of complete disbelief.
tdraicer:
>Also, with tv, I watch them online or DVD after they've concluded their run or season so I go through them in a week or two and I'm done.
I generally do that, though in some cases I lack the patience to wait for the dvd release.
>Game of Thrones is on Netflix Instant now, I see. Maybe that'll be my next one.
If you've read the book, it as good an adaptation as one could even unreasonably expect. If you haven't, don't think you've pinned down where it is going in the first episode: Martin has a lot of tricks up his sleeve.
>It's all fun and games until someone says they've never seen Citizen Kane.
Wish I'd written that.
I turly don't want to discourage anyone, but the Musicals series at Wonders in the Dark isn't quite a blogathon; it's one of their trademark, one-post-per-day lists (like the recent list of top noir films). The plan is that Allan Fish, Sam and I will be choosing the top 50 and dividing the writing amongst ourselves. (Details are here: http://wondersinthedark.wordpress.com/2011/05/31/buster-keaton-bob-clark-the-tree-of-life-midnight-in-paris-went-the-day-well-and-staging-of-tennessee-williamss-one-arm-on-tuesday-morning-diary-june-1/)
I'm hoping at some point to post my personal list up at my own place - I've been working on it, and it's breaking my heart to limit it to 50, so when I post it, it'll have a significant nubmer of "honorable mentions."
Rachel, how is it possible someone didn't know what Rosebud was?! That's one of those things I don't even bother putting "spoiler alert" in front of anymore because I just figure everyone knows it. Amazing.
tdraicer, it's funny because I know someone who's been watching Game of Thrones and they like it a lot so it was already on my radar. Now with a second recommendation I'll probably start watching it.
>It's all fun and games until someone says they've never seen Citizen Kane.
Wish I'd written that.
Well, you copied and pasted it. I mean, that's something, right?
Pat, that makes sense and I look forward to your list. You've probably seen more than I've seen. Most of my favorites are from the thirties, including the Maurice Chevalier/Jeanette MacDonald vehicle Love Me Tonight. It wasn't until the last five years or so that I really starting seeing and loving those early musicals.
Coincidence! "Love Me Tonight" is on its way to my house from Netflix right now! I saw it in college and loved it then, but need to give it another look.
I've especially liked revisiting the Warner Brothers musicals of the early 30s - "42nd Street," "Footlight Parade" and so forth. Great Busby Berkely choreography and lots of great backstage wisecracking generously laced with pre-code innuendo.
Oh, I think you'll still like it very much, Pat. And those Busby Berkely musicals are just great.
my likes in film have a habit of running with the seasons..In the spring and Summer I like Westerns,50's sci fi,drive-in type films and 60s and 70s films.in Fall and winter its Horror,historical cassics and screwball comedies and musicals for the holiday season..My recent viewing was With Six You Get Eggroll,The Flim Flam Man,Fighting Mad,Dirty Mary and Crazy Larry,Kronos and The Town That Dreaded Sundown..I also re-watched Night Of the Hunter..
The weird thing is I've been recording TCM for while on 1.5G external drives, that I buy on sale at Fry's, (Niiirrvaaannaaa) which each hold about 215 to 250 or so flicks, so I'm up to eight drives and about 1800 or so, and it is really a time trip to record so many films I saw as a kid - I pick and choose, but so many are old friends. It really hit me when "Heat Lightning" was on, I was so flashing back to our house in AZ where I first saw that film on TV. Times were different back then, but now look the same after all.
historical cassics and screwball comedies and musicals for the holiday season
Oddly enough, I do too. Hmmm, we're connected, you and I.
Vanwall, I love using movies as a time capsule. Really, truly do. I think it's one of the big reasons I love cinema so much because whenever the movie was made, there, on the screen, is that time! It's an amazing way to transport yourself.
This is the proper philosophy about film watching. I must refer this essay to my WitD colleague Allan Fish, who harrasses me daily to reform my ways and embark on a New World Order, which is in a nutshell to watch every single film ever made.
Thanks but no thanks!
But Sam, I still consider you one of the most well-versed film watchers I know. As I wrote earlier in this thread:
Sam and Allen, by the way, are probably the closest I'll ever come to knowing cinephiles who have seen maybe double what the average cinephile has seen.
I now see I spelled Allan's name wrong. Sorry about that. But your point is taken. Let Allan know that once you've seen enough of what's out there, and the two of you have, take it easy. Being in love with the movies is about nurturing that love, not bombarding it.
Thanks for that heads-up Greg! I'll admit I quickly skimmed the comments section before adding my two cents, and somehow missed what you said about Allan and I and the WitD musical countdown.
The parameters of the countdown by the way with include Top 50 ballots cast from Pat, Allan and myself to reach a final tabulation. I am seriously considering adding at least two other people into the mix as far as "ballots" go, though whoever they wind up to be, they are not bound to write any essays unless they want to. As the musical genre generally doesn't appeal to the younger bloggers (say ages 20 to 40 for the most part) I was thinking that the two extra voters, should come from Washington D.C. and Chicago. One a male, the other a female. Do you have any idea if such individuals exist?
What it would all mean is this: Five people (Pat Perry, Allan Fish, Yours Truly and the two mystery people) would cast ballots of their Top 50 musical films of all-time (these individual results would subsequently appear on the threads at WitD at some point) and they would be tabulated together with a composite 50.
50 modestly-sized essays would be written on a day to day basis (weekends excluded) by myself, Pat and Allan, with contributions from the other two completely optional) from August 15 till some date in October in reverse order from 50 to 1.
The point is I am trying to get a range of opinions from the bloggers who I see as best versed to give the blogosphere a consumate opinion as to the greatest musical films out there.
Sam, I can't think of anyone in DC or Chicago that fits the bill but if you can't find anyone, I'm sure Marilyn and I would be happy to do it. I know I would. In fact, I live in the DC area so it's almost like you were talking about... wait a minute.
It's good to know I wouldn't be obligated to write anything as I'm posting here, at TCM, at the Gunslinger and at tumblr so, really, right now a list sounds about right. And I'd love to go through all the musicals I've seen, revisit some and ask myself which ones I'd rank where and why. I'm in!
And thanks for asking, I appreciate it.
Greg: The Top 50 list would be more than enough!
If we can get the votes of the five people I specified we can arrive at a most comprehensive final result!
Great news!
Greg, I was going to ask that you not forget recent musicals when considering your list, but then I thought that might drive you to watch "Repo: A Genetic Opera" and you just simply don't deserve that...I mean, you deserve a lot, but not that.
I go on little binges from time to time (I've done a few with musicals from the 40s and 50s), but usually it's simply out of the sheer enjoyment I get from something I've just watched and I want to see more of it. I can't help but want to see them all, but the great ones are always followed by a few that don't tickle me as much, so I tend to develop a picking strategy. That kinda happens across any genre and fits into your general premise of "I don't really WANT to see EVERY movie ever made..."
I do need to see more of the 30s musicals though - I've dabbled a bit (Footlight Parade being my favourite - and not just because of the gorgeous Joan Blondell...Sigh...), but still haven't even caught up with Love Me Tonight. Been on "the list" for awhile.
As much as I do agree with your overall post, I do still keep that "list" though. I build it in different degrees from recommendations, blog posts and many of those list-books. Something like "1001 Movies To See Before You Die" is a fun thing to browse and have steer you towards new avenues. Though some people may look at it as a mission to see everything in it, I just like using it as a guide as well as occasionally to re-thumb my way through and suddenly recognize a film I had simply passed by before.
It has also occasionally "forced" me to delve into an area I previously hadn't been interested. For whatever reason, I was never really compelled to see "400 Blows". I had seen a few later Truffaults, liked them well enough and was ready to move on. I knew of the final scene, of course, and thought I mostly knew what the story would be about. I eventually caved and thought, "OK, I should really see this". Kinda felt like Pat did once he saw Night Of The Hunter - why did I wait so long!?
But in the end, you're right...The passion for watching film should never become overshadowed by a feeling of being "behind" in your viewing. I find more to like in recent movies than you do typically, but I'm also way "behind" what many of my friends see. It's OK though - I got to see "Black Narcissus" on the big screen and that was a joy.
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