The Liverish Liverpudlian

And here's the latest vid's on Terence Davies: ... in conversation with Noah Cowan http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8tWE2oDvYE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=22WhgdAIlCk
— June 18, 2010 4:08 p.m.

The Liverish Liverpudlian

They still show this on UCSD-TV once a month or so. I missed out on going the night they had it because I wan't to see 'A Serious Man' on it's first night here. Queer priorities... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J85EWN-nB4U
— June 18, 2010 3:51 p.m.

Back to the Future

And it is good!
— June 9, 2010 2:57 p.m.

A Map of the World

MsGrant said: "Who is being superficial here? You just equated looks with age, dumb-dumb..." You really think, MsG, that people aren't commonly judged by how they look, especially movie stars as they've aged through the decades? Everyone makes assumptions on who people are by what visual impression they make. I never said I was above all that, seeing as how I too am human (in my way). People change (outside and in) after that amount of time. It's not wrong, or worth calling superficial, one who is merely making a small, passing mention of the fact someone has changed a bit in their looks after a decade+. But that's not even what I was saying: my point was what an a**hole-like thing it is to base someones "looks" on a bad photo. My critique of CuddleFish's superficiality was in how disproportionately he focused on one bad head-snapshot to argue about Ms. Weaver being "At the very most .. plain". As to my redundant "Over a decade back, when she was nearly 11 years younger", I plead guilty. I was driving the point home that this cruel faceshot was taken very recently, well over a decade after this film 'A Map of the World' -- which is supposed to be the reference point, not some dumb, uncharacteristic paparazzi shot.
— June 2, 2010 5:24 p.m.

Back to the Future

The Ken has never been generous with showing other German silent films. 'The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari' is one I'd certainly get up for (funny reading recently that it's one of Mike Leigh's all-time fav's!).
— June 2, 2010 5:23 p.m.

A Map of the World

You have the right to that opinion about Sigourney Weaver's looks, CuddleFish (in other words, you have the rightto make an ass of yourself, getting people to look at an unflattering head shot). But keep in mind: the beauty of Ms. Weaver that Duncan Shepherd may have been "blinded by", could quite possibly be referring to something beyond her looks. He did write that over a decade back, when she was nearly 11 years younger, besides, and your superficial ass-face still hasn't seen this wonderful movie. So...the Cuddle rots first from his Fish Head?
— May 30, 2010 3:23 p.m.

Little Wonder

Five+ hours are more than enough for a finer pursuit (and one that won't give one melanoma), which is: give the beautiful, masterly 'Mystic River' a second chance, uninterrupted, then quietly reflect on how very, very, very wrong you were. I read most of that needless, foolhardy thread (http://www.sandiegoreader.com/news/2010/feb/03/mo…) from a few weeks back, and can say that with the exception of a couple single-posters, that was a sucky-ass thread. I'm glad I can say I wasn't a part of it. I know many couldn't "relate" to the Tim Robbins character, couldn't empathize. And I know a "bad" or "too contrived" ending can spoil a whole movie for many folks. But -call me less than tolerant- I have one word for those who say this and that('Mystic River' "sucked" because of the "most amazing of coincidences" that concluded the drama, was shizzyfinn's conclusion), and that is: imbecile. Because they are intolerant of art, asking that it be easier to comprehend than life, more logical. We need art to provide a condensing focus on reality, not to unfold all the creases to make it flatly obvious (see 'L.A. Confidential'), or to add extra complications to create pointless obscurantism (see 'Shutter Island'). The greatest of art (like the movies of 'Mystic River' or 'The Bridges of Madison County', not the books) is not easy, it's a moral as well as intellectual challenge. Some of us, regardless of how smart we are, aren't up to the challenge. Please note: I do not mean those who dislike this movie, even hate it, are immoral, only that viewing a movie of this high a caliber is itself a moral act, like the making of it was. to meet such a summit half-way requires some true skill. It helps t have a sherpa of the expertise of Duncan Shepherd, to help those who know as well the art of viewing as reading.
— March 12, 2010 4:44 p.m.

Head to Head

joeb, that's not "too clever", that's merely the game they play on NPR's nightly classical puzzle game. I once submited a recording of "Pick A Bale Of Cotton" in the style of Olivier Messiaen, which they didn't use, those bastards. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oE9QYkkxyVQ plus http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NSdXitBkFb0 Imagine that.
— March 12, 2010 3:40 p.m.

Look What Santa Brought

"Maybe Nine will inspire some to seek out Fellini's wonderfully underrated 8 1/2." Did he really mean "underrated"? You've got to be the original inspiration for the phrase "joshing", right? I mean - hows about a little respect for history, fella?! This Fellini was almost instantly branded a masterpiece in all quarters 'cross the planet in 1963... maybe the constipated 'Films in Review' didn't praise it that highly -a few others at the time- but nearly all and sundry praise it now as such.
— January 20, 2010 6:30 p.m.

New World Disorder

By rickeysays: "John, your bloviation is matched only by your pretentiousness. It's no wonder you admire Duncan so much." Here I must espouse my colleague (!?) johnrubio, for whom I share the habit on the Net of griping and whining from the land of Pleonasia, so far from that elevated utopia know as Laconia. We can't all be pithy li'l princes and princesses. I was originally going to comment here late afternoon on the 18th of December...something like: "Woodwork squeaks, and out come the freaks - out come the '300' fanboys -out come the servile 'Dark Knight'er's -and out come the 'Avatar' would-be 'Pandora' citizens." and went on to castigate the legions of what I fallaciously branded a "Mindless Mob". But then I thought better, I deleted my Cyberweb censure and went to see the Cameron opus for myself. Yea -I say unto ye all- I have been converted! I too am looking to buy real estate on 'Pandora' and go hear more about my new great passions on my Blog: http://www.Iam-so-veryboredandlonely_pleaselookat… No, really: viva the li'l Shepherd from Kingdom Come! Hallelujah, I ain't gonna let no man stand between me and my glory! Can't you see we's dyed-in-the-wool by the bloody spirit? Feck off, heathens.
— January 20, 2010 5:59 p.m.