10 RANDOM FILMS: 2007-09-04

Spellbound - One my favorite Hitchcock films, with a kickass Dali dream sequence and nice twists and turns which are neither gimmicky nor obvious, even to modern viewers. Psychiatry aspects are a bit hokey for today, but I understand that it was much of an improvement on contemporary depictions.

Waking Life - I saw this on my first date with what became my most serious girlfriend to date. Then it turned out that one of my co-workers was actually watching it. Then it turned out that his girlfriend's uncle was randomly in it. I think it's an underrated film because too many people were trying to make it into something it isn't - it needs to be appreciated as the dream it is, no lighter or heavier than that. Also my introduction to the overlooked Caveh Zahedi. It's really the subtler moments of this film that I like - much like most Linklater films - the nuances and transient pauses and inflections are just as important as the ideas and pseudologic.

Last Night - Why Dom McKellar isn't a bigger name I have yet to figure out. An anti-Armageddon released in the same year, this film is about the last day on Earth for the inhabitants of a city, the cause of which is never named. Which is besides the point - it's about people dropping the pretenses of society in the face of callous extinction. Men and women reaching dire self-actualization and realization in the absence of larger impersonal motives, whether it be having as much sex as possible, looting shops to complete personal collections, or merely trying to re-connect with another person. It's a beautiful bagatelle of a film that deserved a hell of a lot better reception than it actually got.

Go West - I seem to remember this one being a bit on the slow side until the last part, but I can't quite remember. Does this involve the bit cattle herd running rampant on Los Angeles?

Fireworks - fantastic; watched it bored one day at work (film library). Very weird and, imo, profound for its day and age

Spellbound - want to see but have not yet! oi.

Waking Life - hated until the last 10 minutes

Dr. NOP - like Hackers but even better!

Damn! Doctor NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!! </darthwhinybitch>

i do not like waking life though perhaps should give it a second chance.

Oh yeah, I forgot. Dr. No - an okay start to the series, but it's no Casino Royale. There, I said it. Connery-ism is capture-the-flag philia ("I got there first!").

I saw Wrong Is Right when I was 10 or 11, and all I remember is Connery and a nuclear bomb.

I saw Last Night years ago on a film festival, I really really liked it. You're description of it is nice, also it has a wonderful bit part by David Cronenberg.

I think I saw Mother and Son at the same festival. Can't remember much of it, except that it was very slow and painting-like and almost silent, but it still had a big emotional impact. Way better than the Hitler film by the same director, which they also showed there.

Only seen Spellbound and Fireworks. The latter is way hot, obv. I agree about the psychoanalysis of the former being hokey and disagree about it being one of his best.

the Frireworks guy is kind of a sicko.

I like the doc Spellbound better than the Hitchcock. and yes, teh McKellar is the best apocalyptic comedy (he is also mad sexy, I think).

Waking Life is my favorite R.L. film after D&C.

disagree about it being one of his best.

Ah, but I said favorite, not best.

When you said R.L. I seriously first thought of R.L. Stine. Uuuugh.

I don't remember David Cronenberg being in Last Night! What an amazing movie, though... I want to see it again.

I can't think of 10 random ones but I recently watched Science of Sleep which I liked a lot less than I hoped I would. And I started watchingt Quarelle which looks amazing but I was REALLLLLLLLY tired so I am starting over tonight.

Or, you know, Querelle.

(Actually 10 Random Films is a dormant running series of threads I've revived where I get a randomly generated list of ten films from a 6000 title list I have and bring them up for comment. But don't worry about it - more film talk is always welcome!)

The perfect film double bill for me was at the Curzon Soho in I think 2000 when the coupled Last Night with After Life. Possibly a little heavy...

(I love the guy ringing the gas customers and thanking them for their custom, it has a surreal finality about it above and beyond anything els in Last Night).

Wow, I wish I had seen those two together.

(I love the guy ringing the gas customers and thanking them for their custom, it has a surreal finality about it above and beyond anything els in Last Night).

Especially because it's David Cronenberg!