Favorites Of 1999

[oscar jubis]

So nice of you to show interest in it. I'd send you a signed book but all that's left is my own copy. Martel's trilogy is definitely a must-watch and well worth studying. The book is a revised version of a thesis I wrote in 2009 which I insisted on making available for free because of the institutional pricing adopted by the publisher.
Free download here:
http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/oa_theses/234/

My most recent publication consists of a couple of essays included in this book, released 2 mos. ago on Intellect Press:
http://www.amazon.com/Directory-Worl.../dp/1841505633
If you like French cinema, or are curious about it, I highly and prejudicially recommend it.

I am in the tortuous process of writing a second book, with the very provisional title:
Freedom and Closure in Modernist Cinema: Antonioni/Resnais/Duras/Haneke/Martel
I expect to finish it next spring and then submit to editors and peers for review.
If all goes well, that is.

[Johann]

Fair enough.
I don't think I'd have enough to say to fill out a whole book, on one film one director or many.
So Bravo to you for being able to do it!

[Chris Knipp]

It's a small book. . .

I'm starting to get interested too. And I agree on Cruise.

[wpqx]

I plan on eventually revisiting Eyes Wide Shut, as well as all of Kubrick's films, but it might take awhile. If I find that book I'll most likely check it out.

[Sano]

Boy, this is a very difficult year. Lots of great films, so this list has to be taken with a grain of salt.


1. Pola X (Les Carax / France, Switzerland, Germany, Japan)
2. Being John Malkovich (Spike Jonze / USA)
3. Sweet and Lowdown (Woody Allen / USA)
4. Human Resources (Laurent Cantet / France, UK)
5. Jesus' Son (Alison Maclean / Canada, USA)
6. The Wind will carry us (Abbas Kiarostami / Iran, France)
7. Magnolia (Paul Thomas Anderson / USA)
8. Eyes Wide Shut (Stanley Kubrick / USA, UK)
9. Bringing out the Dead (Martin Scorsese / USA)
10. Balkan baroque (Pierre Coulibeuf / France)

[oscar jubis]

Eyes Wide Shut and The Wind Will Carry Us are masterful and I'm glad to find them on your list. You do like Woody Allen, don't you? Did you watch Rosetta by the Dardennes?

[Sano]

I like Woody Allen, but not as much as it might apeear. I'm one of the very few people (Ih ope there ARE OTHERS) who thinks that Sweet and Lowdown and Celebrity are the two best films from the 15 films of his I've seen so far. But I'd like to rewatch Celebrity. Last time I saw it, I liked it even more than its inspiration, La dolce vita by Fellini. The cinematography is just masterful. I think it was the last film Sven Nyqvist shot...

I saw Rosetta, and though i liked it a lot, I didn't find it as masterful as the majority of people. I enjoyed their subsequent "Le fils" (2002) much more. Haven't seen L'enfant yet, and La Promesse is sitting on my shelf for a long time now. So many films, so little time ;-)

[oscar jubis]

Originally posted by Sano
But I'd like to rewatch Celebrity. Last time I saw it, I liked it even more than its inspiration, La dolce vita by Fellini.

You've certainly managed to raise my bushy eyebrows as high as they can go.

The cinematography is just masterful. I think it was the last film Sven Nyqvist shot...

Nykvist's last lensing job was Peter Yates' Curtain Call.

[Chris Knipp]

I would second Oscar on Celebrity--pretty forgettable.