A Trip to the Cinema
After yet another week of the world disintegrating around our ears, I don’t have the wherewithal to plumb my depths today. (That’s what she said.)
Let’s talk about movies instead. I have watched some out-there stuff lately and discovered a couple of new Letterboxd lists worth exploring.
I keep telling myself, do not save any more lists. You have enough to get through as it is. But then I’ll find another fascinating one I can’t resist and make my pile of to-watch movies ever higher. In the past few weeks, I have added A History of Sex in Cinema (how could I not?), a documentary list that goes ALL over the map in delightful ways, and a gargantuan list of exploitation films that runs from 1896-1995. No wonder I never go out anymore.
I’m working my way through Judy Garland’s movies, because my god she’s amazing, and I highly recommend her version of A Star is Born from 1954. First off, watching her sing “The Man That Got Away” made me want to run out and audition for musical theater again. Or perhaps pursue my dream of becoming a lounge singer. Even if you don’t watch the movie, watch the clip on YouTube. That woman’s voice could power small cities.
From the same era but the other side of the world is Good Morning, a lovely little Japanese film that I mostly watched for the visuals. The storyline is a little silly - which is the point - but holy moses is this thing GORgeous. Saturated colors, tons of little set-pieces to discover in the background, and just the general fascination of observing the minutiae of life in another culture. Fans of the midcentury modern aesthetic will totally dig it.
I’d always heard about The Children’s Hour and how ‘scandalous!’ it was. I suppose in 1961 it was pretty shocking. But what’s really impressive is how they were able to get through the entire movie without once uttering the word ‘lesbian.’ Major props to the writers for that feat. James Garner plays the hapless boyfriend and does so with the world’s most chiseled jawline. Audrey Hepburn plays Audrey Hepburn (I’m not a fan; sue me). And Shirley MacLaine gets a role full of wistful stares and Oscar-ready emotional monologues. Bonus: super-hammy child actors.
The 1970s is my favorite film era, so I don’t know how I’d never seen Carnal Knowledge before. Y’all, this movie is GOOD. Jack Nicholson, Candice Bergen, Art Garfunkel (beg pardon?), Ann-Margret. It’s Mike Nichols’ first film and the dialogue is just crackling good. It’s sexist but then it’s not. It’s reflective of the era, in that sexism was still pervasive in relationships but women were also starting to say, fuck off no thanks. In the beginning, you may be turned off by Jack being his most sleazily leering but stick with it; he calms down and really digs into his acting chops.
Okay, I’m going to end on one that may make you break up with me. It’s Russian. It’s 2 hours and 45 minutes long. It’s about the futility of aspirational existence (I told you, it’s Russian.) But I watched it two weeks ago and I’m still thinking about it. The description of Stalker on IMDB states, “A guide leads two men through an area known as the Zone to find a room that grants wishes.” Technically yes, that is what happens. But the cinematography and art direction are astounding, and the dialogue is deep and thought-provoking. This was famed director Andrei Tarkovsky’s last film and many believe it killed him; much of it was shot at an abandoned power plant in Estonia that was ridden with chemicals. This is not a feel-good movie. But when you’re in the right mood, it’s a beautiful experience.
I should watch a rom-com at some point I guess.