Hustler of Culture
42nd Street (1932): “This is not the same movie as ‘Miracle on 34th St. even though I spent the first 15 minutes wondering who played Kris Kringle.”
Notes: Seem at the glorious Stanford Theatre, as part of my ongoing quest so see every movie in the AFI 400.
Toronto Screen Shots is a new weblog covering cinematic happenings in Toronto, one of the world’s great cities for film lovers. The project is a joint collaboration between local bloggers Jay Kerr and James McNally, the later of which is a close friend. Jay I feel like I’ve met, don’t remember, and will feel like an imbecile when reminded.
Off The Menu: The Last Days of Chasen’s (1997): “What gives a life meaning is never for us to judge”
Notes: Documentary on the closing of the legendary Chasen’s restaurant, which entertained presidents and celebrities in Beverly Hills for 59 years. Focuses on the staff who from the general manager to the coat check girl, eached worked there over 30 years apiece.
I only went there once, for dinner on my 20th birthday, and I miss it. Heartbreakingly sad.
Sorry, Haters (2006): “No tragic event will give our lives the meaning we need to give to ourselves”
Notes: DVD comes with a roundtable discussion of the film’s issues that’s pretty dang interesting.
Big Rig (2007): “The largest economies in the world are balanced precariously on the backs of the citizens we pay the least and treat the worst.”
Notes: Documentary about truck drivers from the director of Scratch and Hype!. Seen in Austin during SXSW 2007 at the glorious Paramount theatre. Highly recommended.
Reign Over Me (2007): “The worst friendships remind of us of what we don’t have instead of what we do.”
Seen: At the Paramount Theatre in Austin during SXSW.
The skill of gymnastics meets the explosive force of karate. Gymkata!
Thank you to my friend Ernie for unearthing this memory I had supressed. One of the lengthy comments on the IMDB calls it “Enter The Mullet.”
The Sting (1973): “A well executed con should be both delicious in its complexity and just plain delicious too.”
Seen: At the magnificant and newly reopened El Cerrito Speakeasy.
I Know I’m Not Alone (2005): “The choice between politics and peace is entirely ours to rise to or fall short of.”
Notes: San Francisco musician Michael Franti visits Baghdad and Jerusalem in an attempt to understand the nature of occupation and conflict in the Middle East. His warmth can seem childlike and naive at times but his attempt at understanding an empathy is wide, deep and largely apolitical. A little film that holds a whole lot in its arms.
