I worked a lot of hours in August and I also spent a weekend in L.A. (doing non-movie watching things if you can imagine!), so my new-to-me count for August is pretty low. I mean, for me anyways. I did, however, manage to finish Paul Thomas Anderson’s filmography. If you’ve been paying attention for the last few months, you’ll’ve noticed that Kristen of SalesOnFilm and I had been watching a Paul Thomas Anderson film a month, working our way through his filmography. August’s movie was supposed to be Hard Eight (which we did watch, and I highly recommend), but then a sneak preview popped up at the Castro Theatre for The Master in 70mm, therefore there were two PTA films. I’ll elaborate more on that after the cut. Speaking of films on the big screen, while I was in L.A. I finally got to go to the Aero Theatre (still haven’t made it to the New Bev!) where I saw two Sam Fuller films (including Shock Corridor, which is even better on the big screen!). Last night I saw Vertigo in 70mm at the Castro. I hadn’t seen that film in a good ten years. Recently it usurped Citizen Kane on Sight & Sounds once-a-decade poll of the greatest films of all time. I gotta say, as great as Vertigo is, I gotta call bullshit on that. Lastly, I’ve been watching may way through all of Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle’s films that are available on DVD. I’ve still got quite a few left to watch. Boy do I love him. Oh, also when I was in L.A., I got to visit the boys at the Warner Archive. They even let me peak into the coveted DVD closet. I nearly passed out. I’m pretty sure that’s what Heaven looks like. Lastly, in case you missed it, I started writing Oscar Vault Monday again! It’s good to be back. As always, all my new-to-me films for the month are listed after the cut.

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