517 Films, 365 Days and a Year Filled with Cinema
I’m sure you’re probably wondering how I managed to watch so many films in one year. To answer that I have to give you a little background information. For about 9 months out of the year I was unemployed and for those other 3 months I was only employed about half-time. That left me with a lot of free time. I figured with so many free hours I ought to spend my time doing something I love and maybe something constructive as well. If you ask me, watching as many films as possible counts as something constructive. My brain hasn’t felt this stimulated in years. A lot of my viewing came courtesy of Netflix, instant Netflix and the best channel on television: Turner Classic Movies. Throughout this epic film-watching year I managed to watch all the remaining Best Picture Winners I hadn’t seen, as well as multiple classic horror films in October and about 38 of the top Film-Noir films (I plan on referring to November from now on as Noirvember). In fact, I watched so many wonderful films in the last year it’s hard for me to imagine there are any films left for me to watch in 2011. That is, until I look at my completely full Netflix queue and all the films TCM has scheduled in January and February that I haven’t seen.
Movie Quote of the Day – Dog Day Afternoon, 1975 (dir. Sidney Lumet)
Sonny: Is there any special country you want to go to?
[long pause]
Sal: Wyoming.
Sonny: No. . .Wyoming. . .that’s not a country.
[beat]
Sal: oh.
Sonny: That’s alright. I’m gonna take care of it.
Cinema Fanatic’s Favorite Fifteen Films of 2010
So we’ve gotten to the end of the year, which, of course, means end-of-the-year lists. I don’t think 2010 was the worst year ever, but it pales in comparison to 2009. Last year I was in love with so many films – starting very early in the year and continuing into January of this year with the films I wasn’t able to see before ’09 ended. I really just think 2010 will go down as a mediocre year. I did, however, still manage to come up with a list of my 15 favorite films of the year. I’d like to emphasize that this list is based on my favorites and not necessarily a “best” list. I’d also like to note that, unlike last year, I was able to see almost all of the 2010 releases I was interested in seeing before the New Year. There were three, however, that I missed that I wish I could have seen before making this list: The King’s Speech, 127 Hours and Blue Valentine. There’s no guarantee those would have made the list anyhow, but I still wish I could have seen them. Regardless, I did manage to see fifty-five 2010 releases this year, a personal record for new releases. I’d also like to note that I’ve seen over 500 new-to-me films this year, but I’ll make a proper round-up post for that tomorrow (I’m watching movies til Midnight tonight!).
The list is after the cut, because I think my #1 is a little shocking and I want to keep up the suspense.
Movie Quote of the Day – About Schmidt, 2002 (dir. Alexander Payne)
Sister Nadine Gautier: Dear Mr. Warren Schmidt, My name is sister Nadine Gautier, of the order of the Sisters of the Sacred Heart. I work in a small village near the town of Embeya in Tanzania. One of the children I care for is little Ndugu Umbu, the boy you sponsor. Ndugu is a very intelligent boy and very loving. He is an orphan. Recently he needed medical attention for an infection of the eye. But he is better now. He loves to eat melon and he loves to paint. Ndugu and I want you to know that he receives all of your letters. He hopes that you are happy in your life and healthy. He thinks of you everyday. And he wants very much your happiness. Ndugu is only 6 years old and cannot read or write. But, he has made for you a painting. He hopes that you will like his painting. Yours sincerely, Sister Nadine Gautier.
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Movie Quote of the Day – Shakespeare In Love, 1998 (dir. John Madden)
Philip Henslowe: The show must… you know…
William Shakespeare: [prompting] Go on!
Movie Quote of the Day – Labyrinth, 1986 (dir. Jim Henson)
Sarah: Give me the child.
Jareth: Sarah, beware. I have been generous up ’til now. I can be cruel.
Sarah: Generous? What have you done that’s generous?
Jareth: Everything! Everything that you wanted I have done. You asked that the child be taken. I took him. You cowered before me,I was frightening. I have reordered time. I have turned the world upside down, and I have done it all for you! I am exhausted from living up to your expectations of me. Isn’t that generous?
Oscar Vault Monday – Capote, 2005 (dir. Bennett Miller)
I remember seeing this film in theaters when it first came out and being completely swept away by its stark, simple beauty. It’s a film that is unrelenting from the beginning and doesn’t let up until the credits role. While Philip Seymour Hoffman is really the center of the film in a powerhouse performance as Truman Capote, it’s a wonderful ensemble filled with some of the greatest working character actors of modern cinema. It was nominated for five Oscars, winning one: Best Adapted Screenplay, Best Supporting Actress Catherine Keener, Best Actor Philip Seymour Hoffman (won), Best Director and Best Picture. It was up against Brokeback Mountain, Good Night, and Good Luck., Munich and winner Crash.
Movie Quote of the Day – The Lady From Shanghai, 1947 (dir. Orson Welles)
Michael O’Hara: Bannister’s note to the D.A. fixed it. l’d be innocent, officially. But that’s a big word, innocent. Stupid is more like it. Well, everybody is somebody’s fool. The only way to stay out of trouble is to grow old. So I guess l’ll concentrate on that. Maybe l’ll live so long that l’ll forget her. Maybe l’ll die. . .trying.
the diary of a film history fanatic 