from "Flight of the Red Balloon"
Through Jim Emerson, who voted in the thing, here’s the annual Village Voice/L.A. Weekly critics poll. I like it because it’s got a film on it I actually have seen, right here in Tuscaloosa, through the magic of Netflix. This is a critics poll, and some folks think they’re more subject to group think than individual lists. I think that they’re generally the people who don’t get to vote in the polls.
- Wall-E (Andrew Stanton, U.S.): Maybe it’s time I saw this thing, though I’ve been resisting it for months. I think I can get it on Blu-ray from Netflix, so at leas it won’t cost anything beyond the monthly fee, and the Blu-ray will deaden the pain.
- The Flight of the Red Balloon. Here’s one that I saw and really liked, and will be on the list of films I have seen this year and liked, if I ever get around to writing one.
- Happy-Go-Lucky (Mike Leigh, UK): didn’t see this one. It sounds annoying, however.
- Still Life (Jia Zhangke, China): didn’t see this one either, though I probably will if they ever get around to putting it onto anything resemling a DVD. Jia, of course, is huge.
- A Christmas Tale (Arnaud Desplechin, France): not to be confused with Cuento de Navidad (A Christmas Tale, Paco Plaza, Spain, 2005) reviewed recently by Peter Nellhaus. Another tale of dysfunctional families at Christmas. This one does have Catherine Deneuve, so it can’t be all bad. But I haven’t seen it.
- Waltz With Bashir (Ari Folman, Israel): didn’t see it, but is this riding some kind of trend began by last years Persepolis?
- Milk (Gus Van Sant, U.S.): What? You think this one will open in Tuscaloosa, Alabama any time soon?
- Wendy and Lucy (Kelly Reichardt, U.S.) Wendy’s the dog. No, Lucy is . . . oh, screw it. I really liked Kelly Reichardt’s minimalist debut feature Old Joy, so much that I wrote about it here. Like that film, this one takes place in Oregon, where I lived for four and a half years. Which helps explain my affection for the first film, I guess.
- Let the Right One In (Tomas Alfredson, Sweden) The cure for bullying: drink the blood of your enemies! Actually, I’m just being bitchy: I really want to see this one.
- Synecdoche, New York (Charlie Kaufman, U.S.) Another one I want to see, if only to help me learn to pronounce “synecdoche.” Hint: it’s apparently just like Schenectady. Who knew?
In the same poll, the critics — who got ten votes apiece for “Best Film” — got only one each for “Worst Release of 2008.” Despite the statistical unreliability, they reported The Love Guru as the worst, Towelhead as second worst, and a seven-way tie for third-worst between Burn After Reading; Changeling; Doubt; Gran Torino; Rachel Getting Married, Step Brothers; Synecdoche, New York. Yes, it’s true: Kaufman’s directing debut is on both lists, which might be due to the difference in polling techniques. The film got 2 votes for bad and 18 for good. If I were Kaufman, I might be a little peeved.
Update: I’ve seen Wall-E in glorious Blu-ray, and will write about it anon. As soon as I find out what “anon” means.
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Hi! Rick,
My New Year Resolution: Hey you!…put down those paint brushes and move slowly away from your PC….and “run” don’t walk,/i> to the theatre!….My conscience speaking to me!…but, of course!
Rick, I received Wall-E for Christmas~ Scary part, I didn’t even ask for it on my christmas list!…
Rick said,”The Flight of the Red Balloon. Here’s one that I saw and really liked, and will be on the list of films I have seen this year and liked, if I ever get around to writing one.” I guess I have to check this one out too!…
“Happy-Go-Lucky (Mike Leigh, UK): didn’t see this one. It sounds annoying, however….”haha!
Still Life…I haven’t seen this one yet!,/b>
A Christmas Tale… I haven’t seen this one neither!
Rick said, “Milk (Gus Van Sant, U.S.): What? You think this one will open in Tuscal
“Wendy and Lucy (Kelly Reichardt, U.S.) Wendy’s the dog. No, Lucy is . . . oh, screw it. haha! I really liked Kelly Reichardt’s minimalist debut feature Old Joy, so much that I wrote about it here. Like that film, this one takes place in Oregon, where I lived for four and a half years. Which helps explain my affection for the first film, I guess.” (T.S., from over there at ScreenSavour /reviewed this film….)
“Let the Right One In (Tomas Alfredson, Sweden) The cure for bullying: drink the blood of your enemies! Actually, I’m just being bitchy: I really want to see this one.” haha!
Synecdoche, New York (Charlie Kaufman, U.S.) Another one I want to see, if only to help me learn to pronounce “synecdoche.” Hints apparently just like Schenectady. Who knew?
…. I was pronouncing it ….Sy-nec-do-Che …haha! 
(Wow!…Rick, thanks, For clearing that up!
Tks, Rick!
dcd
Hey, Happy Go Lucky was a terrific movie. And I commented on Emerson’s post that I was disappointed the critics went with Heath Ledger over Eddie Marsan but I was happy (go lucky) that Marsan was in second place. If for no other reason, see this movie for Marsan’s performance.
And if you don’t believe me ask Fox.
HAPPY-GO-LUCKY was an excellent movie, yet it won’t make my own Top 10 list, as the competition is acute. Has Mr. Lapper reviewed this movie yet? I would love to read his take, specifically.
I am actually still celebrating that WALL-E captured the #1 spot. I never expected this. I will hopefully post my own list by Tuesday, after I get to see the French film SECRET OF THE GRAIN, which is technically a 2008 release. I will finally see WALTZ WITH BASHIR tonite.
I will not (nor have I ever) publish a “ten worst” list, as I feel such an endeavor is counter-productive, condescending and an affrontery to the entire process and appreciation of movie-going. It serves no purpose, and is basically ‘gleeful negativity’ and a glorification of hate.
Hello Dark City Dame!!!!
dcd, go out and see some movies. I have, I just saw Benjamin Button and finally saw Wall-E on Blu-ray. It wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be. In fact, I kinda liked it. I may actually write about it, given that I’ve been bad-mouthing it for some time. I still don’t know why critics are all swooning over it, but I did enjoy it. And the 3-d is spectacular.
Jonathan, I’m glad you liked “Happy Go Lucky.” I’ll probably see it on your (and Fox’s) recommendation. But don’t tell Fox, it’ll swell his head.
Sam, I think you have great taste in movies … I probably won’t do a ten-worst list, but I do enjoy being a little curmudgeonly at times.
The thing that annoyed me about the ten-worst list is that the deck was stacked: it was much easier because of their voting rules to get onto the worst than best list.
Jonathan doesn’t write a lot of reviews, but he has great taste in films as well. (don’t tell him I said so). “Happy-go-lucky” I will doubtless see, it just sounds like the kind of movie I would dislike, cynical thing that I tend to be.
Rick, my main man … Still Life is on DVD now. I think it finally got released about two weeks ago or so. So Netflix that sh*t, yo.
Rick – I’m going to join in the chorus of people urging you to see “Happy Go Lucky” – it’s definitely going to make my 10 best list (if ever get around to posting one – I’m way behind on seeing end-of-year releases, and still catching up with a few I missed earlier.)
Fox, I’ve just added it. Thanks!
Pat — all RIGHT already! I’ll see it. I’m looking forward to it, actually. I appreciate all the friendly reminders, and Sally Hawkins it will be!
Rick I bought the New Yorker DVD of STILL LIFE last night at Kim’s in Manhattan, during the hour we waited for WALTZ WITH BASHIR and am busy making copies for my friends. I will watch the film today as a final prelude to composing my own ten-best list. The foreign-language films that are strongly contending for my own ten-best list (actually 11, as I traditionally have a tie for No. 11) are THE POOL, DON’T TOUCH THE AXE..a.k.a. THE DUTCHESS OF LANGEAIS, THE LAST MISTRESS, THE EDGE OF HEAVEN, SILENT LIGHT and possibly STILL LIFE and the French film THE SECRET OF THE GRAIN, which I will see at the IFC on either Tuesday or Wednesday night. One of my site writers, the always-erudite and tasteful Kaleem Hasan, may well have STILL LIFE as his #1 film of the year.
As far as HAPPY-GO-LUCKY, I also sing its praises (and especially its performances) but I suspect it will narrowly miss my own competitive list.
Strangely, i liked WALTZ WITH BASHIR, but didn’t love it. It seemed too disjointed and aloof at times. Go figure–it just won the elitist National Society of Film Critics Best Picture prize yesterday.
Thanks for the kind remark at my taste in movies. Right back at ya!
Also, the Swedish vampire film, LET THE RIGHT ONE IN is also in the running. I know you have posted more than once on that.
Actually, Rick, we can safely say that STILL LIFE is the perfect “supplement” to the exceptional documentary UP THE YANGTZE. Putting this list together will be heartbreaking. Although in a all-encompassing sence, 2008 was not a very good year, like almost every year, it’s best films were still rather unforgettable, and it’s impossible to squeeze 18 films into 10 spots, if you know what i mean. LOL!!! It will be fun, but distressing.
Sam, did your cool reception to “Waltz” have anything to do with the fact that it’s animated? It seems that animation has a way of distancing one from the heavier emotions.
Also, I’ve been on the trail of “Let the Right One In” for some time now, and can’t wait for it to be on DVD, because it’ll never be around here.
I am looking forward to Jia’s film, it’s on my Netflix queue near the top.
Well Rick, my #1 film of the year will be WALL-E, and that’s animated, and beyond that I did absolutely love PERSEPOLIS, a animated film similar is many ways to WALTZ WITH BASHIR, so I’m inclined not to think of that as a primary reason. I even had fairly good feelings for Linklater’s WAKING LIFE. Most tellingly however is that the Japanese animated masterpiece THE GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES was about as emotional experience as I’ve ever had in a theatre…………..yet, your observation about animated as a rule usually muting emotions both in a cumulative sense and in the final coda, has a good deal of validity, methinks as there are many instances that uphold that judgement. I can seem to pinpoint a specific reason why this film didn’t affect me as deeply as others, but I do know it was rather ghoulish in its execution. To be honest, I’m still processing it though.
I wish I had a copy of LET THE RIGHT ONE IN to send to you, but I’ll keep my eyes open.
I finally saw WALL-E the other night. I actually enjoyed it, although I’m not in love with it as some seem to be. I had problems with it’s inconsistency in the portrayals of its characters.
Thanks for the offer of Let the Right One In. It’ll be out in DVD soon enough.
I apparently hate movies, because I haven’t seen any of these. A Christmas Tale was available On Demand, as they say, but I didn’t realize that until the day before it was going off, and I had no time to watch it. I’m sad about that.
That’s ok, Bill, we know you hate movies.
We could get all mathematical on it, you know, and do stuff like: Ok. Bill hates movies 100% because he hasn’t seen 100% of the movies on the list. I hate movies only 80% because I’ve seen two on the list (I just saw Wall-Mart) and therefore, I am 20% better than Bill.
Wait, why does that make you better than me? Maybe I hate movies 100% because I love helping those less fortunate than me 200%, and therefore have no more love left to give.
I’m seeing Wall-Eye this week. Don’t give anything away! In the meantime, my salute to Wall-E is up on the Edge. God, what a cool nickname for a blog. The Edge!
Wait, why does that make you better than me?
Because I said so.
The Edge . . . isn’t that a shaving gel?
Because I said so.
Can’t argue with that logic.
No, no, that’s just plain old Edge. Mine is The Edge, like the guitarist. But speaking of shaving cream, how about that Burma Shave. Now there’s a cool name!
Can’t argue with that logic.
Really? Huh. I thought it was the most ridiculous thing I’ve said in a long time. Geez …. I must be better than you.
Big mistake.
Many make.
Rely on horn.
Instead of
brake.
Burma Shave!
Soap
May do
For lads with fuzz
But sir, you ain’t
The kid you wuz
Burma-Shave!
The place to pass
On curves
You know
Is only at
A beauty show
Burma-Shave!
One day blogs
Will be the rage
For now
We’ve books
So turn the page
Burma Shave!
[this was a very obscure Burma Shave rhyme from 1956 that ultimately failed. No one understood what a blog was and when they'd tried to explain it people got confused as to what an "in-ter-net" was and so on. ]
What the f**k is going on here?!!? You guys are talking about shaving gels?!?
At least mix it in with some film… like “Hey, has anyone here seen the Scorcese short The Big Shave?”
What the f**k is going on here?!!? You guys are talking about shaving gels?!?
Scorcese’s King
But if I had my way
I’d take the grosses
Of Michael Bay.
Burma Shave!