2009 Notebook: Vol 9

I have to write a piece on the local gay & lesbian film festival... things aren't looking good.

The New Favorites

La fidélité - dir. Andrzej Żuławski - 2000 - France - with Sophie Marceau, Pascal Greggory, Guillaume Canet, Michel Subor, Edith Scob, Magali Noël, Manuel Le Lièvre, Marc François, Aurélien Recoing, Marina Hands, Guy Tréjan, Jean-Charles Dumay

Middle of the Road

Away with Words - dir. Christopher Doyle - 1999 - Hong Kong/Japan/Singapore - N/A - with Tadanobu Asano, Kevin Sherlock, Georgina Hobson, Christa Hughes, Mavis Xu

Between Something & Nothing - dir. Todd Verow - 2008 - USA - Water Bearer Films - with Tim Swain, Julia Frey, Gil Bar-Sela, Philly, Todd Verow, Brad Hallowell, Francisco Solorzano

Finding Me - dir. Roger Omeus - 2007 - USA - TLA Releasing - with RayMartell Moore, Eugene Turner, J'Nara Corbin, Derrick L. Briggs, Maurice Murrell, Ronald DeSuze

Wrangler: Anatomy of an Icon - dir. Jeffrey Schwarz - 2008 - USA - TLA Releasing

The Bad

On ne devrait pas exister [We Should Not Exist] - dir. Hervé P. Gustave - 2006 - USA - N/A - with Hervé P. Gustave, LZA, Bertrand Bonello, Benoît Fournier

Shitfests

Between Love & Goodbye - dir. Casper Andreas - 2008 - USA - TLA Releasing - with Simon Miller, Justin Tensen, Rob Harmon, Jane Elliott, Aaron Michael Davies

Schoolboy Crush - dir. Kohtaro Terauchi - 2007 - Japan - TLA Releasing - with Atsumi Kanno, Kazunori Tani, Yoshikazu Kotani, Yuuki Kawakubo

Watercolors - dir. David Oliveras - 2008 - USA - N/A - with Tye Olson, Kyle Clare, Ellie Araiza, Casey Kramer, Jeffrey Lee Woods, Karen Black, Greg Louganis

Revisited: Les Autres

9 to 5 - dir. Colin Higgins - 1980 - USA - 20th Century Fox - with Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Dolly Parton, Dabney Coleman, Sterling Hayden

2009 Notebook: Vol 8

Vicky Cristina Barcelona is the second film I've watched twice this year, and though I know I'm not alone in my love for it, I just can't seem to get enough of it. It made sense to watch it again to, sort of, get the best of both worlds, as Almodóvar and Allen have been my go-tos when nothing new looks remotely appealing. I'm still having problems with the labeling of the films (On the Bus, for example, should fall somewhere between "Good" and "Middle-of-the-Road"), but hopefully that'll work itself out. I'm going to try to do a fair amount of writing today, so check back.

The New Favorites

Les corps ouverts - dir. Sébastien Lifshitz - 1998 - France - N/A - with Yasmine Belmadi, Pierre-Loup Rajot, Margot Abascal, Mohamed Damraoui, Malik Zidi, Dora Dhouib, Sébastien Lifshitz

The Good

L'important c'est d'aimer [The Main Thing Is to Love] - dir. Andrzej Żuławski - 1975 - Mondo Vision - France/Italy/West Germany - with Romy Schneider, Fabio Testi, Jacques Dutronc, Claude Dauphin, Klaus Kinski, Roger Blin, Gabrielle Doulcet

Martyrs - dir. Pascal Laugier - 2008 - France - The Weinstein Company - with Morjana Alaoui, Mylène Jampanoï, Catherine Bégin, Robert Toupin, Patricia Tulasne, Isabelle Chasse, Juliette Gosselin, Xavier Dolan-Tadros

On the Bus - dir. Dustin Lance Black - 2001 - USA - 10% Productions

The Bad

Too Much Flesh - dir. Pascal Arnold, Jean-Marc Barr - 2000 - France - N/A - Jean-Marc Barr, Élodie Bouchez, Rosanna Arquette, Ian Brennan, Ian Vogt

Revisited: The Old Favorites

Bugcrush - dir. Carter Smith - 2006 - USA - Strand Releasing - with Josh Barclay Caras, Donald Eric Cumming, David Tennent, Eleonore Hendricks, Alex Toumayan, Billy Price

Old Joy - dir. Kelly Reichardt - 2006 - USA - Kino - with Daniel London, Will Oldham, Tanya Smith

Vicky Cristina Barcelona - dir. Woody Allen - Spain/USA - 2008 - MGM/Weinstein Company - with Javier Bardem, Rebecca Hall, Scarlett Johansson, Penélope Cruz, Patricia Clarkson, Chris Messina, Kevin Dunn, Pablo Schreiber

Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown [Mujeres al borde de un ataque de nervios] - dir. Pedro Almodóvar - 1988 - Spain - MGM/Sony Pictures - with Carmen Maura, Julieta Serrano, María Barranco, Antonio Banderas, Rossy de Palma, Kiti Manver, Fernando Guillén

Revisited: Les Autres

Party Girl - dir. Daisy von Scherler Mayer - 1995 - USA - First Look - with Parker Posey, Guillermo Díaz, Sasha von Scherler, Omar Townsend, Anthony DeSando, Donna Mitchell, Liev Schreiber

2009 Notebook: Vol 7

I promise a full round-up tomorrow night! I'm on a Woody Allen/Pedro Almodóvar kick at the moment, and it's treating me well. I couldn't resist watching Isabelle Adjani in all her carnal glory in Possession, which is the first film I've viewed twice in 2009. I didn't count Zack and Miri Make a Porno as it was the most inspid ten minutes I've endured in a long time before ejecting it from my DVD player. I know plenty of people whose opinions I respect that "didn't mind it," so perhaps it improves, but I can no longer tolerate the nauseating mix of fourth-grade boy potty humor and earnest romance.

The New Favorites

In the City of Sylvia [En la ciudad de Sylvia] - dir. José Luis Guerín - 2007 - Spain - N/A - with Xavier Lafitte, Pilar López de Ayala

Revisited: The Old Favorites

All About My Mother [Todo sobre mi madre] - dir. Pedro Almodóvar - 1999 - Spain - Sony Pictures Classics - with Cecilia Roth, Marisa Paredes, Penélope Cruz, Antonia San Juan, Rosa María Sardá, Candela Peña, Toni Cantó, Eloy Azorín

Deconstructing Harry - dir. Woody Allen - 1997 - USA - Fine Line Features - with Woody Allen, Hazelle Goodman, Judy Davis, Bob Balaban, Elisabeth Shue, Billy Crystal, Kirstie Alley, Eric Lloyd, Robin Williams, Demi Moore, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Stanley Tucci, Richard Benjamin, Mariel Hemingway, Caroline Aaron, Amy Irving, Julie Kavner, Tobey Maguire, Stephanie Roth

Fat Girl [À ma soeur!] - dir. Catherine Breillat - 2001 - France/Italy - Criterion - with Anaïs Reboux, Roxane Mesquida, Libero De Rienzo, Arsinée Khanjian, Romain Goupil, Laura Betti

Possession - dir. Andrzej Żuławski - France/West Germany - 1981 - Blue Underground - with Isabelle Adjani, Sam Neill, Heinz Bennett, Margit Carstensen, Michael Hogben, Johanna Hofer

Talk to Her [Hable con ella] - dir. Pedro Almodóvar - 2002 - Spain - Sony Pictures Classics - with Darío Grandinetti, Javier Cámara, Lenor Watling, Rosario Flores, Mariola Fuentes, Gerladine Chaplin, Lola Dueñas, Chus Lampreave, Paz Vega, Fele Martínez, Elena Anaya

Revisited: Les Autres

Basic Instinct - dir. Paul Verhoeven - 1992 - USA/France - Tri-Star - with Michael Douglas, Sharon Stone, George Dzundza, Jeanne Tripplehorn, Dennis Arndt, Leilani Sarelle

The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things - dir. Asia Argento - 2004 - USA/UK/France/Japan - with Asia Argento, Dylan Sprouse, Cole Sprouse, Jimmy Bennett, Jeremy Renner, Marilyn Manson, Peter Fonda, Ornella Muti, Kip Pardue, John Robinson, Ben Foster, Lydia Lunch, Jeremy Sisto, Michael Pitt

Mighty Aphrodite - dir. Woody Allen - 1995 - USA - Miramax - with Woody Allen, Mira Sorvino, Helena Bonham Carter, F. Murray Abraham, Peter Weller, Michael Rapaport, Olympia Dukakis

Wild at Heart - dir. David Lynch - 1990 - USA - MGM - with Laura Dern, Nicolas Cage, Diane Ladd, Willem Dafoe, J.E. Freeman, Harry Dean Stanton, Isabella Rossellini, Grace Zabriskie, Calvin Lockhart, David Patrick Kelly, Sherilyn Fenn, Crispin Glover, Freddie Jones, John Lurie, Jack Nance, Sheryl Lee

2009 Notebook: Vol 6

God, I'm watching films faster than I can write about them. Again, I'll have longer rundowns of the films within the week. And, yes, I've been on a Parker Posey kick lately.

The Bad

Antarctica - dir. Yair Hochner - 2008 - Israel - here! Films - with Tomer Ilan, Yiftach Mizrahi, Lucy Dubinchik, Guy Zoaretz, Rivka Neuman, Noam Huberman, Liat Ekta, Yael Deceklbaum, Dvir Benedek, Dina Limon, Yuval Raz, Ofer Regirer, Oshri Sahar, Shirli Salomon

Revisited: The Old Favorites

Hannah and Her Sisters - dir. Woody Allen - 1986 - USA - MGM - with Barbara Hershey, Mia Farrow, Michael Caine, Dianne Wiest, Woody Allen, Max von Sydow, Carrie Fisher, Maureen O'Sullivan, Lloyd Nolan, Daniel Stern, Julie Kavner

Rachel Getting Married - dir. Jonathan Demme - 2008 - USA - Sony Pictures Classics - with Anne Hathaway, Rosemarie DeWitt, Mather Zickel, Bill Irwin, Debra Winger, Tunde Adebimpe, Anna Deavere Smith, Anisa George

Volver - dir. Pedro Almodóvar - 2006 - Spain - Sony Pictures Classics - with Penélope Cruz, Carmen Maura, Lola Dueñas, Blanca Portillo, Yohana Cobo, Chus Lampreave, Antonio de la Torre

Revisited: Les Autres

Adam & Steve - dir. Craig Chester - 2005 - USA - TLA Releasing - with Craig Chestor, Malcolm Gets, Parker Posey, Chris Kattan, Sally Kirkland, Julie Hagerty, Kristen Schaal, Melinda Dillon, Michael Panes, Noah Segan

Desperate Living - dir. John Waters - 1977 - USA - New Line - with Mink Stole, Liz Renay, Susan Lowe, Jean Hill, Edith Massey, Mary Vivian Pearce

Personal Velocity: Three Portraits - dir. Rebecca Miller - 2002 - USA - MGM - with Parker Posey, Kyra Sedgwick, Fairuza Balk, Lou Taylor Pucci, Leo Fitzpatrick, Tim Guinee, Patti D'Arbanville, Seth Gilliam, Wallace Shawn, Ben Shenkman, Ron Leibman, David Patrick Kelly

Polyester - dir. John Waters - 1981 - USA - New Line - with Divine, Tab Hunter, Edith Massey, David Samson, Mary Garlington, Ken King, Mink Stole

Savage Nights [Les nuits fauves] - dir. Cyril Collard - 1992 - France - Gramercy - with Cyril Collard, Romane Bohringer, Carlos López, Corine Blue, Claude Winter, René-Marc Bini, Maria Schneider

Revisited: Shit

The House of Yes - dir. Mark Waters - 1997 - USA - Miramax - with Parker Posey, Josh Hamilton, Tori Spelling, Freddie Prinze Jr., Geneviève Bujold

2009 Notebook: Vol 5

Expect an expanded version of the 2009 Notebook later this week! Who'd have guessed... three films with Rose McGowan and two with Traci Lords?

The New Favorites

Salomè - dir. Carmelo Bene - 1972 - Italy - N/A - with Carmelo Bene, Donyale Luna, Lydia Mancinelli, Alfiero Vincenti, Veruschka

The Good

Frozen River - dir. Courtney Hunt - 2008 - USA - Sony Pictures Classics - with Melissa Leo, Misty Upham, Charlie McDermott, Michael O'Keefe, Mark Boone Junior

Middle of the Road (though perhaps better than expected)

Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist - dir. Peter Sollett - 2008 - USA - Sony Pictures - with Michael Cera, Kat Dennings, Ari Graynor, Aaron Yoo, Rafi Gavron, Alexis Dziena, Jonathan B. Wright, Jay Baruchel, John Cho, Zahcary Booth, Bishop Allen

Shitfests

The Reader - dir. Stephen Daldry - 2008 - USA/Germany - Weinstein Company - with Kate Winslett, David Kross, Ralph Fiennes, Bruno Ganz, Lena Olin, Susanne Lothar, Alexandra Maria Lara

Revisited: The Old Favorites

Death Proof - dir. Quentin Tarantino - 2007 - USA - Weinstein Company - with Kurt Russell, Zoë Bell, Rosario Dawson, Vanessa Ferlito, Tracie Thoms, Sydney Poitier, Jordan Ladd, Rose McGowan, Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Quentin Tarantino, Eli Roth, Marcy Harriell, Omar Doom

The Devils - dir. Ken Russell - 1971 - UK - Warner - with Vanessa Redgrave, Oliver Reed, Dudley Sutton, Max Adrian, Gemma Jones, Michael Gothard, Murray Melvin, Georgina Hale, Christopher Logue, Graham Armitage

The Doom Generation - dir. Gregg Araki - 1995 - France/USA - Lionsgate - with Rose McGowan, James Duval, Johnathon Schaech, Nicky Katt, Parker Posey, Margaret Cho, Perry Farrell, Heidi Fleiss, Dewey Weber, Amanda Bearse, Skinny Puppy, Dustin Nguyen, Lauren Tewes, Johanna Went

Nowhere - dir. Gregg Araki - 1997 - France/USA - Fine Line Features - with James Duval, Rachel True, Nathan Bexton, Kathleen Robertson, Christina Applegate, Jordan Ladd, Scott Caan, Guillermo Diaz, Jeremy Jordan, Sarah Lassez, Ryan Phillippe, Heather Graham, Joshua Gibran Mayweather, Alan Boyce, Debi Mazar, Chiara Mastroianni, Mena Suvari, Jaason Simmons, Thyme Lewis, Beverly D'Angelo, John Ritter, Charlotte Rae, Traci Lords, Rose McGowan, Shannen Doherty, Denise Richards, Teresa Hill, Kevin Light, Christopher Knight, Eve Plumb, Lauren Tewes, David Leisure, Gibby Haynes

Rosemary's Baby - dir. Roman Polanski - 1968 - USA - Paramount - with Mia Farrow, John Cassavetes, Ruth Gordon, Sidney Blackmer

Revisited: Les Autres

Serial Mom - dir. John Waters - 1994 - USA - Savoy/Focus Features - with Kathleen Turner, Sam Waterson, Ricki Lake, Matthew Lillard, Scott Morgan, Patricia Dunnock, Justin Whalin, Mink Stole, Mary Jo Catlett, Walt MacPherson, Traci Lords, Suzanne Somers