The WHF Film Club

[strapped for cash]

Though I just stumbled across this:

http://www.blu-ray.com/movies/The-400-Blows-Blu-ray/90259/#UserReviews

I've no idea about audio and video quality, however.

 

[BenLaw]

Any other less mainstream examples I should look out for?

Can you be more specific? I'm not sure whether you mean jump-cuts, films associated with the Nouvelle Vague, or American films that borrow from other cinemas. (Perhaps none, or all, of the above.)

Sorry, I meant 'vaguely mainstream American art cinema'. If there's anything on the same level as The Graduate that I've missed then I'd be a happy bunny!

Did you watch Mark Cousins' recent-ish series on the history of cinema?

I saw a few episodes and recorded others. I'm struggling to remember much about the episodes I watched. Did Cousins offer a similar thesis on a mixing (or cross-pollination) of themes and styles across film history?

IIRC he prefaced the whole series with a reminder that there was rather more to cinema than just UK and US output, which probably represents a fair assessment of the audience he was having to address. But, again as far as I can recall, that was his general thesis, albeit made very leisurely with the luxury of so many episodes. There was actually some quite technical stuff in there about depth of field and edits and it moved through various movements and how they ran into each other pretty well. It was packed with detail so my memory of it all isn't that great. There's a boxset of it but I'm not going to get it until I think I might have the time to rewatch it.

 

[BenLaw]

I watched Les quattre cent coups not so long ago and thought it was fantastic.

I've no argument there.

I'd rather sit down and watch Les quatre cent coups than A bout de souffle; though A bout de souffle is more typically screened on film studies courses discussing the Nouvelle Vague, in my experience.

I remain annoyed that Les quatre cent coups only has a Criterion Blu-ray release. I'm itching to retire the DVD. (We both managed to misspell the title in previous posts. )

TBH I just cut and pasted what you'd written! :shifty: My spelling of '400' is much more reliable.

 

[strapped for cash]

Sorry, I meant 'vaguely mainstream American art cinema'. If there's anything on the same level as The Graduate that I've missed then I'd be a happy bunny!

Well, there's the whole Hollywood Renaissance; generally understood to have started with Bonnie and Clyde and The Graduate and ended (roughly) in 1976.

I'm not sure what you've seen, so it's difficult to suggest particular films. I'm trying to think of a few slightly less obvious examples, say Zabriskie Point, Five Easy Pieces, or The Last Detail. For less mainstream offerings from the period there's John Cassavetes' film output; and for exploitation fare you could look at anything associated with Roger Corman.

By the early 1990s, much of the American independent scene was swallowed by major distributors, all of whom developed boutique divisions following the success of Sex, Lies, and Videotape, and the rise of film festivals such as Sundance. The resulting "Indiewood" sector led to the production of countless mainstream-art cinema hybrids, often described as examples of "quirky" filmmaking.

There's a persuasive argument that Indiewood films were "art-cinema lite" and that corporate assimilation of the independent sector was bad news for American independent filmmaking. However, this boutique sector has shrunk in recent years, leading some commentators to argue that there's now a revival of genuine independent American filmmaking.

In my view, the term "independent" works better as a marketing tool than an accurate descriptor of how films are made and distributed, especially since film distribution channels are controlled by a small number of entertainment conglomerates. There's much recent debate about whether digital distribution channels work to independent filmmakers' advantage, or are most effectively exploited by conglomerates. This pretty much brings us up-to-date.

Obviously I've summarised half-a-century of American film history in scant detail, using sweeping generalisations...

There's a boxset of it but I'm not going to get it until I think I might have the time to rewatch it.

Similarly, I've several episodes recorded that I might find time to watch some day...

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

Would anyone like to discuss Monsieur Lahzar further?

Are we all ready to watch 13 Tzameti?

Strapped, are you ready with your 3 film choices?

 

[BenLaw]

Sorry, I meant 'vaguely mainstream American art cinema'. If there's anything on the same level as The Graduate that I've missed then I'd be a happy bunny!

Well, there's the whole Hollywood Renaissance; generally understood to have started with Bonnie and Clyde and The Graduate and ended (roughly) in 1976.

I'm not sure what you've seen, so it's difficult to suggest particular films. I'm trying to think of a few slightly less obvious examples, say Zabriskie Point, Five Easy Pieces, or The Last Detail. For less mainstream offerings from the period there's John Cassavetes' film output; and for exploitation fare you could look at anything associated with Roger Corman.

Thanks. I only watched Bonnie and Clyde recently, great film. I have Five Easy Pieces on my lovefilm list but have added the other two. Any particular recommendations from Cassavetes? I've watched a number of Corman's horrors but no exploitation movies, again any recommendations? More generally, just assume I haven't watched it. You'll probably be right, and if you're not I won't be offended.

 

[strapped for cash]

Thanks. I only watched Bonnie and Clyde recently, great film. I have Five Easy Pieces on my lovefilm list but have added the other two. Any particular recommendations from Cassavetes? I've watched a number of Corman's horrors but no exploitation movies, again any recommendations? More generally, just assume I haven't watched it. You'll probably be right, and if you're not I won't be offended.

Network and All the President's Men are two great political thrillers from the period. The Conversation is great, too. I'm guessing you've seen these, though as you say, I'll work on the basis that you're as likely to have seen any film I reference as not. Point Blank with Lee Marvin and Angie Dickinson is also worth a look.

Regarding Cassavetes, you could try Faces, Shadows, and A Woman Under the Influence. (Shadows is Cassavetes' debut picture and not from the period we're discussing, though arguably one of his best.)

I'm not sure where to start with Corman, since he was influential in countless regards; and many now legendary filmmakers honed their craft under Corman's tutelage. We were talking exploitation, so let's go with Women in Cages, Big Doll House, and Bird Cage.

You've a fair list of films and reading now, so see you in a month....

 

[strapped for cash]

Strapped, are you ready with your 3 film choices?

Sure, though perhaps not all will be delighted. (There may be some :wall: )

I've decided to organise my recommendations around the theme of surrealism; and I've chosen three classic surrealist films from very different periods. Some may seem like obvious choices; and film club members may have seen at least one of the films. However, I'm convinced we can say a lot about each and that discussion will be rewarding.

1. Un Chien Andalou (best viewed alongside L'Age d'Or).

Early and profoundly influential surrealist cinema. See this for the famous eyeball slicing scene.

2. 8 1/2

One of Fellini's best and arguably his most personal film. See this if you're experiencing a mid-life crisis.

3. Mulholland Drive

My film obsession. See this to find out who "the man behind Winkie's" really is.

 

[Hi-FiOutlaw]

Mulholland Drive - 3pts

8 1/2 - 2pts

Un Chien Andalou - 1pt

 

[Hi-FiOutlaw]

I've should have give 3pts to "Un Chien Adalou"

i've seen already in YouTube all 21 min of it...

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

Mulholland Drive - 3 pts

81/2 - 2pts

In Chien Andalou - 1 pt

I have a thing about eyes, especially the slicing of them. :O

 

[BenLaw]

Chien (3 points) (surrealist, eye ball slicing all sounds good)

Mulholland drive (2 points) (ages since I watched it)

8 1/2 (1 point) (sorry but hated this when I watched it)

 

[Hi-FiOutlaw]

Chien (3 points) (surrealist, eye ball slicing all sounds good)

you can go to Youtube and watch it, it's only 21min and the eye ball sceen in in the first 2 min...

 

[John Duncan]

Mulholland Drive - 3pts

8 1/2 - 2pts

Un Chien Andalou - 1pt

+1

 

[BenLaw]

By my calculation that means that whatever Mike may vote for it's going to be Mulholland Drive?

 

[BenLaw]

Chien (3 points) (surrealist, eye ball slicing all sounds good)

you can go to Youtube and watch it, it's only 21min and the eye ball sceen in in the first 2 min...

Thanks HFO, I will.

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

Watched this last night, though I'll have to watch the last 30 mins again, as I was nodding off.

 

[expat_mike]

Mulholland Drive - 3 points (I was considering it for my 3 films, so I will have to select another one)

8 1/2 - 2 points, although I can watch it on You Tube

Un Chien Andalou - 1 point

I must now manage to make the time to watch Tzameti.

 

[BenLaw]

Watched this last night, though I'll have to watch the last 30 mins again, as I was nodding off.

I'm guessing it doesn't have any soufflés in it?

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

I didn't notice any Ben.

I've just rewatched the last 30 minutes, it's a very good film, and well worth a watch.

 

[strapped for cash]

8 1/2 (1 point) (sorry but hated this when I watched it)

Perche?

 

[expat_mike]

Watched this last night, though I'll have to watch the last 30 mins again, as I was nodding off.

I'm guessing it doesn't have any soufflés in it?

Looks like a very bad case of constipation - but I can't imagine them making a film about that. :rofl:

 

[strapped for cash]

Perhaps members aren't interested in film history. The three films are ranked in reverse chronological order.

Anyway, I'm more than happy to discuss Mulholland Drive. (As I say, it's my film obsession.)

I'd be contravening film club rules, but in this case I think some preamble would be useful. What do others think? (I'd wait until we've watched Tzameti.)

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

Has everyone got a copy of 13 Tzameti?

 

[BIGBERNARDBRESSLAW]

Looks like a very bad case of constipation - but I can't imagine them making a film about that. :rofl:

It's called Breathless, not Sh*tless.