tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2520374013278982095.post7322161011380471626..comments2023-03-25T05:53:44.505-07:00Comments on film-415: 3rd Annual Tabulation of Deprivation 2009Michael Hawleyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04712772885405352863noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2520374013278982095.post-55749944833283072122010-01-02T10:37:19.391-08:002010-01-02T10:37:19.391-08:00Thanks for your comments, everyone!
Brian, for me...Thanks for your comments, everyone!<br /><br />Brian, for me it's an obsessive pleasure keeping track of new films by favorite directors and actors, as well as acclaimed prize-winners by relative unknowns -- just so I recognize them if/when they eventually show up here. I finished up 2009 with a 75-film wishlist and it'll be interesting to see how many of those we get to see in 2010 (happily, 16 of them I'll catch in Palm Springs).<br /><br />As far as TV/online VOD, I used to dismiss it because I'd heard about poor image quality, pan-and-scan reformatting etc., but that has not been my experience. For better or worse, I think we going to increasing find this the only available way to see certain films, especially when you've got someone like IFC snapping up key films for their VOD-only Festival Direct outlet.<br /><br />Speaking of IFC, right now Francois Ozon's RICKY is available on Comcast's On Demand. I missed seeing it at Mill Valley, it doesn't appear on Landmark's upcoming release schedule, and if/when IFC finally releases it on DVD there's an excellent chance it'll only be available at Blockbuster (thanks to IFC's aggravating 'Blockbuster Exclusive' deal). It's a film I definitely want to see, so yeah, I'm gonna catch it On Demand while I can -- either that or wait for a hypothetical Bay Area Ozon retrospective.<br /><br />As far as online streaming VOD, in the last year I finally caught up with Royston Tan's 4:30 at The Auteurs (from 2007's tabulation) and Ken Loach's IT'S A FREE WORLD at Amazon VOD (from 2008's tablulation, and another IFC release you can only rent from Blockbuster). Both were satisfactory viewing experiences (it probably helps that my computer monitor is close to my bed).<br /><br />Jacqueline, it sounds like we share a particular passion for French cinema. Although many new French films get a Bay Area theatrical release, turn up at our festivals or on Region 1 DVD, a far greater number do not. Imported DVDs are a possible solution, but as you say, often they do not have English subtitles. They can also be kind of expensive to buy. I've checked into cable station TV5 Monde, but was underwhelmed by their programming. I'm not sure what the solution is, apart from learning to speak French and moving to Paris.<br /><br />And Michael, thanks for your comments about some of the films in this year's tabulation.Michael Hawleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04712772885405352863noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2520374013278982095.post-47592441495362462872010-01-01T13:39:51.971-08:002010-01-01T13:39:51.971-08:00That tree looks shirty to me.
Four Nights With An...That tree looks shirty to me.<br /><br /><i><b>Four Nights With Anna</b></i> was pretty dreadful I heard.<br /><br /><i><b>Under the Tree</b></i> was downright dreadful I <i>know</i> and caused my stepping down from the Global Film Initiative board of directors.<br /><br /><i><b>Salamandra</b></i> deserved to be seen by U.S. audiences though when I spoke with Diana Sanchez at TIFF09 and asked what had happened to it, she said only France bought distribution. No one else cared. Which has made me feel very guilty that I never got around to transcribing my interview with Pablo.<br /><br />I'm shocked you would want to see <i><b>Two-Legged Horse</b></i> as it is a child-in-peril story pushed to the nth degree. Even I who love to weep at the plight of waifs had to avoid clucking.<br /><br />Why in the world Rithy Panh's <i><b>A Sea Wall</b></i> has never made it to the Bay Area is beyond me. I loved its colonial veneer. I've begged Susan Oxtoby at PFA to include it in a program of Panh's other films. Keep your fingers crossed.Michael Guillenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15464792353062386579noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2520374013278982095.post-15200611682983154662009-12-31T19:31:14.585-08:002009-12-31T19:31:14.585-08:00Thanks for sharing your view. I was waiting for In...Thanks for sharing your view. I was waiting for Inju and Resolution 819's DVD release for 2 years - in vain and in pain. Wonder why French films, even if they have DVD releases finally in french, but very few come with English subtitles - denying all non-French speaking audience all over the world a chance to watch and understand them. A great pity. Anticipating a movie for 2-3 years without any chances of even getting the DVDs. Where can we protest to?Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12855449173038010905noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2520374013278982095.post-39719931406612391622009-12-31T14:19:21.239-08:002009-12-31T14:19:21.239-08:00Thanks for sharing this with your readers, Michael...Thanks for sharing this with your readers, Michael! These tabulations are often the first place I really sit up and take notice of a film- it's often too frustrating for me to do more than skim out-of-town festival coverage. As a Panh fan, I'm just as bewildered as you why <b><i>the Sea Wall</i></b> hasn't made a local appearance. Perhaps there's a pay wall- that is, a higher-than-usual or harder-to-waive screening fee that keeps it in the hands of sales agents hoping for a US distributor to bite.<br /><br />As for your "shorter" tabulation, I wholeheartedly approve with your decision to take Sundance & Berlin premieres out of consideration (presumably a Berlin 2009 title can figure into your 2010 edition if it's still gon unplayed a year from now). As a habits-die-hard cinemaphile I will miss you looking out for films that deserve theatrical screenings but get written off by programmers due to their online availability, but I understand the reasoning behind it. I guess I'll have to break down and try watching movies (more than a few minutes long) online sometime.Brian Darrhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17693169310367670898noreply@blogger.com