Neil Young: Live at Massey Hall DVD (1971)

Procès de Jeanne d'Arc - Robert Bresson (1962)

Non-actors portray the trial of Joan of Arc with a script that comes directly from the trial transcripts. Unlike Dreyer's film, camera tricks and torture are minimized, but equally stylized acting eliminates every trace of emotion and mannerism. Trance-like rhythm is induced through the editing of the interrogations and the ways that Joan's eyes flicker from submission to boldness with every response. A shot of feet opens the film and closes the film. A procession into a cell then a procession out to an execution. Oddly, her cell door seems always to be left slightly ajar. A trap?

WaterFire - Providence, RI

The Golf Specialist - W.C. Fields (1930)

Uncle Dennis Visits - Fibber McGee and Molly (Nov 26, 1940)

Inu-Yasha: A Feudal Fairy Tale - Rumiko Takahashi (1998)

Strategic Air Command - Anthony Mann (1955)

A 40s-style military procedural, but set during the Cold War. Begging able-bodied Americans to join up and keep America ready for those dirty Commies. Fate intervenes to that Jimmy Stewart can have the best of both worlds: dedication to his country and a happy home life. Flashes of Anthony Mann's visual sensibility come through during the bail-out scene and a brief shot of silhouetted airmen walking across the air field after completing a mission.

Decision at Sundown - Budd Boetticher (1957)

The third of the seven Scott/Boetticher films I have seen. Is Randolph Scott an obsessed widower in all them?

Edward Hopper Exhibit

at Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Comanche Station - Budd Boetticher (1960)

Boetticher's last film with Randolph Scott.

I noticed multiple similarities to 1956's Seven Men From Now including a shared journey among enemies, misperception of Scott's motives and details of traveling on horseback.

Over a dying campfire, Claude Akins tells a story to Scott much like the story told by Lee Marvin in the wagon in Seven Men From Now, veiling a threat in the guise of a fable.

I believe the town they were traveling to is called "Lawrenceville", but the Western accents made me believe they were saying "Lourdes". This along with a discovered body in the river made to look like a baptism kept me looking for religious parallels. I might have been looking too closely...

Atanarjuat (The Fast Runner) - Zacharias Kunuk (2001)

A fascinating film written, directed and acted by Inuits in the Canadian Arctic. As much documentary as fiction, the movie tells the tale of the struggle between Atanarjuat and Oki over Atuat, Oki's promised bride. Set in ancient times, the most modern technology on display are metal knife blades.

The details of food, shelter, clothing, relationships, travel and survival are spread across the narrative like a rich frosting. The gory food preparation scenes prompted my friend to say, "This movie should be rated R for food."

Shot on video, the sharp and contrasty quality of the image works well to emphasize the sparkly landscape of snow, ice and low sunlight on the ocean.

Unlike most fables or cautionary tales, no one person is punished as the "bad guy", even Oki and his gang who have killed Atanarjuat's brother. Instead, an evil spirit is exorcised and the strength/needs of the family and tribal group are brought again to the fore. This is undoubtedly an important lesson where working together is essential to survive the harsh environment.

Charlie Chan in the Secret Service - Phil Rosen (1944)

Blockheads -Laurel & Hardy (1938)

Dungeon: Twilight Vol 2: Armageddon - Joann Sfar, Lewis Trondheim, Kerascoet (2006)

Rescue Dawn - Werner Herzog (2007)

This Herzog film seemed to have the most popular appeal of any of the films of his I have seen - given the relative affability of the Christian Bale character and the upbeat ending. It didn't seem to descend to the depths of obsession/craziness in some of his other movies. Enjoyed the baroque details of the jungle prison camp and the acting by Steve Zahn and Jeremy Davies as the other American prisoners of war. Several years ago I saw the documentary Herzog made about the person this is based on (_Little Dieter Needs To Fly_). It seemed to capture more of the character's obsessive need to fly and why that drove him to escape from the prison camp, not so much a patriotic or survival drive.

At the Boston Common

The Most Dangerous Game - Ernest B. Schoedsack (1932)

Loved the POV chase sequence, tracking forward through the dense jungle.

Lowell Spinners vs Batavia Muckdogs (AAA Baseball)

Cooler Bag Giveaway/Jimmy Buffett Night

Lowell Spinners vs Batavia Muckdogs (AAA Baseball)

Cooler Bag Giveaway/Jimmy Buffett Night

Fear Strikes Out - Robert Mulligan (1957)

Rainbows End - Vernor Vinge (2006)