In browsing my video store's classics library, I realized that I'm probably about as big of a douche bag as Dane Cook is. I'm shocked at how many important films (and I'm not saying just because a video stores deems a film a 'classic' means anything more than just 'it's old') I haven't seen, and how many terrible, terrible films I have. Perhaps with this weekly "dare-aoke" in which I have to watch a film I'd normally scoff at, I should throw in a film that I'm embarrassed to admit not having seen it (I haven't seen a lot of movies I would like to have due to availability, so I'm referring to films that are readily available to me instead). Here's ten sad examples, and feel free to share your own, as I'm sure I'm not the only sucker out there.I've seen Marci X, but I haven't seen North by Northwest.
I've seen It's Pat, but I haven't seen Casablanca.
I've seen Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, but I haven't seen Once Upon a Time in the West.
I've seen Jury Duty, but I haven't seen Das Boot.
I've seen Phat Girlz, but I haven't seen Rebecca.
I've seen Batman & Robin, but I haven't seen The Apartment.
I've seen The Nutty Professor 2: The Klumps, but I haven't seen Barton Fink.
I've seen Sudden Death, but I haven't seen Nights of Cabiria.
I've seen Exit to Eden, but I haven't seen Tokyo Story.
I've seen Sliver (more than once), but I haven't seen M.
Unfortunately, I could probably go on from there, but you get the picture. Hopefully 2008 will be the rear of eradicating my shameful ignorance.
17 comments:
Thank you for going with that star of Exit to Eden.
I'm embarassed to admit I still haven't gotten around to seeing Citizen Kane, M, or Casablanca, despite the fact that I actually OWN the DVDs of all three. In some ways, the near-universal acceptance of these films, and their equally universal representation in pop culture, makes me a bit reluctant to dive in. I don't want watching a film to be like taking my vitamins. I'll get to them soon enough, though.
With that said, if I were you I'd have no hesitation about North by Northwest (pure fun, Hitch's recapitulation of his entire career), The Apartment (what a wonderfully sad comedy), or Tokyo Story (gorgeous, like any Ozu, though not my favorite by him).
I, too, have hesitation about Casablanca, but not for the others you mentioned. And I have no real excuse for not seeing the others.
What is your favorite Ozu by the way?
Yea, I don't know if it's hesitation so much as a knowledge that I already have "seen" a lot of these films filtered through various pop culture references practically since I was an infant, so it's a bit hard to approach them with any freshness. Still not an excuse, though. Heh.
My favorite Ozu is probably Equinox Flower, because I appreciate the way that Ozu blends subtle comedic elements into even his darkest films, and this is one his lightest and airiest. Really, though, it's tough choosing between the Ozu films I've seen -- they're all excellent, and indulge in a recycling of themes, actors, and storylines so that they are all pretty similar on a broad level. I was tempted to cite Good Morning as a second favorite, for its broader humorous mood, but then realized I could easily just keep going and name most of the Ozus I've seen, so I'll keep it to the one.
Good Morning is my favorite. I think it's absolutely charming.
I sense a pattern...has ANYBODY seen "Casablanca?" I fucking own it. Also own 4-discs of "Gone With the Wind" that's gone unwatched, and some little idie called "Citizen Cane." The fact that I own them is only a testament to my inability to hold onto money. The fact that I've seen so many bad movies over good (or respected) ones is a testament to my glutton for punnishment and sheer enjoyment of the terrible. I've also avoided so, so many foreign classics that I feel ashamed.
"Once Upon a Time In the West," "Brazil," and "The Apartment" are musts for this year. Perhaps we should dare each other to watch a seminal classic as well as a bad film each week. Enriching the pallate as well as shit on it.
-M
I agree. We should alternate week-to-week. Good Luck Chuck followed by Once Upon a Time in the West for me. Another Gay Movie followed by Hiroshima mon amour for you. Plus, isn't it more fun to vomit all over yourself after you've put on a pretty dress?
We can still do bad movies for next week, as I have North by Northwest and Brazil at home now.
I finally saw Casablanca for the first time last summer, and it was what it was. Nothing too amazing about it but far from a bad movie.
Early Summer and Tokyo Twilight are my two favorite Ozus, by the way.
It's hard to watch M with its reputation. Much better than Metropolis but still a bit of a myth. Am I the only one who prefers the Mabuse films?
And Kane is quite a good movie, but I'm sure we'll all agree that Welles became much more interesting when he developed a more cinematic approach to directing.
And Barton Fink is far from a must, but then you already know my take on the Coens.
By that star, Eric, I assume you mean not Dan Aykroyd, right?
Yeah... The Apartment is a great movie! And I am all for a bad movie dare competition.... but infliction Another Gay Movie onto people is just plain mean.
Er, totally.
Very curious about the casting director of said film and his connection to an unsaid, shrill, "poetic blogger."
And I also LOVE The Apartment and the underrated One, Two, Three!
Nice blog !
Wait, Eric, what are you talking about with 'casting' and 'poetic blogger'?
Someone cast her (aka her and her)
I have seen every movie on your list except for Marci X, Das Boot and Phat Girlz.
I win.
On the other hand, I'm missing Stagecoach, Last Year at Marienbad, Pierrot Le Fou, and just about every Fassbinder film.
I blame Aeschylus and my Brazzers subscription.
Oh, THAT "poetic blogger." Sorry, Eric.
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