So tomorrow night, after considerable palace intrigue, I will finally be inducted as a "Guest Selector" in Movienight. Movienight is a venerable weekly institution of my friends down in LA. It's a tightly knit secret society, a sort of celluloid Illuminati, with a complicated set of governing bylaws regulating membership, selection order, and viewing etiquette. Basically, once weekly (Wednesday night at 9:30), the regular membership and limited guests assemble in one of my buddy's backyards and use a digital projector to show some time-tested classic on the large stucco wall of his house. The projection resolution is quite good, and they have installed a backyard surround-sound system that makes the experience closely akin to being in a drive-in without all of the making out and light pollution.
So far, picks have been fairly standard, canonical repertory fare, with a few wildcards. (check out the site and blogs at Movie Night). I think I've arrived at my selection (which, due to #'s 1-3 of the governing bylaws, I can't disclose, even in this anonymous online forum which it's unlikely any of the regular membership will ever see, though perceptive readers browsing the "Music Discussion" side of this forum may have informed guesses).
If you were a SELECTOR, what would you screen and why? Posters, links appreciated. I'm trying to develop a roster of potential picks, a slate of selections which negotiates that nonmansland between hackneyed "classic" and total obscure film theory major art house wankery.
Tony? Ben? Raj? Other knowledgable cineastes?
"Movienight"
Started by
Vivian Darkbloom
, Jul 25 2006 12:36 PM
129 replies to this topic
#1
Vivian Darkbloom
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Hipster
Posted 25 July 2006 - 12:36 PM
The God of language forgives all crimes.
-W.H. Auden
*****
Anthony B, Independent, March 16
Black Mountain, Rickshaw Stop, March 20
Earthless, Wooden Shjips, Cafe du Nord, March 28
Mastodon, Kylesa, Intronaut, Great American Music Hall, April 19
Opeth, Enslaved, Regency Grand Ballroom, May 14
Sun Kil Moon, Great American Music Hall, May 29
#2
sin city
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Hipster
Posted 25 July 2006 - 12:41 PM
criteria 1-3 satisfied.
"even boarding in non-signature-view mode i feel your lists of concerts (no one cares) last.fm bullshit (ditto) and oversized .jpgs (srsly fuck off) may distract from my superior posts."
#4
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Hipster
Posted 25 July 2006 - 12:47 PM
I sugggest you rent 'Howard The Duck' or 'Ishtar' for these jackasses.
Chick Flicks... Whatever.
Btw Raj split and Tony'll recommend 'Titanic'.
edit: V. seriously. How many are in this inner circle and what's so special about it?
Sounds like it's a bunch of dudes who wanna see shit blow up and they want to keep it short and sweet. Any Segal or Van Damme will do.
aw fuck it. Just get 'Ichi The Killer' and be done with it.
There is nothing more depressing than trying to appear happy when you are not."
- Nick Cave
- Nick Cave
#5
TJENZ
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Golden God
Posted 25 July 2006 - 12:49 PM
serious selections:
Oldboy
Sympathy For Mr Vengence
I didn't read the rules, so if those don't meet the critreia oh well
#6
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Hipster
Posted 25 July 2006 - 12:51 PM
Sorry Tom. This is a chick flick.
There is nothing more depressing than trying to appear happy when you are not."
- Nick Cave
- Nick Cave
#7
Slackmo
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devil's avocado
Posted 25 July 2006 - 12:54 PM
Here's the list of Movienight selections so far, for context:
Some solid choices, but I don't know if you need a cineaste to weigh in. Might throw off the crowd you're running with.
Joe Versus The Volcano (1990) 102 Minutes
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
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The King of Comedy (1983) 109 Minutes
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
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Chinatown (1974) 131 Minutes
Wednesday, July 5, 2006
Read More...
Breaking Away (1979) 100 Minutes
Wednesday, June 28, 2006
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Léon (1994) 133 Minutes
Wednesday, June 14, 2006
Read More...
Big Night (1996) 107 Minutes
Wednesday, June 7, 2006
Read More...
Hostel (2005) 94 Minutes
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Read More...
The Usual Suspects (1995) 106 Minutes
Wednesday, May 24, 2006
Read More...
Strange Brew (1983) 90 Minutes
Wednesday, May 17, 2006
Read More...
Bull Durham (1988) 108 Minutes
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
Read More...
The Frisco Kid (1979) 122 Minutes
Wednesday, May 3, 2006
Read More...
Ed Wood (1994) 127 Minutes
Wednesday, April 26, 2006
Read More...
Let It Ride (1989) 87 Minutes
Wednesday, April 19, 2006
Read More...
State of Grace (1990) 134 Minutes
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Read More...
City of God (2002) 130 Minutes
Wednesday, April 5, 2006
Read More...
Yojimbo (1961) 110 Minutes
Wednesday, March 29, 2006
Read More...
The Sting (1973) 129 Minutes
Wednesday, March 22, 2006
Read More...
Network (1976) 121 Minutes
Wednesday, March 15, 2006
Read More...
The Meaning of Life (1983) 107 Minutes
Wednesday, March 8, 2006
Read More...
Midnight Express (1978) 121 Minutes
Saturday, February 25, 2006
Read More...
First Blood (1982) 97 Minutes
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Read More...
The French Connection (1971) 104 Minutes
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Read More...
The In-Laws (1979) 103 Minutes
Wednesday, February 8, 2006
Read More...
Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) 90 Minutes
Wednesday, February 1, 2006
Read More...
Rear Window (1954) 112 Minutes
Wednesday, January 25, 2006
Read More...
Dr. Strangelove, or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb (1964) 93 Minutes
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
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Stand By Me (1986) 89 Minutes
Wednesday, January 11, 2006
Read More...
Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) 93 Minutes
Wednesday, November 23, 2005
Read More...
An American Werewolf in London (1981) 97 Minutes
Wednesday, November 16, 2005
Read More...
Papillon (1973) 150 Minutes
Wednesday, November 9, 2005
Read More...
Kung Fu Hustle (2004) 95 Minutes
Wednesday, November 2, 2005
Read More...
Reservoir Dogs (1992) 99 Minutes
Wednesday, October 26, 2005
Read More...
Executive Action (1973) 91 Minutes
Saturday, October 15, 2005
Read More...
Die Hard (1988) 131 Minutes
Wednesday, October 12, 2005
Read More...
Fight Club (1999) 139 Minutes
Wednesday, October 5, 2005
Read More...
Saving Private Ryan (1998) 170 Minutes
Saturday, October 1, 2005
Read More...
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) 115 minutes
Thursday, September 22, 2005
Read More...
Rocky (1976) 119 Minutes
Wednesday, September 21, 2005
Read More...
The Big Lebowski (1998) 117 minutes
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Read More...
Some solid choices, but I don't know if you need a cineaste to weigh in. Might throw off the crowd you're running with.
Someone Still Loves You Pants McJickson
#8
without_opinion
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Minister of Health
Posted 25 July 2006 - 12:56 PM
Music Is My Girlfriend (click for playlists) -- my brother's weekly radio show (new time!), Mondays, 2pm CST, out of Crested Butte, CO. Hear it at KBUT fm online
#9
Agrimorfee
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If you don't like it, IMPROVE IT.
Posted 25 July 2006 - 01:00 PM
Strange Brew? 
Must have been an off-night.
How about a classic musical like Singin' In the Rain or Meet Me In St. Louis?
Must have been an off-night.
How about a classic musical like Singin' In the Rain or Meet Me In St. Louis?
"Is everyone on here just an act sometimes?"--Hummingbird
Read all of my stupid song parodies here. Latest song improved/ruined: "Once Again" by Girl Talk.
Listen to my stupid song parodies, recorded a capella via cell phone, at vocalo.org .(search 'agrimorfee')
Read the slowly developing history of classic putative rock band The Anderson Council at my cheap, bland blog
Might as well throw my Last.fm page here, too.
Read all of my stupid song parodies here. Latest song improved/ruined: "Once Again" by Girl Talk.
Listen to my stupid song parodies, recorded a capella via cell phone, at vocalo.org .(search 'agrimorfee')
Read the slowly developing history of classic putative rock band The Anderson Council at my cheap, bland blog
Might as well throw my Last.fm page here, too.
#10
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Hipster
Posted 25 July 2006 - 01:04 PM
Take the bull by the horns.. 'My Dinner With Andre' always a crowd pleaser. 
There is nothing more depressing than trying to appear happy when you are not."
- Nick Cave
- Nick Cave
#11
undo
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future thug
Posted 25 July 2006 - 01:04 PM
The Manchurian Candidate
Blood Simple
#12
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Hipster
Posted 25 July 2006 - 01:05 PM
Strange Brew?
Must have been an off-night.
Oh and 'Joe vs the Volcano' wasn't?
There is nothing more depressing than trying to appear happy when you are not."
- Nick Cave
- Nick Cave
#13
Agrimorfee
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If you don't like it, IMPROVE IT.
Posted 25 July 2006 - 01:06 PM
Strange Brew?
Must have been an off-night.
Oh and 'Joe vs the Volcano' wasn't?
Tru that too.
"Is everyone on here just an act sometimes?"--Hummingbird
Read all of my stupid song parodies here. Latest song improved/ruined: "Once Again" by Girl Talk.
Listen to my stupid song parodies, recorded a capella via cell phone, at vocalo.org .(search 'agrimorfee')
Read the slowly developing history of classic putative rock band The Anderson Council at my cheap, bland blog
Might as well throw my Last.fm page here, too.
Read all of my stupid song parodies here. Latest song improved/ruined: "Once Again" by Girl Talk.
Listen to my stupid song parodies, recorded a capella via cell phone, at vocalo.org .(search 'agrimorfee')
Read the slowly developing history of classic putative rock band The Anderson Council at my cheap, bland blog
Might as well throw my Last.fm page here, too.
#14
Vivian Darkbloom
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Hipster
Posted 25 July 2006 - 01:07 PM
Strange Brew?
Must have been an off-night.
Oh and 'Joe vs the Volcano' wasn't?
Yeah, it's a rich tapestry over there for sure. "Joe Versus the Volcano" is a personal favorite of one of the ringleaders. To each their own.
The God of language forgives all crimes.
-W.H. Auden
*****
Anthony B, Independent, March 16
Black Mountain, Rickshaw Stop, March 20
Earthless, Wooden Shjips, Cafe du Nord, March 28
Mastodon, Kylesa, Intronaut, Great American Music Hall, April 19
Opeth, Enslaved, Regency Grand Ballroom, May 14
Sun Kil Moon, Great American Music Hall, May 29
#15
sin city
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Hipster
Posted 25 July 2006 - 01:09 PM
"even boarding in non-signature-view mode i feel your lists of concerts (no one cares) last.fm bullshit (ditto) and oversized .jpgs (srsly fuck off) may distract from my superior posts."
#16
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Hipster
Posted 25 July 2006 - 01:11 PM
Strange Brew?
Must have been an off-night.
Oh and 'Joe vs the Volcano' wasn't?
Yeah, it's a rich tapestry over there for sure. "Joe Versus the Volcano" is a personal favorite of one of the ringleaders. To each their own.
I being the cinesnobgrad from hell look at your list and can only think: what would Damo do?
all that shit is as mainstream as it gets. Just pick an acadmey award winner or something.
It certainly wouldn't be hard to shake things up if that's your angle. Otherwise, pick a popcorn flick.
So whaddyawantado huh?
There is nothing more depressing than trying to appear happy when you are not."
- Nick Cave
- Nick Cave
#17
TJENZ
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Golden God
Posted 25 July 2006 - 01:12 PM
that list of movies shown so far is pretty pedestrian
you need to expand their minds
They need a little Errol Morris, show them Gates Of Heaven
#18
Slackmo
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devil's avocado
Posted 25 July 2006 - 01:13 PM
A movie has to be "good" and "stand the test of some time" and they showed Hostel?
Someone Still Loves You Pants McJickson
#19
TJENZ
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Golden God
Posted 25 July 2006 - 01:16 PM
by test of time, maybe they mean if you can stand to sit still for the 90 minutes the movie is on the screenA movie has to be "good" and "stand the test of some time" and they showed Hostel?
#20
Seamus
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Rockist
Posted 25 July 2006 - 01:20 PM
I'd go with "Night On Earth"...gotta have some Jarmusch in there.
