Free Movie Friday: The Divorcee (1930)
Not only a Pre-Code title but one that was ahead of its time in many regards.
Uncategorized
Free-Movie Friday: Hell-Bound Train (1930)
This was a film I first viewed on the Criterion Channel.
It’s a morality tale from the Jazz Age and a milestone in early Black cinema, which only remains extant thanks to preservation efforts of cobbling together partial prints to restore the whole. As such it has been included in the National Film Registry.
My Cinematic World Map
For a long time I’ve wanted to create a world map indicating what countries I have seen films from. Now I’ve done it as you can see above. Recently, I finally did it, it was a shorter process than I imagined but as painstaking. It’s also an imperfect map. There are places where I’ve had to make decisions that effected whether or not a country was highlighted in green or not.
I included countries on this list based its “cultural impact”on story this goes beyond the country of origin of the director but also considers the setting of the film (not merely a shooting location), the predominant language(s) spoken, the makeup of the cast and more.
Some examples would be:
Cyprus is not included. I’ve seen a film directed by Greek Cypriot, Michael Cacoyannis, though it was also filmed in Cyprus it was an adaptation of Checkov’s The Cherry Orchard performed in English.
International co-productions are common and cooperative funding is crucial to film. However, that does not make a Hollywood film co-funded by Chinese, UAE, Arab or other nations not an American film. Therefore, at times when neighboring nations co-produced a film I erred to where the film was produced, who it represents, etc. I couldn’t mark off Panama thought they were a funding partner on a film called The Colors of the Mountain but that film wasn’t set in their nation or about Panamanian peoples. Also, some African and Western Asian nations might be omitted due to funding coming from neighboring countries.
The one yellow (To Be Watched) nation in the Pacific, that is Vanuatu. I hate it on DVD but haven’t screened it yet.
Another complication was the changing of borders over time. Some films produced before 1990 are now designated as being Estonian or Ukrainian in the case of the former Soviet Union. Typically, I’ve erred toward only marking off a nation when I was certain and didn’t have to attribute the film to said nation myself. Making that decision myself was to be avoided because in narrative features locations can be cheated. The exception is I was able to claim having seen a film from Bosnia & Herzegovina because the 1984 Winter Olympic film was in and about Sarajevo, which was Yugoslavia at the time.
If mistakes were made in terms of omitting countries off this list that should be included, it’ll only incentivize me to actively seek out works from that country.
Short Film Saturday: A Place in the Sun (1959)
The films I share in my 31 Days of Oscar posts tend to get lost in the shuffle, so I’ll be featuring them on Short Film Saturday to give them their due.
A Place in the Sun
Best Film Discoveries 2024
Introduction
This is an idea I first saw on Rupert Pupkin Speaks wherein he lists his favorite “new-to-me” titles of the prior year. During the pandemic years my viewings were down in general, my posting even more so. I created a list for 2023 and had choices ready to go last year, but neglected to post them. Here you go.
2024
Viy (1967)
Viy is a story that has seen a number of adaptations and interpretations. This is a taut, tense and atmospheric gothic horror tale.
I watched this on Criterion Channel.
Limite (1931)
This was a film I first learned of when Martin Scorcese included it in his World Cinema Project. It’s a landmark of early Brazilian cinema that I might never have heard about if not his recognition of it and dedication to film preservation.
I watched this on Criterion Channel.
Butcher, Baker, Nightmare Maker (1981)
This is a film that had flown under my radar for years and then I saw it available to stream on Shudder and gave it a watch despite knowing little to nothing about it. Little did I know I’d stumbled upon not only a compelling slasher but one rather ahead of its time and that also hasn’t aged that poorly.
The Signalman (1976)
In November/December Shudder put a number of BBC Christmas ghost stories on their slate. This was the best amongst these I saw, while many of these films aregreat slow burns, but the eerieness and isolation in this story puts it above the rest.
El Televisor (1974)
This was a film I saw as part of the great Historias Para no Dormir set from Severin Films. This was a series in Spain that included short horror features. They were typically written and directed Narciso Ibáñez Serrador. This particular film takes on new technology (color TV) wreaking havoc on a man’s life. A concept that could be too campy if poorly handled, is riveting and insightful character study with a brilliant performance by Narciso Ibánez Menta.
Moon Child (1989)
Lastly, is another Spanish film this one by iconoclastic auteur Augustí Villaronga. This film with dreamlike/nightmarish images dealing with pseudoscientific cult is another stand out. I watched this film on Mubi.
2025 BAM Award Nominations
Last year I purposely delayed my BAM Award nominations to keep in step with Oscars. Those nominations being delayed due to the devastating wildfires allowed me to deliberate further and, frankly, be a little lazier. This year the delay was all my own as I have been acclimating to life following a liver transplant.
28 Years Later
Bring Her Back
Hamnet
I’m Still Here (Ainda Estou Aqui)
Nickel Boys
One Battle After Another
Relay
Sinners
Weapons
Young Hearts
Bring Them Down
Freaky Tales
Relay
The Surfer
Young Hearts
Paul Thomas Anderson One Battle After Another
Danny Boyle 28 Years Later
Ryan Coogler Sinners
Zach Cregger Weapons
Walter Salles I’m Still Here (Ainda Estou Aqui)
Tony Cranstoun The Surfer
Geoff Lamb Bring Her Back
Jon Harris 28 Years Later
Andy Jurgensen One Battle After Another
Michael P. Shawver Sinners
Not Awarded
Jessie Buckley Hamnet
Jodie Comer 28 Years Later
Sally Hawkins Bring Her Back
Fernanda Montenegro Vitória
Fernanda Torres I’m Still Here (Ainda Estou Aqui)
Tom Basden The Ballad of Wallis Island
Leonardo DiCaprio One Battle After Another
Michael B. Jordan Sinners
John Lithgow The Rule of Jenny Pen
Josh O’Connor Wake Up Dead Man
Glenn Close Wake Up Dead Man
Ariana Grande Wicked For Good
Amy Madigan Weapons
Mia Sara The Life of Chuck
Teyana Taylor One Battle After Another
Miles Caton Sinners
Ralph Fiennes 28 Years Later
Benicio Del Toro One Battle After Another
Tim Key The Ballad of Wallis Island
Delroy Lindo Sinners
Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Leading Role
Julia Butters Freakier Friday
Bodhi Rae Breathnach Hamnet
Ana Sophia Heger She Rides Shotgun
Madeleine McGraw The Black Phone 2
Sora Wong Bring Her Back
Helena Zengel The Legend of Ochi
Best Performance by a Young Actor in a Leading Role
Benjamin Evan Ainsworth Everything’s Going to be Great
Isaac Amendoim Chico Bento e a Goiabeira Maraviosa
Billy Barratt Bring Her Back
Christian Convery The Monkey
Lou Goosens Young Hearts
Alfie Williams 28 Years Later
Best Performance by a Young Actress in a Supporting Role
Trinity Jo-Li Bliss Avatar: Fire and Ash
Anna Julia Dias Chico Bento e a Goiabeira Maraviosa
Olivia Lynes Hamnet
Violet McGraw The Life of Chuck
Audrina Miranda Jurassic World: Rebirth
Lorena de Oliveira Chico Bento e a Goiabeira Maraviosa
Best Performance by a Young Actor in a Supporting Role
Benjamin Chivers Fountain of Youth
Jacobi Jupe Hamnet
Miguel Mora Black Phone 2
Benjamin Pajak The Life of Chuck
Jonah Wren Phillips Bring Her Back
Marius De Saeger Young Hearts
28 Years Later
Bring Her Back
One Battle After Another
Hamnet
Sinners
Chico Bento e a Goiabera Maraviosa
Hamnet
Bring Her Back
Young Hearts
The Legend of Ochi
Weapons
Autumn Durald Arkapaw Sinners
Michael Bauman One Battle After Another
Jomo Fray Nickel Boys
Radek Ladczuk The Surfer
Stephen Soderbergh Presence
Dan Clay, Ewa Galak, Carsom McColl, and Gareth Pugh 28 Years Later
Vanessa Cerne, Michael Bell, and Max Nadilo Bring Her Back
Florencia Martin, Alex Max Cahn, Albert Cisneros, and May Mitchell One Battle After Another
Hannah Beachler, Jonathan Cappel, Timotheus Davis, and Jesse Rosenthal Sinners
Rick Heinrichs, Jim Barr, Dean Clegg, Kate Suzanne Hunter, Chloe Kletsa, Hugh McClelland and Quinn Robinson Wake Up Dead Man
Ryan Coogler Sinners
Zach Cregger Weapons
Alex Garland 28 Years Later
Rian Johnson Wake Up Deadman
Phillipou Brothers Bring Her Back
Chloé Zhao, Maggie O’Farrell Hamnet
Murilo Hauser, Heitor Lorega, Marcelo Rubens Paiva I’m Still Here (Ainda Estou Aqui)
RaMell Ross, Joslyn Barnes, Colson Whitehead Nickel Boys
Paul Thomas Anderson, Thomas Pynchon One Battle After Another
JT Mollner, Stephen King The Long Walk
Leticia Barbieri Chico Bento e a Goiabera Maraviosa
Ruth E. Carter Sinners
Carson McColl, Gareth Pugh 28 Years Later
Deborah L. Scott Avatar: Fire and Ash
Malgosia Turzanksa Hamnet
28 Years Later
Avatar: Fire and Ash
Bring Her Back
The Legend of Ochi
Sinners
Bring Her Back
F1
One Battle After Another
Sinners
Weapons
28 Years Later
Bring Her Back
The Toxic Avenger
Hamnet
Sinners
Ludwig Goränsson Sinners
The Newton Brothers The Life of Chuck
Francois Tétaz The Surfer
Cornel Wilczek Bring Her Back
Young Fathers 28 Years Later
“Steve’s Lava Chicken” Jack Black A Minecraft Movie
“Morning Evening” Tom Basden & Carey Mulligan The Ballad of Wallis Island
“I Lied to You” Miles Caton Sinners
“Joy” The Pocket Queen The Life of Chuck
“Happy Together” Susanna Hoffs & Rufus Wainwright The Roses
The Ballad of Wallis Island
Caught Stealing
Heads of State
I’m Still Here (Ainda Estou Aqui)
Sinners
Not Awarded
Robert Downey, Jr. Entertainer of the Year Award
TBA
Ingmar Bergman Lifetime Achievement Award
TBA
TBA
TBA
Film Discoveries: 2020
Introduction
This is an idea I first saw on Rupert Pupkin Speaks wherein he lists his favorite “new-to-me” titles of the prior year. My viewings were down in general in 2020 overall (rewatching sitcoms and watching sports when they resumed in ghostly stadiums got me through it) but there were things worth noting, even things that were not brand new. Some are rather short and can be viewed in their entirety below. There are few selections that come from varied eras to be found.
During the pandemic years, and a little after that, I neglected to post these. I did one for 2023 and will now make up for the years I missed.
The Prince and the Pauper (1920)
This was an offering from Grapevine Video, as one of the oldest adaptations of a story I’ve seen many versions of this one was a must-see especially considering it was directed by Alexander Korda before he emigrated to Hollywood.
Witches (1990)
This was a film that somehow slipped through the cracks during my childhood. I’d heard of it off and on and eventually it became a title I could not longer avoid. And it proved to be an entertaining and unhinged eighties oddity.
Dawson City: Frozen Time (2016)
I wrote about this film for the 2020 O Canada Blogathon. If you like what you read there Kino Lorber has made the full documentary available on their YouTube channel.
September (1990)
This was a title I picked up as part of Twilight Time’s clearance sale following their announcement that they were ceasing operations. Woody Allen‘s dramatic works are often overlooked and this was one of the ones I had yet to see. When he worked with Mia Farrow the works were a notch better, when there were other regulars like Dianne Weist involved they got even better.
Paganini Horror (1989)
I’d not heard of Paganini Horror before it was released by Severin Films. But the combination of the iconic violinist and composer and giallo was too good to pass up, and the score alone makes this film worth watching.
Short Film Saturday: The Ship of Ether (1934)
For Short Film Saturday for most of the coming year I will revisit the animated shorts that were presented in snippets by the King of Cartoons on Pee-Wee’s Playhouse. And here you’ll get to see the whole thing.
Short Film Saturday: Dog, Cat and Canary (1944)
The films I share in my 31 Days of Oscar posts tend to get lost in the shuffle, so I’ll be featuring them on Short Film Saturday to give them their due.
Short Film Saturday: The Tell-Tale Heart (1953)
The films I share in my 31 Days of Oscar posts tend to get lost in the shuffle, so I’ll be featuring them on Short Film Saturday to give them their due.
The Movie Rat 