Rob Christopher's Blog, page 51

3 things about Axel Danielson and Maximilien Van Aertryck’s AND THE KING SAID, WHAT A FANTASTIC MACHINE

And the King Said, What a Fantastic Machine [2023]

1. A scientific explanation of how seeing images can produce adrenaline and dopamine, immediately followed by a startling example.
2. In order to preserve an illusion, certain things must remain hidden.
3. Unable (or unwilling) to unplug his livestreamed existence.

3 things about Kogonada’s AFTER YANG

After Yang [2021]

1. Eating ramen at the same time but not together.
2. He tells her that he’s been watching a documentary.
3. Working, sleeping at the office.

3 things about Kent Jones’s DIANE

Diane [2018]

1. A knot of friends appears from nowhere to escort her back home.
2. She rarely seems to take off her coat, her sensible padded winter coat. Too much in motion.
3. “I have to go back to Jesusland now.”

3 things about Laura Poitras’ ALL THE BEAUTY AND THE BLOODSHED

All the Beauty and the Bloodshed [2022]

1. A Nan Goldin slideshow double-billed with John Waters’ Desperate Living.
2. “He wanted to blind me.”
3. Forced to witness testimony via Zoom.

3 things about Frank Tashlin’s WILL SUCCESS SPOIL ROCK HUNTER?

Will Success Spoil Rock Hunter? [1957]

1. Loverdoll.
2. “That’s the way the poop poops.”
3. Big suit and elevator shoes.

3 things about Ken Kwapis’s FOLLOW THAT BIRD

Follow That Bird [1985]

1. Art direction by Carol Spier, a regular collaborator of David Cronenberg!
2. Shower of bottlecaps.
3. “So that’s my new home. I should be happy here. What’s wrong with me?”

3 things about Kelly Reichardt’s SHOWING UP

Showing Up [2022]

1. “I get up, I do a little of this and a little of that, and before you know it, it’s time to watch TV again.”
2. Namedropping Tim Hunter.
3. Power lines and tree branches.

3 things about Sidney Lumet’s 12 ANGRY MEN

12 Angry Men [1957]

1. Indentations on either side of the nose.
2. Slowly expanding sweat stains.
3. He leaves the torn photograph behind.

3 things about Guillermo del Toro’s PINOCCHIO

Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio [2022]

1. Spazzatura is Gremlin-adjacent.
2. Poop marionette.
3. Both flags ascend the flagpole.

3 things about Anthony Banua-Simon’s CANE FIRE

Cane Fire [2020]

1. Coco Palms’ famous torch-lighting ceremony was completely made up; it was never a native Hawaiian tradition.
2. Describing Charlton Heston as the guy whose veins bulge out.
3. “Just call me Uncle Larry.”

Certainly one of the finest documentaries I’ve seen in the past few years. Everyone ought to watch it before pondering a trip to Hawaii. I particularly admired the bold way that the filmmaker took fair advantage of his rights under Fair Use to interweave so many amazing film clips with his own footage. Bravo!