Comments for DaysAreNumbers

Comment on Director of the Month: Aki Kaurismaki by Days Are Numbers Film Night No. 1 – Leningrad Cowboys Go America!

Days Are Numbers Film Night No. 1 – Leningrad Cowboys Go America! — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 10:26:08 +0000

[...] made no secret in the past of my love for the films of Aki Kaurismaki, and I have declared him as probably my favourite ever director several times on this very [...]

Comment on Film of the Day – The Shout (Jerzy Skolimowski, 1978) by alan

alan — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:48:34 +0000

Not bad, is it Sandell?

And I didn’t even mention that Genesis do the bleedin’ soundtrack!

Comment on Film of the Day – The Shout (Jerzy Skolimowski, 1978) by Sandell

Sandell — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:01:33 +0000

I actually finally got around to watching this a couple of weeks ago, great movie

Comment on Film of the Day – The Shout (Jerzy Skolimowski, 1978) by alan

alan — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:49:05 +0000

I have seen Deep End and I absolutely love it, too. Never seen a film quite like it; visually stunning and quite avant garde, but saucy and cheeky, too (Burt Kwouk’s hotdog seller!). You can get it on DVD now after years of near-obscurity.

The Shout isn’t quite as good, but even then it’s still a bit of a must-see on account of it’s genuine oddness and (similar to Deep End) imaginitive and poetic direction. But, as I implied, Bates-y is sometimes hella annoying in the lead.

Not seen Essential Killing yet, but I’ve heard nothing but good about it. I’ve never heard of Figures in a Landscape, but that sounds worth checking out, too. Losey’s always an interesting one – I saw one of his recently, Eve, that had Stanley Baker as a bad boy writer running afoul of Jeanne Moreau. That was pretty good.

Comment on Film of the Day – The Shout (Jerzy Skolimowski, 1978) by Paul Alaoui

Paul Alaoui — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 12:06:57 +0000

Never seen this one – meant to but have never gotten round to seeing it. After taking a look at Alan’s piece I shall look to get hold of a DVD.

You seen Deep End? I really loved that and recently watched Skolimowski’s Essential Killing which is also very good too. The latter film reminded me of Joseph Loosey’s excellent (but criminally overlooked) Figures in a Landscape.

Comment on Spooky Film of the Day – Tam-Lin (Roddy McDowall, 1970) by Film of the Day – The Shout (Jerzy Skolimowski, 1978)

Film of the Day – The Shout (Jerzy Skolimowski, 1978) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 10:36:22 +0000

[...] we; listing the likes of The Wicker Man, Witchfinder General, Blood on Satan’s Claw and Tam-Lin as some of the more notable efforts that potentially make up this somewhat loosely [...]

Comment on The 100 Greatest Films Ever Made (part three) by alan

alan — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 11:09:06 +0000

Hi Chris,

Thanks for commenting!

Doing a list of your 100 favourite films is the most shamelessly self-indulgent and pretentious thing a man can do! At the same time, I’m pretty proud of my list and I guess it’s authentic because I wouldn’t have a problem calling anyone of these films my favourite of all-time… With the exception of A Clockwork Orange which I’ve really gone off since writing this list, and would probably bump now.

Valerie and Her Week of Wonders is indeed one truly great film I missed. I also wish I’d had room for Rosemary’s Baby, Badlands, Brighton Rock, Rushmore, A Hard Day’s Night, Hausu, Possession… I could go on and on!

What would you say are your all-time favourites, Chris?

Hope you enjoy Leningrad Cowboys!

Comment on The 100 Greatest Films Ever Made (part three) by chris_c

chris_c — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 07:41:50 +0000

More Checy Chase! How about a profile of this little known genius? Is it true that his subversive oeuvre played a significant role in the collapse of the Berlin Wall?

Comment on The 100 Greatest Films Ever Made (part three) by chris_c

chris_c — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 07:34:07 +0000

Great list with some unexpected gems. Where is Valerie and Her Week of Wonders? Saw it recently for the first time, it is a truly exceptional film.
See you at the Kaurismaki screening!

Comment on Director of the Month: Ken Russell by alan

alan — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 13:41:11 +0000

Thanks for the tip-off, Phil.

I’m very pleased to note that The Devils DVD release boasts the aforementioned debut short Amelia and the Angel as a feature. You could say it would be worth buying for that alone, but c’mon, this is The Devils! On DVD!

And Oliver… Agree with what you’re saying, mate (although I freely admit to having LOADS of heroes, and Ken is certainly at the top table). The rather astounding thing is that all of Ken Russell’s first 10 or so films did fair to near-spectacular box-office.

In fact, Tommy was only dislodged from the top of the UK box-office by Lisztomania (and watching that latter film now, it’s simply incredible that millions of cinemagoers flocked to see it… It’s got a giant fanny in it, and everything!).

I reckon that the establishment couldn’t wait for him to slip up, and when he did, the boot was duly stuck in. It seems they couldn’t stand the thought of someone as brainy and subversive as Ken Russell being the country’s leading filmmaker, and who does that leave us with… Richard Curtis?