h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

There you go. You can start nominating here.

I'm intrigued by an Icelandic film called '101 Rekjavik'

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0237993/?fr=c2l0ZT1kZnxteD0yMHxzZz0xfGxtPTIwMHx0dD1vbnxwbj0wfHE9MTAxIHJla2phdmlrfGh0bWw9MXxubT1vbg__;fc=1;ft=1;fm=1

Hrm, a movie about the ultimate slacker eh? Looks interesting.

I'd like to throw a trio of movies into the pot (for some time in the future ?) -- "Blue", "White", and "Red" by Polish director Krzysztof Kieslowki. Take a look at the actresses, see if you want to single one movie out to watch. I like Juliette Binoche and Julie Delpy. I plan to watch all three, but can adjust my timing to coincide with what others are watching. "Blue" apparently starts the series, about a woman who has lost her husband. Too much of a downer? "Red" the last one looks most intriguing to me, but all the customer reviews say "Watch it last."

Oh, yeh the link:
http://www.netflix.com/MovieDisplay?movieid=60025677&trkid=174844

Welll....it is about time I got around to Krszt...Krrzsz....Krzysztof Kieslowki. (Damn! Is there a vowel shortage in Poland or something?). I was put off 3 Colours a) because I fell asleep during La Double Vie de Veronique http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101765/ (but that might have been the wine) and b) Three films is a big commitment, especially for someone who hasn't got around to The Godfather yet (or Star Wars )

Is there anyone else who should be invited here, by the way? So far it's only been people on my friends list - but I'm happy to broaden it out.

Ooops, well, I posted to Terri's Eyes thread about Film Club, hope you don't mind! As to whether you want to post to Ask or something, this is really your banana. I'd kind of like to keep it "local", but we may not have enough input that way. Your call.

Hmmm. February is upon us. So far we seem to have 2 firm takers and Krrrszszzsrqwerttof Kieslowski is looking like a possibility.

Any more for any more?
I had a notion for 'The Man With The Golden Arm' http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0048347/maindetails

Also...I've never seen Chinatown http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071315/maindetails

Or how about Mystery Train: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097940/maindetails

Or The Lady and the Duke (Eric Rohmer)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0239234/maindetails

Or 'Die Blechtrommel' (The Tin Drum) (Volker Schloendorff)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0078875/maindetails

I own Chinatown and Mystery Train, but have never seen the others. Should general concensus be for one of those two, I could sit the first round out- they're both excellent films.

I want to nominate "Happiness", but K will have to provide me with the release year and more info, so I'll save that one for March.

Le Bonheur (1965)? http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0058985/maindetails

Felicidad (1956)? http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0271500/combined

Kofuku (1981)? http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0203628/combined

I doubt it's the last two....but I'm guessing it might actually be 'Le bonheur est dans le pré' http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112556/maindetails - which is the only one that Amazon UK lists - but under the title 'Le Bonheur'. It does sound rather good and looks like it won various Cannes prizes.

By the way - just because you've seen a movie we might choose, PC, don't feel you have to duck out of any discussion.

And I can't help recounting the famous story of a visit to Britain by President Pompidou and his wife. During a state banquet, they were discussing their philosophies of life. Madame Pompidou was suddenly heard to say (imagine this in a French accent) 'All I want from life is a penis!' The table went silent and she repeated, 'Mais oui! I desire a penis all of the time.' After a while, her husband leant forward and said 'My dear...I think it's pronounced 'appiness.'

I'm not sure if it's one of those you found or not, Edward. K's not rented it yet because I've been a bit down, and he says it's a downright depressing film. I'll track down the correct film, have all of the necessary info on hand, and nominate it for March.

So the rule is only that one not nominate a film one has already seen, but we can still participate if we've seen the nominee? In that case, I'd be happy to watch either one again.


Loved the anecdote, Edward! I was just thinking to myself that the two are not necessarily mutually exclusive.

The rules are only suggestions anyway...just a nudge to expand our horizons. We should *try* and give everyone a chance to see fresh films...but not stop people pitching in with something they've already seen.

I still feel we need a couple of more people to make a quorum, though (not that I've anything against you two). Is there anyone else we could personally prod? I think Blackberry Cat might be keen-ish...but the problem is that in the UK not many people have signed up for online rentals yet.

'nother French anecdote. Churchill once offered de Gaulle a cigar, asking 'Etes-vous un fumier?' - which actually means 'Are you a dung heap'....but Churchill probably knew that.

I haven't signed on for the Netflix yet myself. Dunno if we will once he moves into my place or not. As of now, his roommates have it and let us add to their queue. I'd be willing to be that if we got a good nominee, I'd have three other people watching along with me. If not, we also have two or three "indie" video rental shops in the neighborhood, so I'm sure I could find nearly anything we all agreed on.

I'm not sure who all else we could get involved, I'll have to ask around. I seem to remember a Purple Dragon who was quite the film buff. Wonder if he/she is still around?

Okay, I've got more info on "Happiness". Here's a link: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0147612/

Discussed it further with K, it's not depressing, just a bit graphic and not for the faint of heart. If it's not selected, we're going to rent it anyway and I'll comment on it on my journal.

Well - it has does have Philip Seymour Hoffman going for it! I think he's brilliant. I loved him in Magnolia, Boogie Nights, The Big Lebowski.....and 25th Hour...

...which I watched again last weekend (my free copy, courtesy of Amazon). It really is a remarkable film which doesn't seem to have got the acclaim it deserves. The performances are stunning (also Ed Norton, Brian Cox, Rosario Dawson and Anna Paquin). And I love the way that Spike Lee mixes realism with stylised elements (Norton's bathroom monologue; Cox's escapist fantasy) and his tricksy camera work (like the close-ups on Paquin's face, just before she comes on to Hoffman). Plus...despite using a mainly white cast, Lee makes a strong political statement. They're talking about the hard time a pretty white boy will have in prison. Every African-American that Norton meets has some advice for him on how to survive. Lee is reminding us that 1 in 4 African-Americans experience on of the most inhumane penal systems in the world.

Sadly, Amazon UK don't have that Happiness. I do like the idea of 'Le bonheur est dans le pre' - or should we go for Three Colours Blue?

Oh...and Cold Mountain.

I'd be game for anything except for "Cold Mountain". As for "Happiness", I'll find it at the video store and let you all know how I enjoy it.

Ah..I meant Philip Seymour Hoffman was good in Cold Mountain. The book was better than the film. It gave a great, epic scale to Inman's journey. What really struck me was what it told you about how life used to be lived...like, if you didn't kill a big and get it properly salted before winter - you died.

Something different, i nominate Bubba-Ho-Tep:

Elvis and JFK team up to defeat an egyptian mummy in cowboy boots

Unfortunately that's not available for Rental from Amazon UK. I'm so desparate to see it that I'm considering buying it from Canada.

Where did my last posting go????

I suggested that, for a kick off, we might want to try this: http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcfour/cinema/features/noi-the-albino.shtml
since it's conveniently on BBC4 Digital on 19th Feb. That way we might be able to attract a quorum from the UK for the inaugral session.

Hopefully it will also be available to US renters, but possibly under its Icelandic title, Noi Albinoi.

Hey! What film did we decide, is it Noi the Albino? Lemme know soon, Feb is zooming past and I'm about to send back a Netflix - need to know which one to get.

If we don't vote on Albino than I'd like to see 101 Reykjivak (sp?).

JEllen

I'd be happy with Noi. PC?

I also saw 101 Rekjavik last week, so would be happy to discuss it.

Over to 'Other Film Bits' F2004407 for more on my latest-seen DVDs.

I'll have to see if I can obtain a copy of "Noi". Don't have the Netflix right now so am limited to the indie video shops. I'll check the Earwax Cafe this weekend. If they have it, I guess I'm in!