tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838733.post7860547201762079544..comments2024-03-25T21:14:21.671-04:00Comments on Listen Eggroll: Skandies Decade Bonus: The Singletonsmd'ahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06055853987416332662noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838733.post-54824999139044438022015-09-25T02:01:50.216-04:002015-09-25T02:01:50.216-04:00The full result please!!! I want to see the rankin...The full result please!!! I want to see the ranking of fellowship of the ring.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838733.post-34207267811966308652009-10-20T10:42:22.936-04:002009-10-20T10:42:22.936-04:00Shocked that Adaptation. only got a single vote. I...Shocked that Adaptation. only got a single vote. It would be at or near the top of my list. Hero, too.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838733.post-45138655853882750132009-10-19T21:15:20.813-04:002009-10-19T21:15:20.813-04:00It sounds like part of the fun of voting is trying...<i>It sounds like part of the fun of voting is trying to decide, strategically, how to best exercise the influence of your own taste over the list as a whole.</i><br /><br />Though I specifically ask everyone not to do that...md'ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06055853987416332662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838733.post-90740865805275962132009-10-19T21:11:22.194-04:002009-10-19T21:11:22.194-04:00To each his own, I guess. I won't try to convi...To each his own, I guess. I won't try to convince anyone otherwise, but I think Jia's recent films are far from ugly. (As for "ugly people"-- I'm not even sure what that means or why it would matter.)<br /><br />But anyway . . .<br /><br />Thanks again for the background. I've enjoyed watching the countdown unspool. It sounds like part of the fun of voting is trying to decide, strategically, how to best exercise the influence of your own taste over the list as a whole.Darrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11456377117711062375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838733.post-90701829460675412502009-10-19T19:47:15.169-04:002009-10-19T19:47:15.169-04:00I almost included "Still Life" as well. ...I almost included "Still Life" as well. It's the only Jia movie that totally works for me, though I kind of like "Useless." Haven't seen "Dong," "Platform" or that first one.Vadimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16748591562916338637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838733.post-9348454747197866402009-10-19T19:46:10.842-04:002009-10-19T19:46:10.842-04:00Sicinski rocked the house. Just to supplement som...Sicinski rocked the house. Just to supplement some of the points above: it's true that the AVB likes to down Significant Cinema with a mannerist chaser rather than a realist one. To wit: Abbas Kiorastami, hailed in many quarters as the most significant filmmaker of the 90s, was never a favorite with this crowd. Jia's in the same boat, partially a victim of the voting body's inherent biases.<br /><br />But I also happen to think the dude's just not very good, <i>Still Life</i> aside. Sicinski summarized the objections of Jia skeptics pretty well, so I'll make it short and sweet: if Jia's movies were more pleasurable to look at or told good stories or featured interesting characters, I'd be less irritated by his heavy hand. But if you are going to make ugly movies about ugly people in ugly places, I need a bit more than an obvious thesis statement on how globalism is displacing people.Ryanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03078377790942736019noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838733.post-60773960934008039342009-10-19T17:57:02.778-04:002009-10-19T17:57:02.778-04:00Don't have much to add to what Michael said re...Don't have much to add to what Michael said re: Jia. I certainly don't think he's made a great film, personally; <i>Xiao Wu</i> comes closest, but that's the wrong decade anyway. <br /><br />Also, it's quite possible for a filmmaker to be among the most important of the decade without necessarily having made one of its ten best films in your opinion. If I were naming directors based on importance, both Joe and the Dardennes would be shoo-ins, but I couldn't find room for either one on my ballot.md'ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06055853987416332662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838733.post-25736395846956144902009-10-19T13:31:44.868-04:002009-10-19T13:31:44.868-04:00Thanks so much for posting this, MD'A. There w...Thanks so much for posting this, MD'A. There were smiles and nods as I read down the list. <br /><br />So good to see Moulin Rouge on there. I'm still amazed that a film that ambitious and oddball ever got financing and managed to be so perfectly realized. A movie miracle, indeed.<br /><br />And I'd completely forgotten about the beautiful <i>Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter...and Spring.</i> Ahh...<br /><br />(Oh, and "hi" to new best friend, RF. You're welcome. It was my pleasure to include the sublime <i>Me and You and Everyone We Know</i>.)Nictatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12174200071752059810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838733.post-19043613993984211892009-10-19T11:20:50.337-04:002009-10-19T11:20:50.337-04:00Thanks, Michael, for the background. "Apparen...Thanks, Michael, for the background. "Apparent realism" is the key to your description of Jia, I think, and it's why I feel he's so important. I've already decided that if I make a Best of 00s list, I'll treat STILL LIFE / DONG as a single work, and it'll probably end up in the top 3.Darrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11456377117711062375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838733.post-44314672036858295272009-10-19T11:06:42.233-04:002009-10-19T11:06:42.233-04:00Darren, I'm sure md'a will be along soon w...Darren, I'm sure md'a will be along soon with stats 'n such. But I will interject to say a few things.<br /><br />1) On the whole, this group is not especially impressed with Jia. This is one area where the AVB skews decidedly against critical / fest orthodoxy. A significant part of the voting bloc has active antipathy toward his films, finding them boring and (perhaps more damaging with this group) prone to foreground capital-H History and social relations, as opposed to the characters and human-level drama that one finds in more psychologically-driven films. And, he does this without an aggressively mannered visual style (e.g. Trier, Andersson, Tarr) that would clearly extract his allegorical moves from the realm of apparent realism. (I'm sure this is a not-entirely-satisfactory summation of some people's Jia problems -- and I'm sure some would be happy to leave it at "he's boring" -- but it's the best I can do at articulating what I perceive as the arguments against him In These Parts.<br /><br />2) Among Jiaphiles, there's probably not much consensus of which film is THE masterpiece. Personally, I have big problems with <i>The World</i>, but that one does seem to have emerged as the frontrunner (mostly, I think, due to having a big, honking, irony-drenched Symbol of Globalization at its core). In polls like these, as we know, a director's consistent quality hurts more than it helps. Hence the absence of Haneke, the Dardennes, or, I would argue, James Benning, since those of us (I reckon) who consider him easily one of the key filmmakers of the 00s knew that we would never agree on a single film, so voting for him was pointless. <br /><br />3) Okay, everyone, wakey wakey, eggs etc.msichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07554604197613295274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838733.post-71787247937330965132009-10-19T09:03:47.289-04:002009-10-19T09:03:47.289-04:00Only one vote for STILL LIFE? Mike, would you mind...Only one vote for STILL LIFE? Mike, would you mind revealing how/if other Jia films fared in the voting? (I assume it's safe to assume THE WORLD won't be showing up in your top 6?) Aside from the two or three Skandies voters I know personally, I don't know much about the group's history or taste. But, to me, Jia is in a dead heat with the Dardennes for Most Important Filmmaker of the Decade, so I'm surprised he hasn't made an appearance in the countdown.Darrenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11456377117711062375noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838733.post-47834164653475960252009-10-19T04:18:13.804-04:002009-10-19T04:18:13.804-04:00I've noticed that these sorts of lists -- when...<i>I've noticed that these sorts of lists -- when conducted immediately at the end of the decade -- skew unfairly towards the middle or early part of the period because people are hesitant to go to bat for a recent film/song/book. Or they need more time to really separate the wheat from the hype.</i><br /><br />Yes. I addressed that very tendency in my introduction some weeks ago, and also explained why I didn't especially want to wait until August 2012.<br /><br /><i>Also, are you guys not allowed to list sub-hour films, TV films, or docs?</i><br /><br />Documentaries and TV-movies were eligible, but all films had to be feature length, which I defined as at least 45 minutes. I don't think it's spoiling anything at this stage to say that no nonfiction film made the cut. <i>Capturing the Friedmans</i> came closest, followed at some distance by <i>Grizzly Man</i>.md'ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06055853987416332662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838733.post-15740434945339418112009-10-19T04:08:24.307-04:002009-10-19T04:08:24.307-04:00Too soon! I'd like to see you guys revisit yo...Too soon! I'd like to see you guys revisit your "Best of the 90s" lists. I've noticed that these sorts of lists -- when conducted immediately at the end of the decade -- skew unfairly towards the middle or early part of the period because people are hesitant to go to bat for a recent film/song/book. Or they need more time to really separate the wheat from the hype.<br /><br />Also, are you guys not allowed to list sub-hour films, TV films, or docs?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838733.post-47144630366201072332009-10-18T11:22:44.375-04:002009-10-18T11:22:44.375-04:00Oh, and since no one else has mentioned it, allow ...Oh, and since no one else has mentioned it, allow me to mention the film that would have been my #11, the single film that it was most agonizing to leave off my list: Brakhage's <i>The God of Day Had Gone Down Upon Him</i>. <br /><br />There. Now it has been mentioned.msichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07554604197613295274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838733.post-13965685368832876802009-10-18T11:20:30.435-04:002009-10-18T11:20:30.435-04:00For what it's worth, Skander, I rewatched quit...For what it's worth, Skander, I rewatched quite a lot of <i>AI</i> recently, and my estimation of it jumped up unexpectedly, so much so that it did end up on my short list (that from being a low-mixed when it came out).<br /><br />When you consider that GvS will likely place only for <i>Gerry</i>, since his other key films of the decade have no consensus here, you must wonder how clinically insane we look to the larger world. In this case, it's a good kind of insane.msichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07554604197613295274noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838733.post-49418362449902731042009-10-18T04:25:58.624-04:002009-10-18T04:25:58.624-04:00I was waiting to let the fucknut respond himself, ...<i>I was waiting to let the fucknut respond himself, but I see that he's too busy right now conducting a sociological study of Nebraska.</i><br /><br />This is my fifth visit (a good friend lives here). It just never ceases to surprise.<br /><br />I was on the fence about including <i>Huckabees</i>, but I watched most of it again a few weeks ago (after putting it on my ballot on faith) and was shocked how well it held up (i.e., better than anything I'd expect from something I adored freshman year of college that tackles Big Issues). In some ways Russell tips his hand politically too much, but the farce of it is really impeccable IMO.<br /><br />Am *really* surprised I'm the only guy voting for <i>Last Days</i>. Almost had <i>Assassination</i> on there, but aside from my top 3, there's any number of films that could've been the other seven depending on my mood that day.Vadimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16748591562916338637noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838733.post-64743097548612314602009-10-18T02:24:27.755-04:002009-10-18T02:24:27.755-04:00Also I realize 25TH HOUR placing so high was a wel...Also I realize 25TH HOUR placing so high was a welcome surprise to those not intimately familiar with the Skandie voting base but it is shocking! to me that that picture is not in the Top 3. (Wrong comment thread but whatever.)Bilgenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838733.post-51362955913713564172009-10-18T02:22:33.124-04:002009-10-18T02:22:33.124-04:00Bud it is not a question of forgetting it is a que...<i>Bud it is not a question of forgetting it is a question of there are many great pictures that get left out when you have to pare an entire decade down to only ten.</i><br /><br />Bud I am aware of this which is why I said I knew I'd be alone on THAT WACKY DISTANT and THE FOO ROOJ. But for some reason I thought PARANOID'S PARK had more devoted love round these parts. I guess people thought it was Too Soon or something, etc.Bilgenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838733.post-55427876684913261072009-10-18T00:08:02.464-04:002009-10-18T00:08:02.464-04:00BTW, I figured I'd be alone on DISTANT and RED...<i>BTW, I figured I'd be alone on DISTANT and RED LIGHTS, but which of you tards forgot about PARANOID PARK. Jezus.</i><br /><br />Bud it is not a question of forgetting it is a question of there are many great pictures that get left out when you have to pare an entire decade down to only ten. Just from this list of singletons I count 21 films that made one of my individual top ten lists over those ten years. Most of those, including <i>Paranoid Park</i>, would be in my top 50 of the Aughties. They just weren't as awesome as <i>State and Main</i> (which I can't believe nobody has yet marveled at the absence of on the list).md'ahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06055853987416332662noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838733.post-22546188761817952272009-10-18T00:01:38.072-04:002009-10-18T00:01:38.072-04:00Sorry Joker, as much as I love FEMME FATALE and De...Sorry Joker, as much as I love FEMME FATALE and De Palma, this just wasn't his decade. I don't even think FEMME FATALE made my Top 10 the year it came out, but maybe I remember wrong. (I no longer have my ballot.)<br /><br />BTW, I figured I'd be alone on DISTANT and RED LIGHTS, but which of you tards forgot about PARANOID PARK. Jezus.Bilgenoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838733.post-56382547694468589642009-10-17T21:44:52.302-04:002009-10-17T21:44:52.302-04:00Note that there was a clerical error, and Cowen is...Note that there was a clerical error, and Cowen is no longer sole king of the Singletons.Skanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12385467063868873824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838733.post-25815069632430681682009-10-17T19:28:46.614-04:002009-10-17T19:28:46.614-04:00Also, this Dumont fanboy would've also put HUM...Also, this Dumont fanboy would've also put HUMANITE on his list, had it not fallen through the cracks due to the dumb administrative decision to change the eligibility rules from NYC release date (90's poll) to IMDb release date. <br /><br />What are some other potential victims of this rule change? BEAU TRAVAIL, AUDITION (and perfs therein), I know D'Angelo loved Fuckhead in JESUS' SON...Skanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12385467063868873824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838733.post-32491778432132761722009-10-17T19:23:46.553-04:002009-10-17T19:23:46.553-04:00M@B, my DEATH PROOF dig was aimed at D'Angelo ...M@B, my DEATH PROOF dig was aimed at D'Angelo (who had the picture on his short list), not you. You are far less frequently insane, and far less fun to make fun of.<br /><br />I thought at least one other person would have my back on A.I. I guess I have to wait for Armond's decade roundup.<br /><br />Other surprising singletary: CITY OF GOD. Waters is understandably pissed.Skanderhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12385467063868873824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838733.post-19705258487629959862009-10-17T16:58:35.910-04:002009-10-17T16:58:35.910-04:00It thrills me -- and also pains me -- to see that ...It thrills me -- and also pains me -- to see that you would have voted for Oksana Akinshina, Adam. That might have been enough points.Joshnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8838733.post-28325247593432603722009-10-17T15:27:52.254-04:002009-10-17T15:27:52.254-04:00Hope still remains for The Virgin Suicides!
Premi...<i>Hope still remains for The Virgin Suicides!</i><br /><br />Premiered at Cannes in May of 1999 I believe. A few other festivals too, though its domestic release was early 2000. I don't think it qualifies for this decade per Mike's rules.<br /><br />Adam -- good job on FLYING DAGGERS; it *just* missed my cut at #11 or #12. It's so many leagues better than HERO I want to cry.Private Jokerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08115036526759106746noreply@blogger.com