Yes, 'A New York Story' was derivative of Stillman but that was the filmmaker's intent. to think that two young women in their 20s could put together such a move was an accomplishment in itself. I went to see 'The Phoenician Scheme' and 'F1', the Brad Pitt racing film over the weekend. Both were pleasurable.
I can't remember if you reviewed 'In the Mood for Love' or not. I watched it tonight on Criterion (it was ranked as one of the top 10 movies in the NY Times silly 100 best films of the first quarter century. Phenomenal movie and interesting that Maggie Cheung stepped away from movies at the pinnacle of her career.
I have my own favorite of the last 25 years and will be writing about it in a couple of weeks on my Substack. I need to do another Desert Island Disk post, this time on country music first.
"Modern viewers might find some portions to be silly, but you cannot stop watching."
David Thomson (1975):
"Far from the meek purveyor of Hollywood forms, [Hawks] always chose to turn them upside down. _To Have and Have Not_ and _The Big Sleep_, ostensibly an adventure and a thriller, are really love stories. _Rio Bravo_, apparently a Western - everyone wears a cowboy hat - is a comedy conversation piece."
"Nonetheless, I was surprised to find so much interest in my film reviews, as I don’t think I have any special talent for that sort of thing."
But what makes a good critic? I've enjoyed reading the writings of various film critics of the past, but I don't really know any current film writers or bloggers I really like, other than one I happen to know personally.
It's difficult for me to express the idea I have here, but I'd say that if someone demonstrates a gentle, persistent thoughtfulness - and other good qualities, temperament, engagement with critics, etc - in explaining their views on one subject (e.g., monetary policy), that this suggests that they will have the same approach to any subject they are interested in.
I wonder also if for some younger readers, if they came for the economics insights, Scott Sumner has convinced them that there's more to get out of watching movies than previously had occurred to them. For me it was pretty easy in the late 1970's to discover this, there were several local theaters that showed better films or foreign films, "art houses" I guess, and there was the local film festival, and more good films coming out, and more popular interest in quality films, e.g. the popularity of Siskel & Ebert. And growing up less stuff on TV, but at the same time more older films of higher quality?
Maybe that's all wrong? I don't really know the general route that younger people take or have taken as they have become more interested in film. Maybe it's actually easier now.
I'd add that for me it goes way beyond film, I've enjoyed the posts about literature and music perhaps even more. I inherited a set of 4 Stevenson books and it had never occurred to me to read them! Nor had it occurred to me that Bob Dylan's music might be worth listening to in and of itself, not just for his obvious influence on other artists I was listening to.
Thanks, very interesting comment. I suppose that's analogous to what makes me want to read a book of non-fiction essays by a fiction writer than I like.
I'm too lazy to actually research this but I'll bet a dollar that the complex at Berkeley you enjoy frequenting violates zoning regulations.
I hope that when you see Sinners that you enjoy it. Also, I'm still debating whether or not it's worth my time to watch Fire Walk With Me. I'm finally watching Twin Peaks-Season 2 because I've been told that it's worth it for the sake of enjoying Season 3.
That would seem to make you unusual. I see far more references to Sirk's version than Stahl's (Next Picture Show paired Passing with Sirk's even though Passing was filmed in black-and-white like Stahl's), even though white actors playing black roles violates our more modern norms.
Quentin Tarantino refers to Rio Bravo as a 'hang-out' movie, and sees Jackie Brown in a similar way. I agree - I don't normally care for older movies but there is something about Rio Bravo that I really enjoy (probably also has something to do with Angie Dickinson, if I'm being honest).
I was lucky enough to see Resurrection earlier this year — a really marvellous and fascinating film. The opening sequence is one of the best things I’ve seen in a long time, and the final sequence is also particularly excellent. It’s very layered and hard to fully grapple with on one watch (especially lacking knowledge of Chinese cinema) so I’m also eager for the wide release so I can rewatch it!
If it makes you feel any better, I’m nearly done with your book on the Great Depression. I’m not sure I agree with you that it’s the better of your books, but it has been very interesting. (I still don’t really understand the gold standard and I guess it’s fortunate that I don’t need to.) I knew FDR had some unhelpful policies, but good lord those wage shocks.
It is incredible to me that you, decades later, went through nearly day by day to check market prices and analyst sentiments and production stats and global events to actually take seriously investors and prices reflecting estimated policy impacts in near real-time to untangle likely causality.
I’m “rationalist adjacent” and I’m not sure if I started reading you a few years back because of either (most likely) Yglesias or Yudkowsky praising your work. Maybe Cowen, though I haven’t read MR much longer than you, if at all.
Yes, 'A New York Story' was derivative of Stillman but that was the filmmaker's intent. to think that two young women in their 20s could put together such a move was an accomplishment in itself. I went to see 'The Phoenician Scheme' and 'F1', the Brad Pitt racing film over the weekend. Both were pleasurable.
I can't remember if you reviewed 'In the Mood for Love' or not. I watched it tonight on Criterion (it was ranked as one of the top 10 movies in the NY Times silly 100 best films of the first quarter century. Phenomenal movie and interesting that Maggie Cheung stepped away from movies at the pinnacle of her career.
Many of the lists I've seen have In the Mood for Love and Mulholland Drive as the two best films of the 21st century. That's also my view.
I have my own favorite of the last 25 years and will be writing about it in a couple of weeks on my Substack. I need to do another Desert Island Disk post, this time on country music first.
I feel I saw "In the Mood for Love" pop up recently, must've been that NYT reference. I saw it in college and absolutely loved it. Should rewatch.
... how I stopped worrying and started to love the cheongsam ...
Qipao
Stick to Dylan and Monetary Economics
Just teasing
Money doesn't talk, it swears.
What does Dylan say about the FTPL
I'm pretty sure he believes in monetary dominance. :)
"Modern viewers might find some portions to be silly, but you cannot stop watching."
David Thomson (1975):
"Far from the meek purveyor of Hollywood forms, [Hawks] always chose to turn them upside down. _To Have and Have Not_ and _The Big Sleep_, ostensibly an adventure and a thriller, are really love stories. _Rio Bravo_, apparently a Western - everyone wears a cowboy hat - is a comedy conversation piece."
"Or how the very best central bankers don’t seem to be doing much at all."
Just want to note we didn't get the following sentence:
"Or how the very best central bankers (e.g., _______, _______) don’t seem to be doing much at all."
I'm looking forward to finding out who's on the Mt. Rushmore of central bankers.
Good question, and I don't have a perfect answer. But compare the second half of the 1990s to the first half of the 1980s:
https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/FEDFUNDS
"Nonetheless, I was surprised to find so much interest in my film reviews, as I don’t think I have any special talent for that sort of thing."
But what makes a good critic? I've enjoyed reading the writings of various film critics of the past, but I don't really know any current film writers or bloggers I really like, other than one I happen to know personally.
It's difficult for me to express the idea I have here, but I'd say that if someone demonstrates a gentle, persistent thoughtfulness - and other good qualities, temperament, engagement with critics, etc - in explaining their views on one subject (e.g., monetary policy), that this suggests that they will have the same approach to any subject they are interested in.
I wonder also if for some younger readers, if they came for the economics insights, Scott Sumner has convinced them that there's more to get out of watching movies than previously had occurred to them. For me it was pretty easy in the late 1970's to discover this, there were several local theaters that showed better films or foreign films, "art houses" I guess, and there was the local film festival, and more good films coming out, and more popular interest in quality films, e.g. the popularity of Siskel & Ebert. And growing up less stuff on TV, but at the same time more older films of higher quality?
Maybe that's all wrong? I don't really know the general route that younger people take or have taken as they have become more interested in film. Maybe it's actually easier now.
I'd add that for me it goes way beyond film, I've enjoyed the posts about literature and music perhaps even more. I inherited a set of 4 Stevenson books and it had never occurred to me to read them! Nor had it occurred to me that Bob Dylan's music might be worth listening to in and of itself, not just for his obvious influence on other artists I was listening to.
Thanks, very interesting comment. I suppose that's analogous to what makes me want to read a book of non-fiction essays by a fiction writer than I like.
I'm too lazy to actually research this but I'll bet a dollar that the complex at Berkeley you enjoy frequenting violates zoning regulations.
I hope that when you see Sinners that you enjoy it. Also, I'm still debating whether or not it's worth my time to watch Fire Walk With Me. I'm finally watching Twin Peaks-Season 2 because I've been told that it's worth it for the sake of enjoying Season 3.
"I'm still debating whether or not it's worth my time to watch Fire Walk With Me."
Yes, great film.
I thought Sirk's Imitation of Life was inferior to Stahl's original, as were Sirk's other two remakes: https://thepopculturists.blogspot.com/2022/12/this-weekend-in-pop-culture-december-9.html#comment-6062875007
Stahl has more of a sense of humor, and his characters retain more dignity amidst the melodrama.
You may be right. I saw the original, but I haven't seen Sirk's remake.
I've seen most of Sirk's other Technicolor dramas.) I appreciate his films, but they are not exactly my favorite style.
That would seem to make you unusual. I see far more references to Sirk's version than Stahl's (Next Picture Show paired Passing with Sirk's even though Passing was filmed in black-and-white like Stahl's), even though white actors playing black roles violates our more modern norms.
I often prefer older films.
Random movie question- ever see Election with Reese Witherspoon?
Yes. I don't recall much about the film, other than that I enjoyed it.
Quentin Tarantino refers to Rio Bravo as a 'hang-out' movie, and sees Jackie Brown in a similar way. I agree - I don't normally care for older movies but there is something about Rio Bravo that I really enjoy (probably also has something to do with Angie Dickinson, if I'm being honest).
As I get older, I tend to favor relaxing films like Jackie Brown and Rio Bravo.
"To think is to forget differences" is one of the most impactful sentences I've ever read.
Yes, a great line.
I was lucky enough to see Resurrection earlier this year — a really marvellous and fascinating film. The opening sequence is one of the best things I’ve seen in a long time, and the final sequence is also particularly excellent. It’s very layered and hard to fully grapple with on one watch (especially lacking knowledge of Chinese cinema) so I’m also eager for the wide release so I can rewatch it!
Thanks, I look forward to seeing it. I recall that with Bi Gan's previous film it was essential seeing it on the big screen.
Definitely applies to this one too — worth an IMAX trip!
The last one had that long 3-D section. I don't think it needed an IMAX, just a really good screen.
Scott,
born-again as an Adjacent Rationalist .... it makes perfect sense. Glad you found your family, finally.
I see that the more famous Scott linked to your excellent comment. Too bad he misspelled the acronym. :)
If it makes you feel any better, I’m nearly done with your book on the Great Depression. I’m not sure I agree with you that it’s the better of your books, but it has been very interesting. (I still don’t really understand the gold standard and I guess it’s fortunate that I don’t need to.) I knew FDR had some unhelpful policies, but good lord those wage shocks.
It is incredible to me that you, decades later, went through nearly day by day to check market prices and analyst sentiments and production stats and global events to actually take seriously investors and prices reflecting estimated policy impacts in near real-time to untangle likely causality.
I’m “rationalist adjacent” and I’m not sure if I started reading you a few years back because of either (most likely) Yglesias or Yudkowsky praising your work. Maybe Cowen, though I haven’t read MR much longer than you, if at all.
Thanks for reading that book. It required many times more effort than my other books.