best movies of 2013

Arthur Newman
The Place Beyond The Pines
The English Teacher
Francis Ha
Blue Jasmine
Passion
Gravity
enough said
runner runner
Carrie
inside llewyn davis
nebraska

It Came From Kuchar

Great title first off. And, along the same lines, the menu animation excellent as well. Many thanks to Jennifer for putting this together, and I kept thinking while I was watching this, without a moment to spare because of George's passing last year. This documentary gathers just everything you'd want to know about Mike and George. And their many actors and actresses. In depth discussion and examples of both of the brothers' filmic style. Wonderful interviews from many, known and little known. Many excerpts from their films are sprinkled throughout the program and if I had one complaint it would be that we are not treated to a full-length Kuchar film. But I'm sure this was thoroughly discussed and debated and the absence of one must be due to circumstances beyond control. NEVERTHELESS, this is a soup to nuts essay, feature-length style, of the wonderful film world of the brothers Kuchar. Thank you again Jennifer and co. Addendum: A full length commentary with the brothers is a bonus feature during which told is an incredible story by Mike and the contact he experienced with Valerie Solanas who attempted to murder Andy Warhol.                              2/10/13

Monty Python:Eric Idle's Best

This DVD begins with our man Eric(present day)standing with the legendary HOLLYWOOD BOWL looming large directly in back of him. The Bowl, was the site of the last-stand Python reunion concert in 1980. After Eric's Bowl tour we are treated to a short interview with Eric's mum(played quite nicely by Eric himself)followed shortly thereafter with the bulk of this disc-about 2 dozen classic skits from the original Python tv series circa 1969-'72, as well as several pieces from the 1980 Bowl show. the exciteable Kenny Lust kicks things off introducing someone that he would just DIE for! which seques directly into a stone-cold Shakespearean Eric asking for $50 to mend the shed. next up is tv chat-show host Eric interviewing Marx, Lenin and Mr. Che Guvera proving the lot of them haven't the foggiest when it comes to British football. cut to John Cleese interviewing 3 schoolboys played by Terry Jones, Michael Palin and Eric who seem to find it quite giggly that their chum Eric has just written a naughtly little skit called 'nudge nudge' and just like that we are catapulted to the skit itself as performed at the Bowl show in 1980..."is your wife a go-er know what i mean know what i mean nudge nudge wink wink". and then it's back to a classic Python film from the tv series, this one The Olympiad with competitions such as the 100 yard race for people with no sense of direction. hilarious! followed by an interview conducted by Michael Palin wherein we meet a character played by Eric who can only speak in anagrams. this is a perfect example of the talent of Mr. Idle as we struggle to keep up with him. another interview features Eric as man unable to pronounce the letter C, the silly bunt! another glorious Python film depicts the nightmare adventures of the international hairdressers expedition as they endeavor to scale Mount Everest...unsuccessfully. half way through this disc i'm beginning to think, hmmmmm, was Eric the BEST Python player? you make the call                                                       3/24/07

Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band:40th Anniversary

the show opens with a note-perfect rendition of their first and very rare single "my brother makes the noises for the talkies" followed shortly thereafter by it's B-side "i'm going to bring a watermelon to my girl tonight" with Roger singing the lead, not quite as perfect as Neil on 'brother' but nevertheless a major treat and a happy surprise to see they would not abandon their deepest roots. Vernon shows off his musical saw technique on 'falling in love'. sam reports to center stage for his spoons solo during 'shiek of araby'. loved and was delighted they trotted out Hello Mabel. guest vocalist Stephen Fry was superb on the spoken bits during several songs. and Phil Jupitus was appropriately gruff on a superbly rocking "Mr. Apollo". Legs Larry Smith came out a few times to entertain-he barely made it. i really liked(should i make that 4 stars?) this celebration. Neil and the boys really put together a nice package. and it goes without saying...and as everyone must and will say it.....and as i repeat the solemn vow now too....oh how we all miss Viv so much                                             3/25/07

Kate Bush:Under Review

Its interesting to not know very much about a artist and then to be guided very expertly through her career by several people in the music business passionate about her songs. Along with samples from her song videos and numerous interviews with Kate herself, each album is discussed right up through 2005s Aerial with key tracks dissected and debated with a reverential appreciation. By the time the discussions arrived at Kates 4th album The Dreaming it became very clear to me that there really is no one else like Kate Bush in modern music. A true original                                                 4/8/07

Breakfast At Tiffany's

Just saw this today after many years of hemming and hawing,and of course its delightful-as im sure you all know. I know this has nothing to do with plot or story arc but i love those old New York city taxi cabs painted yellow and red or yellow and green. That just right there put a warm smile on my face :) One of the centerpieces of this movie has to be the party scene. I think it is one of most fun scenes in all of moviedom. Another fun scene is where Holly and Paul are sneaking around in the 5 and dime conspiring what exactly to snitch. The arrival of Buddy Ebsen in the movie makes everything complicated for Holly and Paul. Watch for the stylish outfit Patricia Neal wears in her final scene where Paul makes clear his position. The last 10 minutes from when Holly pushes her cat out of the cab to her finally finding him/her again and Holly,Paul and cat embrace in the pouring rain on a New York street by a side alley is wonderful. ah, but, really, this whole movie is wonderful.                                  4/9/07

Bell Book and Candle

thank goodness for revival houses. my local one played this today (35mm.)and it makes going home to see it on the small screen such a shame. with a face like Kim Novaks the bigger the screen the better. this has to be her crowning achievement. she is so intoxicating. watching her pad around her little shop in her bare feet and snuggling up with her cat Pyewacket will put you under a spell. and thats exactly what happens to unsuspecting Jimmy Stewart when he needs to borrow her phone. a limited amount of space here prevents me from including all of the wonderful aspects of this movie-an underground beatnik/witches nightclub,ernie kovacs slurring performance,elsa lancasters giddy auntie,the potion drinking in an old witchs lair,and the line that elicited the biggest response from the revival house crowd when Jimmy asks Kim if shes done something un-american. no, she says, just something very american..very early american..that she has lived her life as a witch. but if ever i were to be ..bewitched, it is Kim that does it to me.                                                     5/1/07