IndieWire Year End Critics' Poll

One of my favorite "movie lists" is out, and it allows me to do a little bragging.

Each year IndieWire polls critics from around the country and compiles their Top 10 lists of the year.

Topping this year's list is Hou Hsiao-hsien's The Flight of the Red Balloon - a delightful film that (and here's where the bragging comes in) was fortunate enough to program at the 2008 Indianapolis International Film Festival.

The complete Top 10:
Rank Title pts. mentions

1	The Flight of the Red Balloon	495	43
2	A Christmas Tale	454	38
3	WALL-E	368	32
4	Wendy and Lucy	366	36
5	Happy-Go-Lucky	346	31
6	Paranoid Park	335	31
7	Still Life	330	31
8	Silent Light	310	26
9	Synecdoche, New York	290	25
10	Waltz with Bashir	283	27

A little further down on the list (see the complete list here) is another film I programmed that also played at the Nashville Film Festival, the sublime In the City of Sylvia. And at #24 is a third (and underrated film) that I exhibited at IIFF, Reprise. Other films of interest on the list include the Werner Herzog doc (that also played here in Nashville) Encounters at the End of the Earth, Harmony Korine's Mister Lonely, and Up the Yangtze.

My favorite part of the poll are the Best Undistributed Films - these include some of the best films played at festivals around the nation - several of which I've seen...and many of which you'll get to see at the 2009 Nashville Film Festival (I can't tell you which ones yet). Indeed, 7 of the 76 films mentioned on the list have been entered for 2009 NaFF consideration. You'll also note that 2008 NaFF films - You, the Living and Of All the Things made this list.

So, list junkies, enjoy parusing these fascinating selections - many are still to come to theaters and many are now available on DVD.

That should tide you over 'til April.

Merry Christmas, Happy Hannukah, and Happy Holidays to all.

NOTE: My Top 10 will be coming shortly after the turn of the year for those of you who care.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

I was fortunate enough last night to attend a special screening of David Fincher's opus The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. It is a wondrous film in the sense that it does, effectively force one to wonder "what if"?

As it progresses, it begins to shift into American mythology territory. Only time will tell whether it can become a part of American mythology, or whether it will remain a date-stamped, albeit wonderful movie.

I've heard comparisons to Forrest Gump. I think that's fair - to a degree. Both are films about unique characters whose extraordinary lives overlap with extraordinary events in American history; and they were both written by Eric Roth. But that's where they end. Zemeckis didn't ask us to look any deeper with Gump. We were simply supposed to "ooh" and "ahh" at the special effects and weep at the end as lessons are learned. Fincher does go deeper, creating a world at once so like our own, and yet so very different. I loved the fact that once everyone around him got over it, no one seemed to question the fact that Benjamin aged backwards. It was simply the way things are with him. Benjamin doesn't shape history as Forrest did. He, like us, is shaped by it. This makes Benjamin a more approachable character than I ever found Forrst Gump to be. Oh, and we do get to "ooh" and "ahh" and some amazing aging special effects and make-up. So those who love technical stuff will have something go ga-ga over.

It's a strong entry. Fincher continues to mature as a filmmaker. With Benjamin Button, he re-shapes his resume. Does he pander a bit to the Academy? Sure; but it's much better pandering than anything Ron Howard has offered (note: I've yet to see Frost / Nixon). Along with Aronofsky, whose The Wrestler is another great film of 2008, their generation is proving to be fertile with bright visual minds who can re-shape the cinema even as they celebrate its roots.

Opening Christmas Day, Benjamin Button is worth the price of admission and more.

A Worthy Link

IFC's Keaton Kail is keeping a running list of Top 10s from major critics and organizations.

Good resource to check out as the end of year rolls around.

For those of you curious to see where I may go with my programming selections, or who are addicted to Top 10 lists (I know there are those of you out there). I'll be putting my Top 10 together in January, since those of us who don't live on the coasts have to wait a few weeks to make sure we've caught everything we possibly can.

In the meantime, follow IFC's running tab of Top 10s.

Golden Globe Reactions

The Golden Globes (the fun, younger cousin to the Oscars) announced their nominations today. While a lot of the heavy hitters landed exactly where expected, there were some surprising and upsetting snubs.

Granted, even someone like myself (in the industry, but not on a coast) has not had the chance to see all of the nominated films (because Hollywood is addicted to waiting to the last minute to release so many of the contenders), but even without seeing everything, it's safe to say that the snubbing of Milk in Best Picture - Drama, Best Director, and the Best Supporting Actor categories is both unexpected and a little upsetting.

I don't think that it will upset its chances for Oscar nominations, however. It's Gus van Sant's most successful mainstream film to date - not completely eschewing his more esoteric tendencies; but not giving himself completely over to them, either.

This year's little movie that could, Slumdog Millionaire (due in Nashville, Dec. 19) appears to maintain its front-runner status. Right behind (some say, slightly ahead), David Fincher's The Curious Case of Benjamin Button had a good day with the Globes. It makes its way here Christmas Day.

The disappointing thing is to see Michelle Williams' perfect work in Wendy & Lucy completely ignored this awards season (save a Spirit Award nomination). There hasn't been a more genuine performance given by a lead actor (male or female) that I've seen this year. In the midst of the current economic decline, some may find a movie about the struggles of a borderline homeless young woman too tough to handle, but director Kelly Reichardt (Old Joy) lets the weight of the film rest on the capable shoulders of Williams - and she pays her back in spades.

I wish Awards season could truly be about the best - and not about the best-connected. Were that the case, Michelle Williams' name would be popping up a lot more.

Don't miss Wendy & Lucy when you get the chance to see it.

Welcome to a Frenzied Season

I open this blog at a time the nation transitions to a new president, the economy is in constant flux, I've only recently moved to a new city to become the Artistic Director for the Nashville Film Festival - preparing to celebrate its 40th Anniversary April 16-23, 2009.

But, this ain't politics (as much as that always intrigues me); this is movies.

And the frenzy of this season is awards season.

I'm not here to predict (check out the links in the blogs I'm following for that). I will complain (a lot, because those of us who love movies will always complain about such things) and I'll comment about awards season, because, really - I've been doing that for decades. Those who have known me know the strange path that had led me to the position I currently hold. It involved an alternative to the Oscars begun in 1994 (and featured in In Touch magazine, at one point). It involved an unsuccessful film series sponsored by those Oscar alternatives. This eventually led to the foundation of the Indianapolis International Film Festival, and after five years at the helm there, to my move to the Nashville Film Festival.

Obviously, the one thing that remained consistent throughout that time was my love and passion for cinema.

So, the following weeks, months, and years worth of posts will be made up of my opinions, thoughts, and whines & moans about cinema: Awards, screening processes, behind-the-scenes festival work, the occasional bit of catty gossip (because as much as we like to pretend we're above it, none of us are) - but it will all center around film.

So, enough with the introductions. You'll get to know me more throughout the posts and through my recommendations, and such (oh, and there will be recommendations).

Let's get on with it.