This was a difficult year as no movie seemed quite right, so I went off the reservation for my top choice.
And the nominees on the entries from every edition of 1001 Movie You Must See Before You Die are...
The Battle of San Pietro
Spellbound
Mildred Pierce
Children of Paradise
Open City
The Lost Weekend
Detour
I Know Where I'm Going!
The Battle of San Pietro
Spellbound
Mildred Pierce
Children of Paradise
Open City
The Lost Weekend
Detour
I Know Where I'm Going!
Detour
Like the main character in this film who takes an unscheduled detour on the way to California to see his girl, I too am living dangerously in choosing this one. I checked out Five Killer Classics DVD from the library (wish also includes 1001 entry The Stranger) and guess what? No bonus features! Whoa, talk about walking on a tightrope, sister. And when I tried to pull up the subtitles option so’s I could catch me all the dialogue-there was none! Even the film itself had a couple of scenes that looked like it was going to crackle and pop right off my television! Help! Help! Where’s the film restoration department! But honestly, if you’re going to watch a copy of a film that’s on the cheap, watch Detour. Made for what looks like a hundred bucks-but if someone were to ask me what’s a typical film noir film-I’d probably say Detour! So typical, I'm giving it the top spot in a year with good films, but nothing else that felt quite Best Picture worthy.
Detour
And the Award for Unique and Artistic Picture of 1945 is...The Children of Paradise
Les enfants du paradis does the impossible. It makes you care for and actually weep for a mime. Comment nous avez-vous l'amour, Baptiste! The Children of Paradise is an easy winner for this year for Unique and Artistic Picture for 1945. Described as an example of "poetic realism." this French film celebrating theater, live performance and every emotion imaginable, I couldn't resist having my two movie winners from this year being from opposite sides of the celluloid coin.
Children of Paradise
Detour is a great pick; too long since I last watched it.
ReplyDeleteIt's a quickie. I might watch it again as well.
DeleteIf anything I would say Detour deserves an artistic price for its contribution to the noir, but actually I did not like it much. Btw, my copy was pretty awful too. My winner of the year would be Mildred Pierce. It is also pretty nourish.
ReplyDeleteArtistic: Rome, Open City. So much talent and energy stuffed into a cheap movie.
Mildred Pierce may be more substantive a choice, I admit. I do acknowledge Open City as an important film though I didn't like it nearly as much as I liked Children of Paradise.
ReplyDeleteMildred Pierce may be more substantive a choice, I admit. I do acknowledge Open City as an important film though I didn't like it nearly as much as I liked Children of Paradise.
ReplyDelete