A selected inventory of 2017.

By the numbers …

152: feature films I watched in 2017 (26 of which I viewed in a theater)
34: pizzas we ordered from The Art of Pizza (thanks in no small part to the 28 Sundays during the year we watched the various episodes of Twin Peaks)
7: mystery green statistic

Happy New Year!

(Also, I went to the gym 132 times last year.)

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The ten best films I watched in 2017.

At least partially because I spent the entire year plugging away on my documentary, 2017 definitely deserves the subtitle “The Year Rob Didn’t See Many Movies At A Theater.” I sure wish I’d been able to watch many, many more. Nevertheless, personally it was an amazingly rich year for cinema (as usual, for this list I don’t care when a particular film was actually made).

CEMETERY OF SPLENDOR [2015, Apichatpong Weerasethakul]
I AM NOT YOUR NEGRO [2016, Raoul Peck]
I CALLED HIM MORGAN [2016, Kasper Collin]
LO AND BEHOLD, REVERIES OF THE CONNECTED WORLD [2016, Werner Herzog]
MOONLIGHT [2016, Barry Jenkins]
THE MURDER OF FRED HAMPTON [1971, Howard Alk]
NOCTURNAL ANIMALS [2016, Tom Ford]
THE SHAPE OF WATER [2017, Guillermo del Toro]
20TH CENTURY WOMEN [2016, Mike Mills]
TWIN PEAKS: THE RETURN [2017, David Lynch]

Yes, TWIN PEAKS is on my list of films. As to why, I can’t think of a better explanation than to quote my friend Michael Smith: “If Twin Peaks should be considered a film, it’s not because it ‘transcends’ the medium of television (whatever that means) but rather because it was written, financed, shot and edited the way that movies are and serialized T.V. shows are not.” Even in a year of excellent cinema, TWIN PEAKS stands tall as the most awe-inspiring creation of 2017.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

3 things about Terry Zwigoff’s GHOST WORLD

Ghost World [2001]

1. The action waterfall picture above the record player in her bedroom.
2. “I kind of like him. He’s the exact opposite of everything I hate.”
3. Seymour’s unsuccessful attempt to topple the shelf.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

3 things about Richard Donner’s SUPERMAN: EXTENDED CUT

Superman: Extended Cut [1978]

1. Feeding the babies.
2. Rex Reed.
3. Water returns to the desert.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

3 things about Rian Johnson’s STAR WARS: THE LAST JEDI

Star Wars: The Last Jedi [2017]

1. Water drips from his glove.
2. Lightspeed. A slice appears.
3. Shoulder-brush.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

A silent auction in time for New Years!

See this pint glass?

I produced a limited number of them as promotional items, and I’m down to my very last one. And you have the chance to make it yours!

My documentary Roy’s World: Barry Gifford’s Chicago has entered into a fiscal partnership with IFP Chicago. Why is that exciting? It means the project can tap into the network of one of Chicago’s most passionate champions for independent filmmaking. And it means that you can support the project directly—with a tax deductible donation!

From now through January 1, all donations to Roy’s World via IFP Chicago will count as a bid in a silent auction for the very last Pause of the Clock pint glass. Highest bidder wins!

Your support is greatly appreciated. So don’t delay, donate today!

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

3 things about Henry Selick’s THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS

The Nightmare Before Christmas [1993]

1. Cat-alarm.
2. Bathtub creature.
3. The evil clown jack-in-the-box uses the same sound effect as Dirty Gertie in Robert Altman’s 3 Women (!)

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

3 things about Peter Godfrey’s CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT

Christmas in Connecticut [1945]

1. We never see the house’s dining room!
2. Mrs. Gerseg works on both Christmas Eve and Christmas Day!
3. Kidneys for breakfast!

3 other things.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

3 things about Gareth Edwards’ ROGUE ONE: A STAR WARS STORY

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story [2016]

1. “I can run my own diagnostics!”
2. She clips the storage disc to her belt buckle.
3. It appears in the sky like a moon.

3 other things.

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

BREAK THE INTERNET

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment