3 things about Luca Guadagnino’s A BIGGER SPLASH

Posted on January 14, 2017 by robchristopher

A Bigger Splash [2015]

1. She defiantly points out that she’s 22.
2. A detour for ricotta.
3. “Don’t scream, madam! Your voice”

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A selected inventory of 2016.

Posted on January 1, 2017 by robchristopher

By the numbers …

175: movies I watched in 2016 (25 of which I viewed in a theater)
30: pizzas we ordered from The Art of Pizza
10: mystery green statistic

Happy New Year!

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The ten best films I watched in 2016.

Posted on December 31, 2016 by robchristopher

When it comes to moviegoing, personally this has been a very weird year. With a few exceptions I wasn’t actively reviewing films for Chicagoist (working on my own film put a stop to that) and I wasn’t going to see them in the theater as much as either. So the list that follows is pretty peculiar. As usual, I care not a whit when a film was actually “released”; in all the ways that are most important, a release date is arbitrary. Here in alphabetical order are my ten favorites from this year:

Anomalisa (2015, Charlie Kaufman & Duke Johnson)
Arrival (2016, Denis Villeneuve)
The Big Short (2015, Adam McKay)
Certain Women (2016, Kelly Reichardt)
Driftwood (2016, Paul Taylor)
45 Years (2015, Andrew Haigh)
A Multiple Choice Test (1972/2016, Don Klugman)
Sausage Party (2016, Greg Tiernan & Conrad Vernon)
A Summer Place (1959, Delmer Daves)
Wolf and Sheep (2016, Shahrbanoo Sadat)

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3 things about Denis Villeneuve’s ARRIVAL

Posted on December 31, 2016 by robchristopher

Arrival [2016]

1. “It’s not true. But it proves my point.”
2. Play-Doh figures.
3. She turns to the dedication page of her book, which reads, “For Hannah.”

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Update: the sounds of ROY’S WORLD.

Posted on December 30, 2016 by robchristopher

Jason Adasiewicz and I (but mostly Jason) have been hard at work on the soundtrack of my forthcoming documentary Roy’s World: Barry Gifford’s Chicago. And after a lot of wrangling on Jason’s part we’ve finally assembled the combo that will head into the studio in late February 2017 for the recording:

Jason Adasiewicz (vibes, percussion, leader)
Jon Doyle (sax, clarinet)
Josh Berman (trumpet)
Josh Abrams (bass)
Hamid Drake (drums, percussion)

Frankly, I’m stunned. What an amazing group! Everyone in the lineup is a brilliant musician in his own right. To realize that they’ll all be playing Jason’s music together for the film is just humbling. Even more motivation to create something worthy of their music.

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3 things about Kelly Reichardt’s CERTAIN WOMEN

Posted on December 30, 2016 by robchristopher

Certain Women [2016]

1. Fifteenth in line from the throne.
2. Blaze King fireplace.
3. Horse ride to the diner.

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Best Chicago Film?!

Posted on December 29, 2016 by robchristopher

The Chicago Independent Film Critics Circle Awards nominations have just been announced, and I’m stunned to discover that Pause of the Clock is up for Best Chicago Film. It’s up against Henry Gamble’s Birthday Party and Southside with You. I’m not sure my strange little film deserves to be grouped in the same league as those two formidable achievements. But I’ll take it! Thank you, CIFCC!

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3 things about Anthony Mann’s THE GLENN MILLER STORY

Posted on December 28, 2016 by robchristopher

The Glenn Miller Story [1954]

1. A film from the 50s with two sympathetic Jewish characters!
2. Multicolored lights at Connie’s Inn. Psychedelic Louis Armstrong.
3. Slow dissolve from her face to the foggy runway.

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3 things abut W.S. Van Dyke’s AFTER THE THIN MAN

Posted on December 27, 2016 by robchristopher

After the Thin Man [1936]

1. “Are you packing?”
“Yes. Just putting away this liquor.” He empties the glass in a swallow.
2. A rolled up carpet standing on its end in the hallway.
3. “I wanted to see you hang.” The way he says “hang.”

3 other things.

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

Posted on December 26, 2016 by robchristopher

Rogue One: A Star Wars Story [2016]

1. The return of Peter Cushing. A shade Gollumesque.
2. “Are you kidding me? I’m blind!”
3. Literally, a flying triangle.

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