3 things about Duncan Jones’ MOON

Posted on January 29, 2011 by robchristopher

Moon [2009]

1. GERTY cuts his hair, vacuuming it up simultaneously.
2. He unzips the top of his jumpsuit, ties the sleeves around his waist so it won’t fall down.
3. Traces of the erased smiley faces are still visible on the surface of the metal.

3 other things.

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3 things about Wim Wenders’ TOKYO-GA

Posted on January 26, 2011 by robchristopher

Tokyo-Ga [1985]

1. The movie showing on the plane is On Golden Pond.
2. There is no name on Ozu’s grave. Just an old Chinese character, mu, which means “nothingness.”
3. Life-sized Colonel Sanders in wax.

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3 things about David Mackenzie’s SPREAD

Posted on January 25, 2011 by robchristopher

Spread [2009]

1. She shows him the house. “Peter Bogdanovich used to live here.”
“Yeah. I bet he did.”
2. Creases in the brown paper bags so crisp they look ironed.
3. The mouse’s tail hangs over the frog’s lips.

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3 things about Spike Lee’s MIRACLE AT ST. ANNA

Posted on January 23, 2011 by robchristopher

Miracle at St. Anna [2008]

1. On the shell is written: HARLEM SPECIAL.
2. “Arriva-damn-derci.”
3. The German officer bends down and says, in English, “Defend yourself.” He places a gun in his hands.

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3 things about Claude Lanzmann’s SHOAH, PART I

Posted on January 23, 2011 by robchristopher

Shoah (Part I) [1985]

1. A line of small stones on a railroad tie.
2. Under the pile of bodies was a cesspool, three inches deep, of blood, worms, and shit. Jews preferred to be shot rather than have to work there.
3. He stands there, calmly smiling, while the villagers around him talk about the crucifixion and Pontius Pilate.

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3 things about Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s THE GHOST AND MRS. MUIR

Posted on January 22, 2011 by robchristopher

The Ghost and Mrs. Muir [1947]

1. Darkness. She lights the candle and all at once his ghost is standing there.
2. She says, “My husband is dead.”
“Oh.” He leans back in his seat. Then reconsiders, leans forwards. “Oh?”
3. She takes a last look at her own lifeless body. They leave the room.

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3 things about Robert Altman’s BUFFALO BILL AND THE INDIANS

Posted on January 15, 2011 by robchristopher

Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull’s History Lesson [1976]

1. “Remember: the last thing a man wants to do is the last thing he does.”
2. He wipes off his mustache with the piece of bread and then puts it in his mouth.
3. President Cleveland calls Sitting Bull “quite a comedian.”

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Imitation is the sincerest form …

Posted on January 13, 2011 by robchristopher

Is Criterion appropriating my 3 Things project for their new campaign? If so, I’m honored! And SWEET SMELL OF SUCCESS is such a brilliant movie that it seems unthinkable that I haven’t really written about it before. That will have to be rectified.

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3 things about Frank Perry’s LADYBUG LADYBUG

Posted on January 9, 2011 by robchristopher

Ladybug Ladybug [1963]

1. The little girl goes to her room and closes the door. Afraid. She works her jaw open and shut like a fish trying to breathe.
2. William Daniels’ crisp cadence.
3. He throws himself to the ground and starts digging with his bare hands. The vapor trail of an airplane in the sky above him.

How exciting that this is now viewable on Netflix streaming! I’ve been wanting to see this for years.

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3 things about Zach Snyder’s WATCHMEN

Posted on January 8, 2011 by robchristopher

Watchmen [2009]

1. Sole moment of comedy: “You’re getting in the way of my vengeance!”
2. A rather unconvincing Nixon.
3. The only movie with more gratuitous 9/11 references than 25th Hour.

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