Scanners [1981]
1. The futuristic food court, with all the signs in French; neon, shiny red plastic wall panels, chrome, hamburger wrappers, escalators with black scuff marks on the treads. This is exactly why I love Canadian movies of the 70’s and 80’s.
2. Van crashing into a record store. Moments later we see a poster for the Village People.
3. Cameron on fire, flames in his hands, like Kali.
The Band Wagon [1953]
1. The wildly-inappropriate “Triplets” number.
2. Cyd Charisse’s shockingly green gloves.
3. Fred and Cyd first stroll across the dancefloor. Then, when they’re alone, they begin to dance. The ultrasmooth “concrete” beneath their shoes.
Holy moley, I’m setting up an interview with Bob Balaban to talk about his new movie for Chicagoist! I love my (non-paying) job!
She Done Him Wrong [1933]
1. “Miss Lou, your bath is ready.” “You take it–I’m indisposed.”
2. “When women go wrong, men go right after them.”
3. Mae West’s diamond-topped cane.
Body and Soul [1947]
1. The bandage lying across John Garfield’s face as he lies on the training table.
2. The cut from Garfield waking up in bed to him waking up on the training table before the fight.
3. “He’s going to make a snootful of money.”
Throne of Blood [1957]
1. The horsemen galloping around in the fog, utterly lost. Nothing can be seen except for the horses, a patch of ground with a few weeds, and the steam coming from the horses’ mouths.
2. His wife vanishing into the dark room, then reappearing with a jar of saki. David Lynch must have seen this shot, or else at least have had the same idea when he made Lost Highway.
3. The streams of arrows. The arrow through the neck.
Wow, the Bird and the Bee show at Schuba’s last night was so much fun! It’s not every concert that ends with a Bee Gees singalong.
There Will Be Blood [2007]
1. “I’m finished.”
2. The string of drool from Daniel’s mouth.
3. H.W. downing the entire glass of whiskey-laced milk at one go.
THE MASS TRANSIT FUNDING BILL HAS BEEN PASSED AND IS BEING SENT TO THE GOVERNOR’S DESK.
Please call his office at 217-782-0244 or 312-814-2121 and politely urge him to sign this bill.
Please. Please. Please. And pass the word around.
UPDATE: G-Rod has annouced that he’ll sign it. Whew.
If I were to go see a movie by myself tonight, should I go see:
The Savages?
Starting Out in the Evening?
There Will Be Blood?
(Keep in mind that the last one will probably be playing for a gazillion weeks, while the first two might be closing soon).
