Links for the Day (November 14th, 2008)

1. "Into the Mystic": J. Hoberman on two Tarkovsky volumes for Bookforum. (Via GreenCine.)

["In the context of a Marxist theocracy, Tarkovsky assumed the illuminating function of obsessing in public over contradictions between the spiritual and the material, the natural and the social, the historical and the individual—variously addressing the Great Patriotic War and the birth of Muscovy, the power of memory and national identity, the nature of art and the impoverishment of modern life. Rublev not only treated the rival religion of Christianity as an axiom of Russia’s historical identity but, even while dealing with state patronage and repression, was the first (and perhaps only) film produced under the Soviets to treat an artist as a world-historical figure."]

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2. House contributor Zachary Wigon reviews A Christmas Tale for The Auteurs' Notebook. See above this entry for Vadim Rizov's take. More Desplechin at Thanks for the Use of the Hall, where Dan Sallitt notes on his beloved Esther Kahn.

["It began to feel a bit like it feels when I sit around with my own relatives, immediate and extended, and we discuss everyone's problems, the wrongs each has done the others, the old stories everyone tells a million times; it began to feel fetishized and masturbatory. A Christmas Tale revels in the dense, layered backstory it has created for its central family, worshipping the legends of the Vuillard history as giant moments imbued with Significance and Meaning. However, as the film goes on, we realize that there is nothing remarkable about these stories; what significance is it to me if, say, Simon (Laurent Capelluto) has always loved Sylvia (Chiara Mastroianni), or Ivan (Melvil Poupaud) has always been the peace-broker? Is this not what composes soap opera as well? It's true that the way the film approaches the story is far more important than the story itself, but the film's formal approach can only sustain itself for so long before its magic wears off. This is true for any film. And as Desplechin should know, when the magic wears off is when the movie should end."]

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3. "Gradation of emphasis, starring Glenn Ford": Latest from David Bordwell, on Charles Barr's idea of the "gradation of emphasis."

[" Charles Barr’s 1963 essay “CinemaScope: Before and After” has become a classic of English-language film criticism. (1) It proffers a lot of intriguing ideas about widescreen film, but one idea that Barr floated has more general relevance. I’ve found it a useful critical tool, and maybe you will too. Barr called the idea gradation of emphasis. Here’s what he says:"]

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4. Playing catch-up with Parallax View, courtesy site editor Sean Axmaker: a series of posts about or related to "The Films of Budd Boetticher" DVD box set. In order: "Budd Boetticher: An Introduction" (By Axmaker); "Seven Men from Now - A Cinema Masterpiece" (By Richard T. Jameson); "Budd Boetticher and the Ranown Cycle: “What a director is supposed to do”" (Interview with Boetticher by Axmaker); "Burt Kennedy: Writing Broadway in Arizona" (Interview with Burt Kennedy by Axmaker); "Budd Boetticher: A Career" (Retrospective by Axmaker); "Budd Boetticher: A DVD Wish List" (Axmaker's hopes for future Boetticher home video releases).

["When Oscar “Budd” Boetticher, the last of the old Hollywood two-fisted directors, died on November 27, 2001, his passing was barely noted. This old-fashioned studio pro with an independent streak, a colorful history (including a turn as a bullfighter in Mexico), and a career of some 35 features, had been largely forgotten by all but the most dedicated film scholars and western buffs. His work was poorly represented on VHS at the height of that format and, as of October 2008, only four of his over forty features were on DVD. Has any other celebrated American director ever been so poorly served by home video?"]

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5. "The Serrated Edge of Victory": A beautiful post (and resultant comments) from Michael Guillen, dealing with the confusion inherent to and the oft-deceptive tactics practiced in the political process. A real must-read.

["Another loss for me in this political campaign was that of an endeared aunt who sent me one of the most racist, religiously intolerant emails I've ever received, and who—when questioned about such hateful advocacy—responded by calling me small-minded. I'm too old to obediently grant respect where it is not due and—as I weed my garden for Winter—recognize that there are no small minds, only small actions. I dedicate this entry to her. The work continues."]

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Quote of the Day: Henny Youngman

"When I read about the evils of drinking, I gave up reading."

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Image of the Day (click to enlarge): One of the first pictures of an extrasolar planet.



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Clip of the Day: Latest of Watchmen (exclusive to Yahoo).

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"Links for the Day": Each morning, the House editors post a series of weblinks that we think will spark discussion. Comments encouraged. Suggestions for links are also welcome. Please send to keithuhlich@gmail.com.