12 favorite films, currently
ONCE UPON A TIME IN THE WEST (Sergio Leone, 1968; 20+ year reign at the top continues)
HEAT (Michael Mann, 1995)
THE MALTESE FALCON (John Huston, 1941)
ON HER MAJESTY'S SECRET SERVICE (Peter Hunt, 1969)
PARASITE (Bong Joon-ho, 2019)
REAR WINDOW (Alfred Hitchcock, 1954)
CHILDREN OF MEN (Alfonso Cuarón, 2006)
PARIS, TEXAS (Wim Wenders, 1984)
CHUNGKING EXPRESS (Wong Kar-Wai, 1994)
HIGH AND LOW (Akira Kurosawa, 1963)
PERSONA (Ingmar Bergman, 1966)
ALPHAVILLE (Jean-Luc Godard, 1965)
*****+ / *****
A new inspiration.
TOKYO THESE DAYS, Vol. One (Taiyo Matsumoto, 2021)
(*****+ / *****): Everything I love about the emotional possibilities of comics in one perfect package of beautiful art, wonderful characters, and a moving meta-narrative of purpose and the act of creation. Hooked.
JIMMY CORRIGAN: THE SMARTEST KID ON EARTH (Chris Ware, 2000)
(***** / *****): On something of a Chris Ware kick lately (there are worse to be on), to the point (even) that I resubscribed to the Paris Review, just to re-read their interview with him. At times brutal, particularly the flashbacks to Jimmy's grandfather's upbringing, but always bursting with a spirit of experimentation and an unfiltered love of the medium. Nothing short of (awe)inspiring.
GODZILLA MINUS ONE (Takashi Yamazaki, 2023)
(*****+ / *****): Best GODZILLA film since the 1954 original. Deeply-drawn characters whose pain and fear pack an emotional wallop; a resonant anti-war message and examination of Japanese PTSD and devastation; and – at last – a return to Godzilla as a terrifying, world-destroying monstrosity. Adding to Blu/4k library as soon as it's available – hope they include the black and white version. Masterpiece.
