Sight and Sound Top 100 Films - Have Your Say

[John Harvey]

Hi all,

one for Julie (and Connor), Alec and Anne, Alex, and Steve primarily!

A wee while ago I'd mentioned to some of you who take the time to provides intros to our Monday Night films if you would like to select a film for our 35th Birthday celebrations. We'd parked that idea (so last year, much like the anniversary itself!) but would like to revisit it this year. A change of tact this time - would you like to select a film from Sight and Sound's Top 100 films? It won't be, unless you would like it to be, a Monday Night film so there's no need to provide an intro. However, we'd like a line or two as to why you selected the film, how does that sound?

Have a look at the list below and send across your top three selections: 

Sight and Sound 2022 Poll: Booking Information (independentcinemaoffice.org.uk)

One concern is the cost of some of the films from distributors that we haven't dealt with before, for instance, companies based in the US - Janus Films - have a tendency to charge a lot of money! (RRR isn't on the list but was going to cost £500 to screen at the RBC) So for that reason please provide a back-up or two. I've heard that booking Jeanne Dielman.... (at #1) could be very expensive. I've enquired as I'd like to see it on the big screen!

No hurry we'll begin to book the films in the new year.

And thanks again for all your input throughout the year, too, it's so much appreciated by all the staff (and the 'high head ones' at the Council, one of who watched Aftersun last night). We really couldn't do it without your help.

Thanks,

John

[Julie McMorran]

Message from Connor:

He's not on here and I said for him to choose for him as I only did one intro this year 

He'll send reasons for each film choice some time soon.

Sending to the group as it might help as a starting point?

Here goes:

1. Stalker
2. Tokyo Story
3. The General

He says he's happy to give a talk on whichever one of these might be chosen even if not for a film club night...

Is it possible for him to be added on here so he can respond to/join in discussions? I'm not sure who can do it (Rachel? Brian?}. Also is David who did the intro last night on here (and/or his family), and Dominic? if they want to be, of course.

Julie (Connor's secretary ; - ) )

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From: talk-...@googlegroups.com <talk-...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of John Harvey <rbcfilm...@gmail.com>
Sent: 20 December 2022 15:43
To: Robert Burns Centre Film Club <talk-...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: (Robert Burns Centre Film Club) Sight and Sound Top 100 Films - Have Your Say

 

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[Alex Banwell]

I think any of

The Apartment

In the Mood for Love

Do the Right Thing

would be great

[Steveandkerry Riddell]

1. Fear eats the soul ( Close to my heart as it features forbidden love amongst  marginalised people. Fassbinder, German new wave, 70' s movies all good things for me. Saw it in my early 20's at the Everyman in Hampstead , a time and place of great happiness. Still great

2. Taxi Driver (Brother smuggled me in when I was 14 in west end. Absolutely blew me away. Did not believe such worlds existed, New York, loners, writing and cinematography I had never conceived of,  Still great 2

3  Rear Window (First time I ventured backwards to discover wonderful films from the past. Art house but watchable. Sharp suits, cool haircuts, dazzling unreal women (well I never saw any in 70's WGC). Whats not to like! Still great 3.

Steve 

[John Harvey]

hi,

That's great, all great choices and, I think, all readily available. I'll get on to this in the New Year and confirm though.

Re Jeanne Dielman.... - it's eye wateringly expensive plus we have to arrange transport from Belgium so I may just have to catch it on BFI player.

I haven't a clue how to add someone to the group. I'm sure that was up to Brian. It would be good to have everyone on the forum although we can spend a few minutes at the end of each film if need be.

Julie - if you tell Connor that TÁR has been confirmed for Monday 13th February. it's not online yet though.

Thanks,

John  

[Julie McMorran]

Hi John

Message passed on re: Tar - it looks as though it's going to be an incredible film! 

Message back to you from Connor to say that if no one else wants to introduce Rashomon (if it's coming) he could do a talk on post-war Japanese cinema?

Message from both of us to you and Alex, thank you so much for all you both do to make Mondays so welcoming and interesting. We're both looking forward to the new season.

I hope everyone manages to have a good rest over the holidays. Alun's off for six whole days from today so we're fastening him to the sofa to watch films - no DIY allowed! We're starting with yet another re-watch of LOTR trilogy - that's about 12 hours taken up! While I'm on the subject of film revisits, last weekend we re-watched Burn After Reading, I love that film so much.

Would love to hear everyone else's re-watch favourites at some point.

Have happy times

Julie

PS Watched the trailer for Oppenheimer yesterday - oh my goodness, Cillian Murphy back doing what he does best! Also looking forward to Napoleon and Joaquin.

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From: talk-...@googlegroups.com <talk-...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of John Harvey <rbcfilm...@gmail.com>

Sent: 21 December 2022 13:08

To: Robert Burns Centre Film Club <talk-...@googlegroups.com>

Subject: (Robert Burns Centre Film Club) Re: Sight and Sound Top 100 Films - Have Your Say

 

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[John Harvey]

HI Julie,

thank you so much for your kind words. I'll pass on to Alex - who is now off with a very heavy cold, he's missing work but we're both concerned he won't be able to properly enjoy his Christmas meal! To be honest it's an absolute pleasure and I know Alex feels the same too.

Funnily enough, Rashomon was confirmed this morning, it's Monday 16th January so very happy for Connor to introduce (I'll introduce Tori and Lokita the week before). Rimini might just figure later on Steve! Another Monday slot filled is with Argentinian film The Substitute on 6th February - a substitute teacher gets involved when one of his students is threatened by a drug kingpin. Screen Daily called it a “compelling and steely-minded, mixing Loachian social issue cinema with elements of a gangland thriller”.

The Oppenheimer trailer is incredible. However, have you seen the one for Barbie (directed by Great Gerwig)? Equally amazing. Yes, really especially as a fan of a certain Stanley Kubrick film..... Oddly, both films are released on the same day.

We toyed with showing the LOTR trilogy here, they've been re-released in their longer cuts but we thought 4 hours plus per screening was a bit much! The GFT is showing them back to back, I think, on Dec 27th.

Scheduled festive viewing, only one rewatch though!: 

The Banshees of Inisherin, now on Disney+, can't wait to see it again, probably not the post-Christmas meal choice for all the family though.

Argentina 1985 (starring Ricardo Darin and one we thought would be a Monday film until it bypassed cinemas and went straight to Prime)

Glass Onion: A Knives Out mystery

The Man From Majorca (Swedish police thriller from 1984 or 85, and directed by the guy that adapted one of the Beck books The Abominable Man into the film The Man on the Roof). It's on Netflix til 31 December.

The Battle at Lake Changjin, a 3 hour Chinese war drama set during the Korean War. Lots of Chinese propaganda and CGI action expected. Bought it on dvd - if anyone wants after I've watched it, let me know.

Have a great Christmas from all the RBCFT team! 

[Alex Banwell]

Favourite rewatches is an excellent question

I will often stick on any Wes Anderson film if I need a bit of comfort.

the Before trilogy (Sunrise/Sunset/Midnight)

Any of the John Wick films if I just need to see some phenomenally choreographed violence

Anyway, I'll echo Julie's sentiment and say thanks very much to John and Alex for the work they do

And thanks to you all for helping me appreciate even more a lot of great films this year. A really great year for film

Alex

On Thursday, December 22, 2022 at 10:27:53 AM UTC Julie M wrote:

[Alexander Barclay]

Hi John

My list of favourite films of the year is as follows (have gone for 10 as any less seems a bit mean … they are also in alphabetical order):

Aftersun

Ali & Ava

Brian and Charles

Compartment No.6

Drive My Car

Flee

Hit the Road

Living

Parallel Mothers

Top Gun Maverick

From the Sight and Sound list:

Bladerunner, as the feel of the whole film still mesmerises me and it looks so good on a 4K restoration.

Portrait of a Lady on Fire

Do the Right Thing

Would have put Casablanca on the list but will be going to see it on the 30th. 

Thanks also from Anne and I to you and Alex for putting on such a diverse range of films. For the record my worst film of the year was Hatching, and the most boring was Avatar.

Hope Alex gets better soon. Didn’t you tell me that he was to be Santa at your party

Alec

On 22 Dec 2022, at 12:06, 'Alex Banwell' via Robert Burns Centre Film Club <talk-...@googlegroups.com> wrote:

Favourite rewatches is an excellent question

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/talk-cinema/d7aaa297-7b1c-4d3a-b96d-b477e3241cc0n%40googlegroups.com.

[Steveandkerry Riddell]

I just remembered a couple of things

Even though Lamb was not a great film I really enjoyed it. Also was Green Knight this year? If so it leaps into my top ten. 

Worst films 

Nope

The Electrical life of Louis Wain

Both sides of the blade

Hunt

I didn't really enjoy In front of your face but I am prepared to accept that is my problem rather than the film.

Steve  

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[Julie McMorran]

Hi John

Have passed on the message about Rashomon - that's great.

I hope Alex feels better soon - there's a lot of it about!

See you after the holidays

Julie

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From: talk-...@googlegroups.com <talk-...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of John Harvey <rbcfilm...@gmail.com>

Sent: 22 December 2022 11:53

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Subject: Re: (Robert Burns Centre Film Club) Re: Sight and Sound Top 100 Films - Have Your Say

 

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[Julie McMorran]

Hi Alex

The Before trilogy is wonderful!

I think John Wick has a dead dog somewhere (there was a whole spate of them about that time and I ended up introducing a few 'dead dog' films - Rover springs to mind - hence the joke about dead dogs) , but yes, have seen them all :- )

Have a good break

Julie

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From: 'Alex Banwell' via Robert Burns Centre Film Club <talk-...@googlegroups.com>
Sent: 22 December 2022 12:06

To: Robert Burns Centre Film Club <talk-...@googlegroups.com>

Subject: Re: (Robert Burns Centre Film Club) Re: Sight and Sound Top 100 Films - Have Your Say

 

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[Steveandkerry Riddell]

Every few years I rewatch I Claudius and Dekalog.

Steve

[Alexander Barclay]

I wasn’t going to admit to this but if Alex can proudly claim to enjoy the ‘phenomenally choreographed violence’ of the John Wick films, then let me say that I watched Riders of Justice for the first time recently. I had never heard of this film until my son came visiting with it. A revenge movie with a difference, starring a very sullen Mads Mikkelsen. Highly entertaining. Rotten Tomatoes gives it 96% and 89%. Anne also enjoyed it.

On 23 Dec 2022, at 17:51, Steveandkerry Riddell <stevea...@gmail.com> wrote:

Every few years I rewatch I Claudius and Dekalog.

To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/talk-cinema/e9ecf542-adb2-4395-ace3-8b2f1f98839fn%40googlegroups.com.

[Alexander Barclay]

P.s. Riders of Justice was also a bit of a Christmas movie. Enough said.

Alec

On 23 Dec 2022, at 19:22, 'Alexander Barclay' via Robert Burns Centre Film Club <talk-...@googlegroups.com> wrote:



[John Harvey]

Yes it is. The Christmas jumpers In Riders of Justice? Oh, boy! Love that film.