Blush.

More lists, more awards, but hold on: Cinemarati, an .org of online film critics among whom you'll find the likes of Acquarello (Strictly Film School), Ed Gonzalez (Slant), the Flick Filosopher herself, MaryAnn Johanson (who's got her own "Best and Worst of 2003" list going as well), and many others, has nominated us for an award (Best Film-Related Web Site), which is a shock in and of itself, but doubly so because of the amazing company they've placed us in. Just look at these other nominees:

Bright Lights Film Journal

DVD Beaver

The Fog of War

Masters of Cinema

Midnight Eye

Senses of Cinema

The Tulse Luper Suitcases Web Archive

If there were ever a time to murmur, "It's an honor just to be nominated," then sit back down and quietly enjoy the rest of the show, this is it. That's not just false modesty; those other sites, as regular readers will recognize, are definitely among our favorites as well.

Of course, the Cinemarati will be voting on more than just Web sites. Very much like the idea that they'll be considering the year's "Exceptional Achievement in Criticism," for example:

"Liner Notes: By Brakhage," Fred Camper.

"Noe Exit," Jessica Winter.

"Faster, Pussy Wagon! Kill! Kill!," RJ Smith.

"In Search of the Code Inconnu," Robin Wood (not online, unfortunately).

"Awakening to A.I.'s Dream,"Gregory Solman

"The Eastwood Variations, Kent Jones.

"Their Souls for a Freebie," Armond White.

"Straw Dogs," Dana Knowles.

Oh, and movies, too, of course. For Best Film, Lord of the Rings: Return of the King and Kill Bill: Vol. 1 lead the pack with ten nominations each; Raising Victor Vargas, Lost in Translation and American Splendor have each received eight. What's more, they'll be going about choosing their winners out in the open for all to see, in a public forum.

Short shorts:

Via Greg Allen: Elizabeth Spiers has posted some juicy excerpts from Peter Biskind's Down and Dirty Pictures, albeit with a bit of (fun) paraphrasing. Also: Three new blogs from Jason Calacanis that, well, so far look mighty similar: The Unofficial Sundance Weblog, The Documentary Film Weblog and The Independent Film Weblog.

Doug Cummings: "Some titles which highlighted my viewing year." An amazing list.

Matt Langdon on Cuban Story.

Nine kamera.co.uk writers, spread out over three pages (1, 2, 3) weigh in with their best-of lists. Readers have voted LOTR3 best and Matrix Revolutions worst of the year. "Is anyone surprised?" asks editor Oliver Berry. Of course not; the real substance here is each writer's top three + one worst.

Howard Dean does not, repeat, not have a cameo in Ninja III: The Domination, reports John Gorenfeld in Salon. Also: Charles Taylor on Hou Hsiao Hsien's Millennium Mambo and Scott Rosenberg on the "Bush in 30 Seconds" hoopla: "In reaction to the controversy, MoveOn organizers say they will vet more carefully in the future. An alternative they should consider: Vet less."

Geoffrey Macnab interviews Bill Murray in the Guardian.

New Line is promoting The Butterfly Effect with brief essays by Harlan Ellison, Bruce Sterling, Ed Bryant and mechanical engineering prof John Lienhard.

In the Austin Chronicle, Shawn Badgley asks RA "Jake" Dyer what motivated him to write Hustler Days: Minnesota Fats, Wimpy Lassiter, Jersey Red, and America's Great Age of Pool: "It was my own love of pool, which can be traced to both films - The Hustler and its sequel, The Color of Money."

"Really, the timing couldn't be better for a Kaurismäki retrospective in Seattle, this being winter and the economy being what it is." Andy Spletzer in the Stranger.

indieWIRE's "Top 20 Undistributed Films of 2003."

Ray Pride writes informally yet sharply about his favorites of the year. Also at Movie City News: William Goldman, barking amusingly, and even more amusingly, Gérard Depardieu musing via Systran.

Posted by dwhudson at January 8, 2004 8:40 AM