Journals.

Synoptique, a journal founded by grad students at Concordia University in Montreal, makes the most of its online presence with, for example, a wider-than-widescreen table of contents-slash-navigation interface. What's more, the newest edition, the fifth, inaugurates a Style Gallery, established to tackle the very concept of "film style" and to "collect concrete examples from actual films that individuals were willing to stand behind and point to and say, 'Yes, this is a moment of film style.'"

For starters, this means: Clips! Ten so far, ranging from films by Wes Anderson and Todd Haynes to Truffaut and Kubrick, and they are gorgeous to look at. But watching them is only the first step. Those who've submitted the clips comment on them; you are invited to leave comments; and you're invited to submit a "style moment" as well.

Also in this edition:

• Stacey DeWolfe on Clara Law's The Goddess of 1967.
• Mike Vesia on Tarkovsky's Nostalghia.
• Randolph Jordan's interview with avant filmmaker Richard Kerr (as well as his column considering the concept of "fidelity").
• Friedrich Mayr's report on the 2004 Fantasia Film Festival.
• Anna Phelan-Cox on Twentynine Palms.
• "Splinter" reviews and, in French, two essays and DVD review.

Another journal incorporating interactivity but with a bit more of a tech aesthetic about it is the Italy-based Cinemascope (not to be confused with Cinema Scope), an independent film journal whose first issue is set to appear early next year. What's up at the moment is the "zero issue," bearing the title, "Cinema and Independence." Linking to individual pieces is possible, but it does spoil the overall effect; besides a clock and adjustable sound effects, the site features the ability to slightly shift the color scheme, switch between the Italian and English versions of articles and so on. So, as with Synoptique, it's best to go in through the front door.

Nonetheless:

• Francesca Liguoro on Wim Wenders and Nicholas Ray's Nick's Movie.
• Massimiliano Guadiosi on Manoel De Oliveira's Um Filme Falado (A Spoken Film).
• Anna Masecchia on Chantal Akerman.
• Giustina D'Oriano on the "independent spectator."
• Maria Way on the idea of the Roman Catholic Church as an auteur.

"Cruisers" is John Sayles's contribution to the fall issue of Zoetrope: All-Story:

"Remember the dude two Christmases ago," says Ricky, "washed up by the old turtle works?"

"Accidental causes."

"That's what they always say when they don't know shit. Didn't know where he came from, what boat he was off of, nada. And nobody ever claimed him."

"Plenty of that on this island."

Also: Dilip K Basu: "On Satyajit Ray's Film Adaptation of 'The Goddess'."

Posted by dwhudson at November 5, 2004 7:21 AM