Shorts, 12/15.

Though it clearly thrills him, Scott Eyman finds quite a bit in David Thomson's new book to argue with; but then, that's half the fun, evidently. The Whole Equation, he writes in the New York Observer, "is structured as an interlocking series of essays laying out the chronological progression and aesthetic deterioration of American movies." Eyman will quibble with this point or that - two of Thomson's arguments are labeled "patently ridiculous" - but as for that main line, Eyman's along for the ride:

As a matter of fact, movies were better 30 years ago, unless you happen to think computer graphics are a fair exchange for character and emotion.... Movies have lost most of their power to move the mass audience because that audience has lost belief in the idea of film as art.... David Thomson is still the best critic we've got. The sad thing is that he doesn't really have much competition. (And anyway, 10 great movie critics wouldn't have much to occupy themselves with these days.)

Well. Good thing, then, that the rest of the world is making movies, too. Tsai Ming-liang's Goodbye, Dragon Inn is opening in San Francisco at a particularly fitting moment in the city's history, notes Chuck Stephens, who also offers a quick refresher on the significance of King Hu's original Dragon Inn, more than "just an extraordinarily exciting slice of world cinema."

Also in the San Francisco Bay Guardian:

• Cheryl Eddy: "If The Aviator's lush palette, perfectly matched by top-notch production and costume design, lulls you into thinking you really are watching some kind of golden age relic, the film's reliance on that device we all love to hate - stunt casting - will jerk you back into the 21st century."

• Kimberly Chun finds House of Flying Daggers has a place "among the rest of a master's pessimistic romances."

• Max Goldberg, briefly, on A Very Long Engagement. In the San Francisco Chronicle, by the way, Carla Meyer profiles Audrey Tautou; that's via the indieWIRE Insider.

Movie City News has the list of Toronto Film Critics Association Awards; yep, Sideways. And the Broadcast Film Critics have announced their nominations.

Brian Brooks reports in indieWIRE on the Toronto Film International Festival Group's unveiling of "Canada's Top Ten."

Phil Hall presents Film Threat's "Ten Best and Worst Unseen Films of 2004." Via IFCine & Heard.

Here's how "Imagine," a marvelous new entry at Margaret Cho's blog begins:

Imagine being Anna May Wong at the premiere of your film, Thief of Bagdad, title apropos to these times, as a Chinese American at Graumann's Chinese Theatre, then in its Chinarama phase, chock-a-block with faux orientalism, a chinkee apocalypse in plastic and red paper. And you, surrounded by an extraction of your own culture, are not allowed to put your hands in the wet cement to commemorate your contribution.

Geoffrey Macnab in the Guardian: "26,000 Faces is a series of short films designed to embarrass the Dutch government into repealing a controversial law passed in February to repatriate 26,000 'failed' asylum seekers. The expulsions will take three years. Bosland and his team want to make a film a day, giving a face to the thousands who will shortly be booted out of the Netherlands."

Ray Pride lays four stars on the DVD release of Mikey & Nicky, "Elaine May's nicotine-stained 1977 masterpiece."

For the Gothamist, Lily Oei and Aaron Dobbs interview Nancy Schwartzman, Creative Director at Heeb Magazine and filmmaker. The first question, naturally, is about the doc she's working on now; no hemming or hawing for Schwartzman: "This is a film about my trip back to Jerusalem to confront the man who raped me four years ago."

Particularly since he's in it, Wiley Wiggins has been interested in reactions - from those who've been able to catch it - to "St Richard of Austin," a profile of Richard Linklater and part of the Art Show series broadcast on the UK's Channel 4.

BridgeToTheStars.Net: "Citing the 'technical challenges of making such an epic,' director Chris Weitz has exited New Line Cinema's highly anticipated adaptation of the bestselling Philip Pullman trilogy His Dark Materials, and the studio has launched a search to find his replacement." No mention of the recent controversy over the portrayal of the villains in the films.

British ad agency M&C Saatchi has hit upon the realization that when it comes to selling the US as a tourist destination, American movies have already done most of the work. All they need to add is the slogan: "You've seen the film, now visit the set." Heather Timmons reports in the New York Times.

Defamer: "The Fug Girls turn their fashion hate-rays on the Harry Potter kids. Isn't puberty hard enough, ladies?"

Online viewing tip. Blogumentary Trailer 3.0.

Posted by dwhudson at December 15, 2004 8:01 AM