Shorts, 11/20.

John Coulthart remembers Belgian artist Guy Peellaert, who died this week: "Peellaert's work was very visible in the 1970s, especially his book of rock star portraits, Rock Dreams, a ubiquitous pop culture item along with Roger Dean's Views and Alan Aldridge's psychedelic whimsy.... [B]ut much of the work in Rock Dreams seemed garish and awkward. Far more successful was Peellaert's painting for Martin Scorsese's Taxi Driver, undoubtedly commissioned on the strength of his earlier work but superior to nearly everything in his book."

Dennis Cooper's posted a "rare 1978 interview with 16 year old Antoine Monnier about his experiences making Robert Bresson's The Devil Probably (1977)."

"[I]ncredibly, as Afghanistan sinks back into the anarchy which became its natural state these past 29 years, Afghan filmmakers are producing movies of international quality, turning out pictures which prove - even amid war - that a country's tragedy can be imaginatively recreated for its people." Robert Fisk reports for the Independent.

"Like big hair and padded shoulders and Wham!, the films of the 1980s are apparently something to be ashamed of," writes David Bordwell. But "you can make a good case that the 1980s gave America a burst of first-rate films and remarkable new talent," and he offers "some assorted, more or less objective reasons to consider this decade as making a remarkable contribution to US film history."

In an excerpt, David Thomson explains why he's put together Have You Seen...? A Personal Introduction to 1,000 Films. Also in the LA Weekly, Scott Foundas talks with Catherine Deneuve.

"Ebert cracks wise over the bludgeoning banter between he and Gene Siskel through the years as a way of getting into his history of body image," notes Ray Pride. "Like many recent entries in his blog, there are zigs, zags and fruitful diversions, and the 2,500 words may be his most adventurous yet."

The Siren lists "Ten Things I Love About Old Movies."

"Although established forms of narration across national cinemas are always in a state of transition, a particularly striking dichotomy between mainstream continuity style and marginal art cinema has become increasingly apparent in recent years. The disparity has primarily emerged in the relationship between speed and editing, and now calls for a closer examination of the binary extremes of 'fast' and 'slow.'" Matthew Flanagan in 16:9, via Girish, who's looking for a few good cinema-related biographies.

The latest addition to Scott Tobias's "New Cult Canon" at the AV Club: Pulse.

Films in Review is running Rob Edelman's 1979 piece on Paul Robeson.

Michael Atkinson at Moving Image Source: "How to watch Hal Roach's Our Gang comedies and why."

Salon's Andrew O'Hehir wonders how WALL•E became a "hit with something approaching a cult following among cinephiles, hipsters and bloggers."

The Austin Chronicle's Marc Savlov talks with Jean-Claude Van Damme about JCVD.

"Why Quantum of Solace is indefensibly bad." Eric Kohn argues the case. Meanwhile, Glenn Kenny considers "how James Bond lost his sense of humor, while the ever-astute Daniel Kasman contemplates the indifference of Bond. It's all pretty high-toned! Check it out at the Auteurs' Notebook."

For IFC, Aaron Hillis talks with Josh Koury about We Are Wizards.

The National Book Awards were presented last night; Motoko Rich reports in the New York Times.

"Scientists may have less to cringe about when they go to the movies, if a new initiative designed to foster cooperation between scientists and the entertainment industry is successful." David Shiga reports for New Scientist.

Heeeeere... we... go... Rex Sorgatz opens his collection of "2008 End-of-Year Lists."

Online wow. "Salt Lake City Drive-In," snapped by JR Eyerman for LIFE in 1958.

Online listening tip. Ambrose Heron talks with Ari Folman about Waltz With Bashir.

Online viewing tip #1. At Shooting Down Pictures, Nicole Brenez comments on By the Bluest of Seas.

Online viewing tip #2. At AICN, Merrick has the trailer for Henry Selick's Coraline, based on the novella by Neil Gaiman.

Online viewing tips. Twitch's Todd Brown has a trailer and teasers for Cem Yilmaz's AROG and a French vampire flick, Sodium Babies.

Online listening and viewing tips. Brian Sholis has plenty.

Posted by dwhudson at November 20, 2008 2:34 PM