My attempts to share in those carnivals of cinephilia that are Dennis Cozzalio’s epic movie quizzes in the past have been stymied by my tendency to over-think answers and his cunning capacity to sometimes diagnose my areas of disinterest (the dastard). Now, however, I’ve finally gotten in on this act.
1) The classic movie moment everyone loves except me is:
The last shot of The Third Man. Yes, it’s a visually clever and, on first viewing, darkly funny defiling of cliché happy endings. But under the superficial punch is a facile quality that leaves a bad taste in my mouth now. Greene’s attempt to transplant a passion play onto a selfish and sleazy profiteer feels dishonest to me, and the film’s moral complexity is reduced to a cheap and cynical laugh line. Runner-up: the finale of On The Waterfront.
2) Favorite line of dialogue from a film noir
“He was some kind of a man. What does it matter what you say about people?”
3) Second favorite Hal Ashby film
Harold and Maude (the favourite’s Bound for Glory).
4) Describe the moment when you first realized movies were directed as opposed to simply pieced together anonymously.
This is lost in the mists of my time, but it was probably during one of my six hundred childhood viewings of Jaws.
5) Favorite film book
Phil Hardy’s Encyclopedia of the Horror Film.
6) Diana Sands or Vonetta McGee?
Vonetta. Like everyone in Repo Man, she has a lifetime pass from me. Plus she was just great.
7) Most egregious gap in your viewing of films made in the past 10 years
Many potentials for this answer, especially considering that one person’s egregious is another’s whatever.
8) Favorite line of dialogue from a comedy
You’re kidding, right? Out of the entire history of comedy on film, one line? Well all right then… “You’re willing to pay him a thousand dollars a night just for singing? Why you can get a phonograph record of Minnie the Moocher for seventy-five cents. For a buck and a quarter you can get Minnie.”
9) Second favorite Lloyd Bacon film
42 Street (favourite is Action in the North Atlantic).
10) Richard Burton or Roger Livesey?
I’ll go against the expected go-against-the-expected here, and say Burton. Livesey was great but within a fairly narrow range. Burton was spectacularly reckless with his talent and could be downright awful, but occasional hit extraordinary heights.
11) Is there a movie you staunchly refuse to consider seeing? If so, why?
Transformers: Dark of the Moon.
12) Favorite filmmaker collaboration
Powell and Pressburger.
13) Most recently viewed movie on DVD/Blu-ray/theatrical?
You mean, what did I watch last night? Operation Amsterdam.
14) Favorite line of dialogue from a horror movie
“Fight death all your days, and die, knowing you know nothing.”
15) Second favorite Oliver Stone film
Talk Radio (favourite is The Doors).
16) Eva Mendes or Raquel Welch?
Raquel. 100 Rifles, bitches.
17) Favorite religious satire
The Papal fashion show in Fellini’s Roma, just ahead of Bunuel’s The Milky Way.
18) Best Internet movie argument? (question contributed by Tom Block)
The one I had on the New York Times’ old film forums about the difference between Taxi Driver and Se7en.
19) Most pointless Internet movie argument? (question contributed by Tom Block)
The one I had with the same guy about Training Day.
20) Charles McGraw or Robert Ryan?
Both are pillars of awesome. But Ryan.
21) Favorite line of dialogue from a western
“Let’s go.”
22) Second favorite Roy Del Ruth film
Phantom of the Rue Morgue is my first, second, and third favourite.
23) Relatively unknown film or filmmaker you’d most eagerly proselytize for
Jean Rollin. Or Seijun Suzuki. Or…
24) Ewan McGregor or Gerard Butler?
Ahhahahahahahahahaha Ewan.
25) Is there such a thing as a perfect movie?
Do you want me to quote Kael at you? Is that really what you want?
26) Favorite movie location you’ve most recently had the occasion to actually visit
I live about three hundred yards from where The Coca-Cola Kid was shot. But the question asks for favourite so I’ll say…Union Station, Chicago — where they shot the shoot-out in The Untouchables. Sadly, not that recent.
27) Second favorite Delmer Daves film
The Hanging Tree (favourite is The Red House).
28) Name the one DVD commentary you wish you could hear that, for whatever reason, doesn’t actually exist
Merian C. Cooper, Ernest B. Schoedsack, and Willis H. O’Brien talking about making King Kong, constantly interrupted by asides from Fay Wray and Robert Armstrong.
29) Gloria Grahame or Marie Windsor?
Again, both awesome. But Gloria. For The Big Heat.
30) Name a filmmaker who never really lived up to the potential suggested by their early acclaim or success
George Lucas.
31) Is there a movie-based disagreement serious enough that it might cause you to reevaluate the basis of a romantic relationship or a friendship?
I have a friend who likes both Gangster Squad and Les Miserables. Every day is a struggle to forgive.