Megan, did you teach at BENNINGTON? Did I know this? Because I am a 1978 Bennington grad.

I can't even think of responding to the quiz right now, I just wanted to ask David if he meant Pépé le Moko instead of Algiers. Isn't Algiers the remake with Charles Boyer? Or do they call them both Algiers? In which case, that's confusing. Either way, Jean Gabin=cool (and yet at the same time, also hawt).

I did mean Pepe Le Moko - that's what I get for calling P-C an ignoramous.

The ones I have answers to:

2) Once Upon A Time in the West

3) Airplane! I think all of it qualifies.

6) Hugo Weaving

10) Batman Returns

11) I wouldn’t say “destroys,” but Moulin Rouge has definitely irritated me deeply on more than one occasion. Mostly because I keep thinking "Maybe this time I'll get it." But I never do.

13) Bruce Dern

15) Can I just ask why the question specifies that this is something Truffaut said before he died? Because honestly, I would have assumed that much.

17) This one’s hard. Maybe Mysterious Island.

18) Sandra Bernhard, I suppose.

19) Despised: Moppets in peril.

20) No

22) Hm. The Adventures of Baron Munchausen, maybe.

23) It’s always gonna be Network.

24) Patrick Bauchau

26) I really don't think I watch movies that way. I can't imagine thinking "hey, that seems like an accident" for anything short of a boom mike dropping into the frame.

29) “This woman has just cut, chopped, broken and burned five men beyond recognition... but no jury in America would ever convict her!”

30) It depends. With some movies, I want to know why the critic liked or disliked them, because I’m trying to decide whether or not I want to see them. With some movies/critics, I want to hear an interesting opinion because I've already decided what I think. With some movies/critics, I just want to be amused because I've already decided what I think.

EXTRA CREDIT: Define “matter,” and I’ll tell you if I think “still” even applies.

1) What movie did you have to see multiple times before deciding whether you liked or disliked it? I'm going to say Tombstone too. It got better on rewatch.

2) Inaugural entry into the Academy of the Overrated - 2001

3) Favorite sly or not-so-sly reference to another film or bit of pop culture within another film. - Heart of the World by Guy Maddin

4) Favorite Michael Powell/Emeric Pressburger movie - I Know Where I'm Going

5) Your favorite Oscar moment - Bjork laying an egg on the red carpet

6) Hugo Weaving or Guy Pearce? - Guy Pearce!

7) Movie that you feel gave you the greatest insight into a world/culture/person/place/event that you had no understanding of before seeing it - All the President's Men

8) Favorite Samuel Fuller movie - The Naked Kiss (duh)

9) Monica Bellucci or Maria Grazia Cucinotta? - Monica?

10) What movie can take a nothing day and suddenly make it all seem worthwhile? - Palm Beach Story or Hard Day's Night

11) Conversely, what movie can destroy a day’s worth of good humor just by catching a glimpse of it while channel surfing? - The Goonies

12) Favorite John Boorman movie - Point Blank. But I do love Excalibur and like the Emerald Forest.

13) Warren Oates or Bruce Dern? - Warren's cooler, no doubt. But I do like Bruce.

14) Your favorite aspect ratio - Cinemascope

15) Before he died in 1984, Francois Truffaut once said: “The film of tomorrow will resemble the person who made it.” Is there any evidence that Truffaut was right? Is it Truffaut’s tomorrow yet? - Could a DAvid Lynch movie be by anybody else?

16) Favorite Werner Herzog movie - Aguirre or Nosferatu

17) Favorite movie featuring a rampaging, oversized or otherwise mutated beast, or beasts - Jaws, or Night of the Lepus

18) Sandra Bernhard or Sarah Silverman? - Hmmmmm. I like them both. But I like Sarah's new show so I'll say her.

19) Your favorite, or most despised, movie cliché - Running in front of a fire ball. Magic Negroes. A character who turns and talks to somebody else in the car instead of watching the road.

20) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom-- yes or no? Yes.

21) Favorite Nicholas Ray movie - In A Lonely Place.

22) Inaugural entry into the Academy of the Underrated - Branded to Kill, or Local Hero.

23) Your favorite movie dealing with the subject of television - Soapdish?

24) Bruno Ganz or Patrick Bauchau? - Bruno! Mein Angel

25) Your favorite documentary, or non-fiction, film - Grey Gardens

26) According to Orson Welles, the director’s job is to “preside over accidents.” Name a favorite moment from a movie that seems like an accident, or a unintended, privileged moment. How did it enhance or distract from the total experience of the movie? - In Philadelphia Story Jimmy Stewart improv-ed his drunk scene with Cary Grant and you can just feel Cary's enjoyment.

27) Favorite Wim Wenders movie - Wings of Desire

28) Elizabeth Pena or Penelope Cruz? - I think Penelope is far more beautiful, but I've actually talked to Elizabeth Pena on the phone so I'll say her.

29) Your favorite movie tag line (Thanks, Jim!) - The one I was recently sporting from The Saddest Music In the World about sadness with pizzazz.

30) As a reader, filmgoer, or film critic, what do you want from a film critic, or from film criticism? And where do you see film criticism in general headed? More Manny Farber, less Pauline Kael.

EXTRA CREDIT: Do movies still matter? Yes, they do. In fact, they'll matter more and more.

I sent these to a friend, and here are some of his responses:

3) Favorite sly or not-so-sly reference to another film or bit of pop culture within another film.

Oh, there are so many. "Beetlejuice": for no reason in particular, there are sandworms in the movie. One of them appears and you can hear the main theme from the DiLaurentis "Dune" creep into the soundtrack. Beetlejuice says to Alec Baldwin/Geena Davis: "Sandworms. You hate 'em, huh? I hate 'em too!" And then the sandworms never show up again.

5) Your favorite Oscar moment

Bette Davis scolding the stage manager for trying to cut short her speech

6) Hugo Weaving or Guy Pearce?

Are you talking about the qualities of the actor or the qualities of the projects they choose? Hugo Weaving wins on both counts.

7) Movie that you feel gave you the greatest insight into a world/culture/person/place/event that you had no understanding of before seeing it

Star Wars. I knew next to nothing about Tatooine before seeing it, but I now have a better grasp of its demographics/geography/history/economy than I do of most countries in South America.

17) Favorite movie featuring a rampaging, oversized or otherwise mutated beast, or beasts

Peter Jackson's King Kong

18) Sandra Bernhard or Sarah Silverman?

Sarah Silverman. More clever and definitely cuter.

19) Your favorite, or most despised, movie cliché

Two lines that show up in sci-fi/adventure movies OVER and OVER: "Look at the size of that thing!" and "....more powerful than you could possibly imagine" (usually in reference to some legendary weapon or device). I can imagine it destroying the entire universe. Can it do that? No? Then I guess it's not more powerful than I could possibly imagine, is it?

20) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom-- yes or no?

No. NO. NOOOOOOOOO.

22) Inaugural entry into the Academy of the Underrated

Muriel's Wedding

23) Your favorite movie dealing with the subject of television

Easy. "Shock Treatment," the "Rocky Horror" sequel made in 1980 or thereabouts. It has more to say about TV in the 21st century, and said it earlier, than any subsequent film on the subject. It's right on par with "Network" and it has catchier tunes, too.

28) Elizabeth Pena or Penelope Cruz?

Elizabeth Pena. I have only seen her in one movie ("Lone Star") but her performance has stuck with me ever since.

---------------

I'm going to add a "preside over accidents" answer: In So I Married an Axe Murderer when Myers, as the Scottish father, starts going off about the size of the kid's head, Rob Lowe just starts busting up and trying to hide it. It's pretty clear that Myers is improv-ing or that Lowe, even if he knew what was coming, can't control the laugh. Either way, it's on film and it's great.

mini-meara:

I seem to recall this coming up in a conversation I had with someone cool last week.

I thought of that too. The world is made of bizarre coincidences.

Megan, did you teach at BENNINGTON? Did I know this? Because I am a 1978 Bennington grad.

I was just there for a semester a couple of years ago when they needed a last minute replacement and I couldn't teach at my grad school anymore.

I did mean Pepe Le Moko - that's what I get for calling P-C an ignoramous.

You notice I refrained from mentioning that. I think I must really be growing as a person.

Serial to add some quiz responses. Most of the “favorite” questions I had no real opinion on.

1) What movie did you have to see multiple times before deciding whether you liked or disliked it? Bringing Up Baby
2) Inaugural entry into the Academy of the Overrated: See above
3) Favorite sly or not-so-sly reference to another film or bit of pop culture within another film: the opening of The Player.
4) Favorite Michael Powell/Emeric Pressburger movie: The Red Shoes
5) Your favorite Oscar moment: Any Billy Crystal montage
10) What movie can take a nothing day and suddenly make it all seem worthwhile? The Thin Man
11) Conversely, what movie can destroy a day’s worth of good humor just by catching a glimpse of it while channel surfing? I don’t channel surf, but would probably agree with whomever above said Moulin Rouge.
19) Your most despised movie cliché : Couples that bitterly hate each other and suddenly discover they are perfect for each other.
22) Inaugural entry into the Academy of the Underrated: Sneakers
23) Your favorite movie dealing with the subject of television: Tootsie
29) Your favorite movie tag line: “Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water” from Jaws 2

I can't stop watching this 300 PG version trailer.

I was watching hockey the other night and I heard the 300 trailer come on. Only it's not. It's some bad hybrid NHL 300 trailer. And at the end where the characters are standing and looking up, it's at the Stanley Cup instead of whatever is in the movie.

It's very random and I suppose whoever is in charge of marketing thought "two great tastes that'll taste great together!" but instead of Reece's Peanut butter cups it looks like a crappy crossover vid that should be set to System of a Down.

I finally saw The Illusionist and loved it. For me, it worked beautifully as a kind of fable, which is true to Steven Millhauser's writing, and the performances, as well the aim of the film, were dead on. Much less convoluted than The Prestige, plot-wise, but also less simple than it appeared on the surface, I think.

Plus, I love Edward Norton, and Jessica Biel susprisingly didn't make me want to puke. Anyone want to discuss?