Archive for March, 2002

Billy Wilder

Published
by
James McNally
on March 30, 2002
in Directors
. Closed

Billy Wilder was born in 1906 in what is now Poland. He came to America in 1934 to work on a screenplay for a film that would never be made. Not surprising, since Billy barely spoke English. Forced to leave the country since he didn’t have a job, he went to the border town of Mexicali, where after sweet talking a consular official, he was readmitted to the United States as a resident alien. He went on to write and direct some of the most intelligent and funny films ever made in Hollywood. A short list of highlights:

He was wonderfully direct and unpretentious. On the subject of “arty” European films: “I could clean up in the film festivals if I took $25,000 and made a picture about the sex life of fishermen in Sardinia—as long as it had a certain morbid message and was slightly out of focus.” I’ll miss Billy Wilder, even though he hadn’t made a film for many years. He was sharp-witted until the end. I’m disappointed that he wasn’t dragged into a recording booth over the past few years and made to record commentaries on all of his films that have been released on DVD. I received a biography of Wilder for Christmas that I’m currently reading. It’s called On Sunset Boulevard: The Life and Times of Billy Wilder. And I just discovered there’s another book, called Conversations with Wilder, by Cameron Crowe. Do yourself a favour and rent one of Billy Wilder’s films this weekend.

Billy Wilder Dead At 95

Published
by
James McNally
on March 28, 2002
in Directors
. Closed

Billy Wilder dead at 95. I’ll have more to say on this soon…

Lyle Lovett trampled by bull. I don’t think I’ll have anything to say about this, though…

Oscar Nominated Short Films

Published
by
James McNally
on March 15, 2002
in Awards and Oscars
. Closed

My wife and I went with some friends last night to see the Oscar-nominated short films, both live action and animated. My favourites were:

  • Give Up Your Aul Sins - This Irish gem is about a television crew’s visit to a Dublin classroom, where a little girl recounts the story of John the Baptist
  • Copy Shop - This one, from Austria, was like Chaplin doing Kafka
  • The Accountant - Set in the Deep South, this was beautifully shot but almost too “quirky”

The Anniversary Party

Published
by
James McNally
on March 4, 2002
in DVD
. Closed

I just watched The Anniversary Party (2001), and in addition to all the smart critical things I could say about it (which would only bore you, gentle reader), I’d just like to say: “More Phoebe Cates, please.”