From the Cheap Seats

Hello. My name’s James. I’m going to try and fill the space hitherto filled by Julian Upton. Them’s big shoes to fill so I hope you’ll indulge me, at least until we get better acquainted.

The first proper post will be along in a moment but I thought I ought to offer an account of myself. Since this is going to be a place where I discuss film in its various manifestations, it makes sense to give you a flavour of how the land lies.

Favourite Film? Oh… er… I’m rubbish at favourites. There are hundreds. I usually say Barry Lyndon, although I’m not sure if it’s my absolute, tip-top favourite. I’m tormented by the thought that in a desert island situation, I’d probably grab Death on the Nile.

Favourite Director? Do I have to restrict myself to just one? Fritz Lang is certainly up there, so is Michael Powell. Generally, I favour the show-offs, the pictorialists and the liars over the realists. That said, I have a special place in my heart for Ken Loach.

Favourite Actress? Again with the favourites… I like Gloria Grahame and Barbara Stanwyck. And some others who aren’t dead.

Favourite Actor? Ah, now this is easier. It’s a dead heat between Robert Ryan and Richard Widmark. One of these days, I’ll bore you with why Billy Bob Thornton is the greatest living actor.

Favourite genre? That would be the Western, I think. Although I’m very partial to films about pirates.

Favourite sub-genre? Either submarine films or films where Claude Rains gets cuckolded.

Favourite synth-laden John Carpenter Score? Assault on Precinct 13

Favourite Quote? ‘Leather men don’t get nervous’, from the thoroughly awful Can’t Stop The Music (I was drunk, alright?)

Favourite dog in cinema? The one in Hitchcock’s Young and Innocent.

Favourite drummer in cinema? The one in Hitchcock’s Young and Innocent.

Favourite Michael Powell film? A Canterbury Tale.

Favourite Michael Winner film? I don’t know what those words mean.

Favourite accent? Jon Voight in Anaconda.

Favourite death scene? Day of the Dead (’choke on ‘em!’)

Number of Carry On films seen? 30

Number of Mizoguchi films seen? 0

Desperate attempt to salvage respectability? My favourite films of the decade so far include Songs From the Second Floor, The Royal Tenenbaums, Spider, Werckmeister Harmonies, Russian Ark and, above all, The Sun. And I’ve got a couple of Mizoguchi films in my ‘to watch’ pile.

Most underrated film of the decade so far? The Village.

Basically, what I’m trying to say is that I oscillate between high art and low trash. I’d like this to be a space to explore not just the history of film but theories, thoughts and fancies about our favourite medium. Some of the topics I want to explore in coming posts include style, colour and heroines. I’ll also be ruminating on some of the things I’ve watched recently, because it’s fun to share discoveries.

That’s the introductions done. Now, let’s get cracking.