NEWS FEEDS
Death By 1,000 Films - Week 1
DEATH BY 1,000 FILMS
It started with a chair
A Lay-Z-Boy to be exact. It’s 20-something years old, like me. Its leg-rest creaks as it’s unfurled. It cracks when I recline in it. I love that chair, and in it was where I first decided it was time to embark on a journey that may kill me: “1,001 Movies You Must See Before You Die.”
It’s a book – the fifth anniversary edition. I counted the movies I already saw, and the number was disturbingly low – 208. I decided to take action and watch, in alphabetical order-ish, all the listed domestic films.
It didn’t start well.
The 39 Steps. It’s an Alfred Hitchcock breakthrough movie, so I read. It showed signs of his future brilliance, the book said. I say put it on in the afternoon and take a nap. That’s exactly what I did on my first effort.
Phone call to Dad:
“Hey, so I just tried to watch The 39 Steps.”
Dad: Yeah, and…
“I fell asleep.”
Dad: I think you actually need to be awake through a movie in order to write about it. You can’t just put it on as you snooze and say you watched it.
“Damn it.”
Attempt No. 2.
It went better, but the movie was still slow, still boring, and I still had to fight my heavy eyelids, watching to the bitter end. If they all go like this, I may die by Movie No. 22.
I was not looking forward to the next on the list – a musical from 1933 called 42nd Street.
I was so not looking forward to it that I put it off for days as I re-watched Pulp Fiction and Boogie Nights to make sure I at least saw a couple great movie this week. (Both are also on the list).
Finally, with that daunting red Netflix envelope staring at me, I opened 42nd Street. I made sure to watch this one without a hint of fatigue so I wouldn’t have to endure it twice.
It turned out quite well. I laughed; I rejoiced. I was excited that the second movie on my list was at least enjoyable.
So my enthusiasm with this project was restored. Thank goodness because this week I’ve got a marathon movie: 1900.
It came on two DVDs… and neither is a bonus disc. 1900 runs 5 hours, 15 minutes. If it doesn’t kill me, it will surely come close.
Death, it seems, is inevitable by 1,000 films. At least I’ll die in the most comfortable chair in the world. My Will may or may not already decree I be buried in it.
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THE MOVIES
The 39 Steps. Rated: UR. Year: 1935. My Rating: 2 out of 5 stars. One-sentence thought: I guess I'm not a Hitchcock fan because this mystery, spy thriller didn't not mistify me or thrill me.
NO TRAILER AVAILABLE
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42nd Street. Rated: UR. Year: 1933. My Rating: 3 out of 5 stars. One-setence thought: I was pleasantly surprised by this somewhat sexy, erotic musical set in the heart of NYC filled with drama and romance.
NO TRAILER AVAILABLE
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