TQOTD: Movies

[pat]

In 2002, the groundbreaking "mockumentary" This is Spinal Tap was awarded what honor?



It was named to the U.S. National Film Registry, indicating it was "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant". It was in a class which included Alien, In the Heat of the Night, From Here to Eternity, and Beauty and the Beast.

Comments

[dawnd.livejournal.com]

Yes, well, it was after all directed by Rob Reiner! I certainly hope The Princess Bride is in there, too....

[calebbullen.livejournal.com]

Is there a worldwide film organization? I mean the AFI does great work in restoration but they only deal with American film. and it sounds like this US national registry would be similarly gringocentric. I know that we put out the vast majority of film good and bad and all that but it seems like there should be an organization where Fritz Lang's films can be honored along Jean Cocteau, Billy wilder and Kevin Smith.

[patgreene.livejournal.com]

I think there must be.... looking at the authorizing legislation for the National Film Registry, I don't see anything prohibiting foreign films (in fact there are one or two with French titles) but since it is essentially a department of the Library of Congress, there is bound to be an American bias. They only pick twenty five a year, and my understanding is that the idea is that they will preserve copies of these films. I seem to remember that "Star Wars" was on the original list -- I hope they preserved the original, not the later version that Lucas rereleased. So far I think there are about 175 on the list.

[patgreene.livejournal.com]

Also, this registry is as much about preserving history as it is about preserving art. There are things on there that are significant from a cultural point of view ("Let's All Go To the Lobby") or a historical point of view (the Zapruder film, "Czechoslovakia, 1968") which have no artistic value as such. It's not about honoring filmmakers in the same way that the AFI lists are, although there are works like "Koyaaanaqatsi" (sp?) on it.

And my favorite piece of film that has been deemed culturally, historically, or artistically important? "What's Opera, Doc?"

"kill the waaabbbiit.....Kill the waaabbbiiitttt.... KILL THE WAAABBBBIIITTTT!!!!"

Re:

[calebbullen.livejournal.com]

Heh. They showed that last summer before one of the movies in the park. It's amazing seeing those cartoons on a big screen and from a good film print as opposed to a video projection.

Actually it's amazing how much better films are on film. I mean people generally think about that with the big action flicks and all that but even for older and less visually dynamic movies it makes a huge difference.

For example, I've seen "Harvey" about once a year since I was seven. I know it inside and out. Yet when I finally saw it in a movie theatre, I laughed at different things, even though it wasn't visual comedy per se. Same thing with Night at the Opera and Maltese Falcon. Although Hard Days night is actually no better on a big screen. It's like my second favorite movie of all time but theres no difference from Big to Small Screen.

And of course, "Lets all go to the lobby" is art. Otherwise how could it still be a cultural touchstone after all these years.

Now, I've got "Let's all go to the lobby" stuck, like a tick, into my head.

That's downright wascally of you.