For as long as I can remember, I have been deservedly
derided by my friends for having seen so few classics, despite being such a huge movie
person. This was the year I decided to start to change that. Slowly, of course – it’s an uphill battle at
this point. Plus, it’s harder for me because I fail miserably at watching
movies at home. It’s just not my ideal
environment – too many tempting distractions, and I cannot abide watching films
with distractions. That leaves me with
theatrical experiences. But, I’m in luck; I live in the best city in the world
for seeing older films.
I wound up seeing around 42 “older movies” in theaters this year –
mostly at the IFC Center, but also The Film Forum, Museum of the Moving Image
and MoMA.
To be fair, I also saw Goodfellas and The Game this year,
but not in a theater. Loved them both, especially the latter. Oh, and I also watched Ghostbusters for the
first time. Twice! It’s hard to appreciate a movie like that as
much as I know I would have if I’d seen it as a kid – but I do at least totally “get”
what the fuss is about.
I took advantage of some awesome programming from local
movie houses – my favorite of which being the Universal 100 this summer at the
Film Forum, where they showed multiple double features in honor of Universal’s 100th
anniversary. I saw my first, second and third Douglas Sirk films as a part of
that. Such good stuff.
But, the IFC Center also spoiled me by showing a different
Alfred Hitchcock film every weekend at 11 AM for months in a row. Of his
notable ones I missed Rope, The Birds, Dial M for Murder and The Man Who Knew
Too Much.
I want next year to be an even better year for me in terms
of catching up on classics. Also, I’m
going to make an effort to improve my watch-at-home habits. And also to improve
my keeping track of my watch-at-home habits.
Here are a few notable “bests:”
Best Hitchcock (of the 11 I saw for the first time in 2012):
Vertigo
Most Embarrassing Confession: This
was the year I finally saw Back to the Future 1 and 2
“What’s the Big Deal” Award: American Graffiti. Meh!
Most Fun: Miami Connection
Top Five Overall
5. Wake in Fright
4. Annie Hall
3. Imitation of Life
2. Vertigo
1. Three Colors: Red
Also amazing were Life is Sweet, The Conversation, Psycho, L’Enfant,
Nashville, Oldboy, The Battle of Algiers, To Catch a Thief, Rebecca, Rosemary’s
Baby
Here's the full list of older movies I saw theatrically in 2012:
| Zelig |
| L'Enfant |
| Life is Sweet |
| Marathon Man |
| Annie Hall |
| The Conversation |
| Nashville |
| Oldboy |
| Funny Face |
| Murder! |
| The Battle of Algiers |
| Cape Fear |
| Shadow of a Doubt |
| Saboteur |
| Psycho |
| To Catch a Thief |
| The 39 Steps |
| Rear Window |
| Lifeboat |
| Hello, Dolly |
| Imitation of Life |
| American Graffiti |
| Vertigo |
| Baraka |
| Magnificent Obsession |
| Written on the Wind |
| Rebecca |
| Big River Man |
| Wake in Fright |
| Miami Connection |
| Robocop |
| The Spy Who Loved Me |
| Gasland |
| Torn Curtain |
| On Her Majesty's Secret Service |
| Rosemary's Baby |
| ExistenZ |
| Three Colors: Red |
| Annie |
| Back to the Future |
| Back to the Future 2 |
| Ninotchka |
