I mean, if the jungle had a tree 140 stories high

Jennifer Jones’ death is brutally nonchalant, like Herzog’s terror of the indifference of nature

"Lincoln was a Republican" has had nine lives in the public discourse, indeed.

Yes, box office reporting was very spotty up until and including the '70s/'80s, but it's interesting to me that it feels like the acceptance of these two films' commercial placement as de facto and underexamined canonization fueled the lack of inspection as to what else might've been going on.

And that's how it was up until THE SOUND OF MUSIC in 1965. That's roughly seven decades of pure, unadulterated racism holding the top spot in American movie consciousness.

I would really, REALLY love for a film historian to untangle the role box office receipts had in building the myth of BOAN. One of the blithely accepted facts about American film history is that BOAN was the first all-time blockbuster, and GONE WITH THE WIND was the second.

I dunno, I am coming around to the idea that INTOLERANCE is pretty far from a mea culpa. Tho it's certainly a much more compelling piece of messaging than BOAN tbh.

@moviessilently.bsky.social has lots of value to say about INTOLERANCE too, a movie that, even more than BOTN, requires clear-eyed demystification today, as it's moved into position as cinephiles' go-to "ok, but what about THIS masterpiece?!" cause célèbre (still ranks high in Sight & Sound polls)

I KNEW we had MARGARET 2.0 on our hands here.

I do think, no joke, that we're within a decade of people being able to purchase their own statues. So a show-opener unboxing moment would be a great activation.

instead of being presented, the Oscars will be unboxed

Dammit! Why did this one have to be my one Nostradamus moment?

God-tier: Wiseman

Vroom-vroom! The race is on ... the Oscar race, that is! 🏁

But still, I would've loved to have been surprised and thrilled to see a SIRAT showing up in best picture next year alongside two, maybe three other international films. Now the only option is confirmation or disappointment if it fails to rise above JAY KELLY.

There's something a little bit reassuring about the old-school AMPAS branch cronyism still flourishing around the margins, an old-timey throwback for an institution that is, itself, unquestionably also now a throwback.

And to be clear, I had that gift receipt in hand right back to the store last year with the first WICKED, unopened. Not thrilled there's gonna be more of that crap under the tree again this year.

It's truly the movie geek equivalent of peeking at your presents before Christmas.