"Corpses are probably off limits."

"Corpses are probably off limits."

The torture is actually only a short part of that whole chapter, but it's still a totally devastating section of the film. Bleaker than the actual cat torture is what happens after it. To assuage fears, Bela Tarr adopted the cat after shooting was over, but knowing that doesn't reduce the chilling effect of that…

The torture is actually only a short part of that whole chapter, but it's still a totally devastating section of the film. Bleaker than the actual cat torture is what happens after it. To assuage fears, Bela Tarr adopted the cat after shooting was over, but knowing that doesn't reduce the chilling effect of that…

Much love for Rosenbaum (whose book about the other great film of the 90's, Dead Man, is what got me turned onto "serious" criticism much in the way that film got me turned onto "serious" cinema at the age of 16.) He's likely one of the first sources I learned about Bela Tarr from.

Much love for Rosenbaum (whose book about the other great film of the 90's, Dead Man, is what got me turned onto "serious" criticism much in the way that film got me turned onto "serious" cinema at the age of 16.) He's likely one of the first sources I learned about Bela Tarr from.

So happy that Satantango gets a mention somewhere here. It is, to my mind, easily the best film of the 90's and amongst the very best 2 or 3 films ever made. An experience like no other, and one that doesn't often get enough credit for being engaging in a real serious way and incredibly fucking funny.

So happy that Satantango gets a mention somewhere here. It is, to my mind, easily the best film of the 90's and amongst the very best 2 or 3 films ever made. An experience like no other, and one that doesn't often get enough credit for being engaging in a real serious way and incredibly fucking funny.

I really like Nog, but that's the only one of his novels I've read. It's like he took too many drugs and tried to write a Beckett novel. Plan on reading Quake sometime soon.

I really like Nog, but that's the only one of his novels I've read. It's like he took too many drugs and tried to write a Beckett novel. Plan on reading Quake sometime soon.

Rudy Wurlitzer is the shit. Wrote two of the best movies ever (Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid and Two-Lane Blacktop.) Ultimate unwavering devotion.

Rudy Wurlitzer is the shit. Wrote two of the best movies ever (Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid and Two-Lane Blacktop.) Ultimate unwavering devotion.

As a set of filmmakers, the French New Wave is actually strikingly conservative, something most fans of Truffaut and Rohmer aren't likely to admit. Love him or hate him, NOBODY has made films like Godard and their radicality sets him apart not just from his contemporaries, but from all of cinema history.

As a set of filmmakers, the French New Wave is actually strikingly conservative, something most fans of Truffaut and Rohmer aren't likely to admit. Love him or hate him, NOBODY has made films like Godard and their radicality sets him apart not just from his contemporaries, but from all of cinema history.

The fact that this list contains Histoire(s) du cinema, which accounts for a whole subset of moving image work (video art) typically ignored by "film" critics is a pretty huge deal if this type of thing is important to you (which, it is to me.)

The fact that this list contains Histoire(s) du cinema, which accounts for a whole subset of moving image work (video art) typically ignored by "film" critics is a pretty huge deal if this type of thing is important to you (which, it is to me.)

All of the Godard flicks on the list and also every film he made (yes, even the ones people call "bad") and also every flick by Rivette and Resnais and Chris Marker and any Agnes Varda film you can get your hands on.

All of the Godard flicks on the list and also every film he made (yes, even the ones people call "bad") and also every flick by Rivette and Resnais and Chris Marker and any Agnes Varda film you can get your hands on.

Also, to take the first comment into consideration, I would say Wes Anderson would fall into my first category of directors that "complicate" their work, despite not personally being a fan. You don't always have to like work to recognize that it does something interesting.

Also, to take the first comment into consideration, I would say Wes Anderson would fall into my first category of directors that "complicate" their work, despite not personally being a fan. You don't always have to like work to recognize that it does something interesting.