I love the narration in Terrence Malick's movies, particularly Days of Heaven.  Ditto the Wilder-penned Double Indemnity and Sunset Boulevard.  Possibly the best use of narration I've seen is in A Clockwork Orange, or in Chris Marker's La Jetee and Sans Soleil.

Being Sean Penn, he took months and months of lessons.  He might genuinely be a great jazz guitarist by now.

Being Sean Penn, he took months and months of lessons.  He might genuinely be a great jazz guitarist by now.

And why don't they say "Thank you", these movie characters?  An ordinary, conversational thanks when somebody helps them out in some small, marginal way.  If somebody does something big, they say thanks, yes, but for simple everyday services nobody ever says thanks like a normal, civil person would.  Would it kill…

And why don't they say "Thank you", these movie characters?  An ordinary, conversational thanks when somebody helps them out in some small, marginal way.  If somebody does something big, they say thanks, yes, but for simple everyday services nobody ever says thanks like a normal, civil person would.  Would it kill…

I do the same thing with my cat.

I do the same thing with my cat.

Lucas has sole credit on Star Wars.  Kasdan and Leigh Brackett stepped in for Empire and Return.

Lucas has sole credit on Star Wars.  Kasdan and Leigh Brackett stepped in for Empire and Return.

That place always makes me think of Alphaville.

That place always makes me think of Alphaville.

@avclub-6d7d01236783f871a36ee948c146b9c6:disqus Yes, New York has always been full of tourists.  But the problem is that it now treats tourism as its only worthwhile commodity.  You can't struggle or make a start here anymore, which is why the arts scene, like the city itself, has become so soulless.  You can visit…

@avclub-6d7d01236783f871a36ee948c146b9c6:disqus Yes, New York has always been full of tourists.  But the problem is that it now treats tourism as its only worthwhile commodity.  You can't struggle or make a start here anymore, which is why the arts scene, like the city itself, has become so soulless.  You can visit…

If I recall correctly, according to the Eric Lax biography, a book was released back in the 70s or 80s called "I Dream of Woody" — a compilation of romantic or sexual dreams about Allen collected from real women.  Startling to think of now, but in those days he was indeed the Alpha Nebbish.

If I recall correctly, according to the Eric Lax biography, a book was released back in the 70s or 80s called "I Dream of Woody" — a compilation of romantic or sexual dreams about Allen collected from real women.  Startling to think of now, but in those days he was indeed the Alpha Nebbish.

Yet many of its landfills are quite majestic.

Yet many of its landfills are quite majestic.

Inwood.

Inwood.

@avclub-94d8526a5fae933806f65b8a0f49301a:disqus : Apparently Des Moines.  I didn't believe it either, but statistics don't lie.