HOUSE Nobuhiko Obayashi, 1977

HOUSE (Nobuhiko Obayashi, 1977)

Finally watched HOUSE tonight is has been on my watch list forever. It was a delight for me speaking some rudimentary Japanese. I loved the experimental film techniques and editing. In a later documentary they say that they all had so much fun on this set and it shows. It is a fun film, limbs are flying off and it's just a spectacular in how it happens and the insane visuals. 

On the Criterion Channel I get the great extra features that come with DVDs. I'm watching the documentary extra called  Nobuhiko Obayashi and Crew on HOUSE (Criterion, 2010).

Just wanted to jot down a few thoughts from his... cinema was die-ing (sp?) in the 60's because everyone was watching tv (same as in the U.S. before the Hollywood rebirth). The film Jaws (Steven Spielberg, 1975 ) made a big impression in Japan and TOHO asked Obayashi to make a similar horror film. They green-lit his idea for HOUSE, but it was stalled two years because no one wanted to direct it. It is very experimental. 

As I was watching Obayashi talk about how happy he was that they tried all tried of new experimental techniques, that they wanted cinema to have magic that it used to have. Create a magical world. I thought about George Méliès. How he was literally a magician but brought that to filmmaking and also unlike a lot of others of his time, had his films inked with colors. He also used ghost and witch plots themes.  It was a true feast to be at the cinema. 

Obayashi also talked about how the critics were so shocked by the film that they didn't know how to review it and called it trash. It became a huge hit in Japan especially with lines around the block with children under fifteen. I can't believe they would let young kids see this...not now a days with the violence and nudity.  He said that many of the kids that were fifteen at that time were so moved by that film that they have became a generation of filmmakers inspired by that that groundbreaking film. 

It also reminded me of the Czech experimental film Daisies (Věra Chytilová, 1966) with the cut out pieces of film, spliced back in - the mirror - the cut fingers playing piano - the cut out lips...

 

 

Broken Flowers - with fondness

Broken Flowers - with fondness - little remembrances...

Broken Flowers (Jim Jarmusch, 2005)

Love the Jarmuschism in film...

Getting the middle seat in the place... the repetition and coincidences of the color pink...vintage or dive diners ... snail mail...typewriters...detectives...ambivalence with comedy...suburbs - in on the joke...excellent music...cool ethnic someone. 

Partial essay words from Roger Ebert

May 18, 2005 from Cannes...

"Don sets out stoically to visit each of the candidates (who might be the potential mother or his potential child from an anonymous note - my words): a widow (Sharon Stone) whose husband died in a car race "in a wall of flame." A real estate agent (Frances Conroy) who sells prefabricated mid-level luxury. An "animal communicator" (Jessica Lange) who discovered she could hear animals talking. ("Is he saying something?" Don asks about her cat. "He's saying you have a hidden agenda.") And a tough broad (Tilda Swinton) whose lawn is decorated with rusting cars and motorcycles in various stages of repair.

Does he find the mother of his son? Is there a mother? Is there a son? Not really the point. The point is the Bill Murray performance, and the six kinds of counterpoint provided by the women and Winston the neighbor. Murray has often worked by withholding emotion, by inviting us to imagine what he's thinking behind a protective façade. Curiously, his technique can be more emotionally effective than any degree of emoting. In "Lost in Translation," his loneliness and emotional need were communicated in the silences between the words. In "Broken Flowers," he communicates with even less apparent effort, all the more difficult because, as I neglected to mention, the movie is a comedy -- or in any event, a serious personal quest during which the audience finds itself laughing a lot."

Pictures of the Queen with U.S. Presidents

In light of President Biden meeting Queen Elizabeth II, 

I've enjoyed the various pictures posted of her with all the U.S. presidents. 

I officially counted fourteen visits, the royal family in their Instagram post said thirteen.
There are notes at the end. 

Queen Elizabeth II was born April 21, 1926 - today she is 95.
Parenthesis show the dates of the U.S. President's term.

Herbert Hoover (1929–1933)

Herbert Hoover: Hoover finished his tenure as President long before Elizabeth ascended to the throne. However, the opportunity for a meeting between the two arose in 1957 during the Queen's royal tour of the United States. Hoover is seated here to the Queen's right.

Robert W. Kelley/The LIFE Picture Collection/Getty Images

Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933–1945)

Did Queen Elizabeth meet Franklin D. Roosevelt? 
No - I did find these notes in the FDR Library

 - Eleanor Roosevelt and Queen Elizabeth II

While the Queen’s reign began after the Roosevelt years in the White House, there was a relationship between the Roosevelts and the Royals. Her parents, King George VI (r.1936-1952) and Queen Elizabeth, had visited the United States in 1939, and Eleanor Roosevelt had traveled to the United Kingdom in 1942 to visit troops during World War II and again in 1948 to unveil a statue of FDR. Eleanor also had been invited to
  The wedding of Princess Elizabeth and Prince Philip in 1947.
While she was unable to attend, afterwards she was sent a piece of the royal wedding cake.

The Queen’s coronation was held on June 2, 1953. Eleanor was invited but unfortunately she was unable to attend due to a prior commitment to be in Japan.

In her letter to the Queen, Eleanor writes:

I shall think of you on Coronation Day and wish you God’s blessing. May your reign be long and peaceful and prosperous for  your people. I know that all you can do for the good of your own nation and the world, you will do in these years to come.

Harry S. Truman (1945–1953)

Then-Princess Elizabeth with President Harry Truman. 1951.

(Getty Images via Town and Country)

Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953–1961)

Queen Elizabeth with President Eisenhower in October 1957.
(Getty Images via Town and Country)

Eisenhower was the first serving President who Elizabeth met during her reign.

John F. Kennedy (1961–1963)

John F. Kennedy and his wife, Jackie, were dinner guests at Buckingham Palace in June 1961.

Photoquest/Getty Images via CNN

Lyndon B. Johnson (1963–1969) - NO

Richard Nixon (1969–1974)

President Nixon and Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace 1969 with Prince Philip, Princess Anne, and Prince Charles. Bettmann / Contributor / Getty Images via Yahoo

(Allegedly, he tried to set up his daughter Tricia with Prince Charles)

 

Gerald Ford (1974–1977)

President Ford and first lady Betty Ford pose with Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip outside the North Portico of the White House in Washington on July 7, 1976. The Fords are hosting a state dinner for the Queen of England in the Executive Mansion. AP Photo via Insider.

Jimmy Carter (1977–1981)

The Queen, Prince Philip, and Jimmy Carter at a dinner at Buckingham Palace. 1977.

(Getty Images via Town and Country)

Ronald Reagan (1981–1989)

U.S. President Ronald Reagan, on Centennial, and Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, on Burmese, go horseback riding on the grounds of Windsor Castle, England. 1982.
Bob Daugherty, File/AP via Insider

George H. W. Bush (1989–1993)

Queen Elizabeth II posed with President George H. W. Bush and first lady Barbara Bush in the Picture Gallery at Buckingham Palace before lunch on June 1, 1989.
Ken Towner/Evening Standard/REX/Shutterstock

Bill Clinton (1993–2001)

(I looked for one hour for a black and white photo, I hate inconsistency)
Saturday, June 4, 1994 file photo, Britain's Queen Elizabeth smiles, as she sits alongside President Bill Clinton at a dinner in the Guildhall in Portsmouth, England, commemorating the 50th anniversary of D-Day. AP Photo/Doug Mills, File

George W. Bush (2001–2009)

George W. Bush and Laura Bush, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.

Grand Foyer of the White House for a State Dinner in Washington May 7, 2007. REUTERS/Jason Reed.

Barack Obama (2009–2017)

Britain's Queen Elizabeth II, and U.S. President Barack Obama during a state banquet in Buckingham Palace, London, on Tuesday May 24, 2011. Lewis Whyld/AP

Donald Trump (2017–2021)

First lady Melania Trump, Britain's Queen Elizabeth and President Donald Trump in the Grand Corridor during their visit to Windsor Castle, Windsor, Britain, July 13, 2018.

Photo - Steve Parsons/Pool via Reuters 

(President Donald Trump committed several royal faux-pas during his summer 2018 visit to England — including being late to meet the queen at Windsor Castle, walking in front of her, shaking her hand instead of bowing, and turning his back to her.)

Joe Biden (2021–)

(Same exact place as with picture above of Trump)

Instagram Picture and Post of  @theroyalfamily Verified

June 13, 2021, The Queen received President Biden @potus and First Lady Jill Biden @flotus at Windsor Castle. Her Majesty has received 4 other Presidents of the United States at Windsor Castle in recent years. President Biden is the 13th serving US President to be met by Her Majesty.

As Head of State, The Queen regularly speaks to world leaders and key diplomatic figures.

The President and Dr. Biden are in the UK for the G7 Summit. The Queen and Members of The Royal Family attended the G7 Leaders Reception on Friday.

Her Majesty greeted The President and First Lady on the Dias as The First Battalion Grenadier Guards gave a Royal Salute and the US National Anthem played in the Quadrangle.

💂President Biden inspected the Guard of Honour, accompanied by their Commanding Officer, Major James Taylor. The Guard of Honour is formed of the @britisharmy ’s most senior regiment of Foot Guards, The Grenadier Guards. 

The President and First Lady then joined Her Majesty 

for tea in the State Apartments at Windsor Castle.

((Who are the 4? according to this link they are:

George W. Bush, Barak Obama, Donald Trump & Joe Biden))

Final Count Thirteen or Fourteen?

I counted 14 presidents, but I guess she didn't include Herbert Hoover since
it was an official state visit meeting. 

Herbert Hoover (1929–1933) yes

Franklin D. Roosevelt (1933–1945) no

Harry S. Truman (1945–1953) yes

Dwight D. Eisenhower (1953–1961)yes

John F. Kennedy (1961–1963) yes

Lyndon B. Johnson (1963–1969) no

Richard Nixon (1969–1974) yes

Gerald Ford (1974–1977) yes

Jimmy Carter (1977–1981) yes

Ronald Reagan (1981–1989) yes

George H. W. Bush (1989–1993) yes

Bill Clinton (1993–2001) yes

George W. Bush (2001–2009) yes

Barack Obama (2009–2017) yes 

Donald Trump (2017–2021) yes

Joe Biden (2021–) yes

From Royal family website

Place settings at formal dinners at Buckingham Palace 

source: https://www.gentlemansgazette.com/dinner-etiquette-formal-dining/

(This was confirmed on two sites and contradicted on others. Let me know what
you find out.)

10 Ways 2020 Changed the Film Industry - Indie Wire

 

10 Ways 2020 Changed the Film Industry, from Streaming Wars to Film Festivals

This seismic year impacted every aspect of the way movies are made and experienced around the world. Here are the biggest takeaways

There is a lot about 2020 that has been unprecedented. While this pandemic isn’t the first in human history, the entertainment industry has never grappled with anything on this scale before, and it’s safe to assume that it will never be the same again. Film festivals were canceled. Productions were shut down. Studios went to war with exhibitors and it’s unclear if they’ll ever see eye to eye. How does one parse a year overloaded with so much upheaval? Screen Talk is here to help. In this special episode (recorded last week), Eric Kohn and Anne Thompson provide their list of the 10 ways that 2020 changed the film industry — with some additional predictions about how 2021 might go.

Link to video and podcast Click Here

By Eric Kohn and Anne Thompson, 

Posted on  Indie Wire 1/01/2021

Indie Wire - viewed 1/1/2021

(Post script 6/14/21 - that was really lazy of me not to transcribe this catchy headline and then link to a podcast. I'll transcribe later.)

The Queen's 73rd Wedding Anniversary

 

The Queen married at 21 Philip Mountbatten was 26 at Westminster Abbey

11/20/2020        Now they are 94 & 99

The 25 Best Films of 2020

 According to High on Films

The 25 best films of 2020 are Click Here

This is the only one I saw and it was excellent. The Assistant.

I've been in film school all semester per my other blog.