Film Lists A-Plenty!

Here is an interesting thread discussing the National Society of Film Critics’ list of “100 Essential Films”. And if that’s not enough, here’s a whole page of film lists. (bless you, rebecca)

And for those of you who are waiting with baited breath for my own “Top Films” list, I refuse to disappoint. But, gimme a few more days, will ya? I’m still seeing some stuff.

And the “Essential 100”? I’ve seen 32.2. I’ve watched two of the episodes of the Decalogue so far. Plus, I tried watching another on the list and turned it off after half an hour (Happy Together? How ironic!).

Austin Blues

It’s January and I haven’t booked my ticket to Austin yet. Back in 2000, I was talking about SxSW 2001 in September, for crying out loud! Recent world events have made me less than enthusiastic about many things in my life, and my annual pilgrimage to blogger Mecca is one of them.

The past four years have been a blast, but it was impossible not to notice that the “first wave” of blogfolk have begun staying home. As the community has become larger, it’s become harder to spend significant time with anybody, and although I love meeting new people, sometimes I miss the early sense of camaraderie.

There are a few other factors. The trip gets harder to fund every year. Though I’m in love with my job, it doesn’t pay nearly as much as my old sales job. Last year, Nick Finck was gracious enough to sponsor my freebie press pass as I was still affiliated with Digital Web magazine, but that’s no more. Last year, I shared a room with two friends, but that left me without a bed of my own, and I promised myself I wouldn’t do that again.

I’m sure I could stay with my pals, the wonderful Browns, but that leaves me far from the action and although I’d relish the chance to spend more time with them, I’d be dependent on them (or taxis) to get to and from events.

Not to mention that Brooke’s contract just ended and she’s got nothing solid lined up. Plus, we’re hoping to spend a week in Iceland (yes, Iceland!) in August, and that will be expensive (even though it looks like the flights will be covered by some nifty airline miles my boss gave me for Christmas!).

Still, March for me has always meant Austin, and it’s the one time of year I can usually connect with many online friends I never see otherwise.

Ah, malaise! Maybe some of youse guys can shake me out of it. What are your plans for SxSW this year?

Wine Geek Insecurity

Slate’s wine columnist Mike Steinberger weighs in on Sideways, perhaps my favourite film of 2004. Though he generally likes it, he can’t help but display some typical wine geek insecurity. He worries that Paul Giamatti’s portrayal of Miles Raymond, a character who is, in his words, “a bit of a wine asshole” will reflect badly on all wine lovers. He implicitly worries that people might think the character’s arrogance and selfishness somehow flow out of his being a wine connoisseur. Mike, relax! Miles is a character in a movie. He’s not representing everyone who loves wine. He’s not representing all middle-aged men. And no, Mike, he’s not representing you.

Although I do consider myself a wine lover, I’m not obsessive, and the thing I liked most about the film is that it’s not particularly about wine at all. It’s about life, with all its disappointments and its pleasures. And it’s about the crazy broken people who live it.

UPDATE: About an equal number of people get it and don’t get it on the eGullet Forums. When someone says the movie isn’t believable because a “true wine geek wouldn’t…”, I just had to roll my eyes.

Weird

I was signing up for some online games at EA Sports Big and I was asked if I wanted to sign up for some optional offers. Here was one of them: “Learn about Saudi Arabia’s fight against terrorism. Get weekly updates from Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia regarding current issues such as war on terrorism, oil supply, reform in the Kingdom and Mid-East peace.”

Do you think that’s strange? I think that’s strange.