My Criterion Top 10: Michaël Parent

A few weeks back, I started running contributions from some of my favorite film critics, writers, and theorists from around the internet. The series ended… but has officially been resurrected, as I’ve obtained new contributions. Each writer is listing their top 10 from the Criterion Collection. Today, the series turns to Québec with a contribution from Michaël Parent. Michael and I share a large appreciation for French cinema, and it comes naturally to him. That’s because he’s actually French! (ok, French-Canadian, which is close enough in my book) You can find Michael’s work over at Le Mot du Cinephiliaque or on Twitter @parentmichael.

Polish Film Posters for Ingmar Bergman Films

Whatever’s in the water in Poland, I’d like to drink it. Because Polish movie poster artists have quite a knack for spinning film art into something completely unique. It’s as evident anywhere as it is with posters for the films of Ingmar Bergman, whose work was ripe for artistic interpretation and visual license. The beauty of these posters is that they’re intriguing even if you’re unfamiliar with Bergman or Polish art. And they’re a visual treat if you’re familiar with either. Here are ten Polish movie posters for Ingmar Bergman films.

The Eight Best Movie Clocks

Clocks are an excellent moviemaking device. They’re an easy way to establish time frames for viewers. And more importantly, they’re ripe with symbolism–a character’s time is running out, time has run out, how much time is left, and the like. They can also be a wonderful symbol of precision–”like clockwork”, so to speak. Here are the eight best movie clocks:

Ten Great Acting Roles by Directors (in the Films of Others)

Usually, directors are behind the scenes, spinning their vision into a movie. But they don’t always stay there. Occasionally, they’ll appear on screen. Sometimes, it can be a leading role. Other times, it’s merely a cameo. Here are ten great acting performances by directors in the films of others.

Fritz Lang as Fritz Lang, Contempt
Lang’s films- especially his silent films- are some of the best movies ever made. But before I’d ever seen a single film that he directed, I saw him playing the director in the film within Godard’s film, Contempt. How’s that for post-modern cinema? A director acting in a film in the role of… a director. Making it even more off-kilter, he didn’t even play a fictional director. He played himself, and it was precisely what the movie called for.

A Very Bergman Christmas

Who better to send Christmas wishes to my readers for me this year than Ingmar Bergman, an atheist whose films were the antithesis of holiday merriment? In other words, here are a bunch of images from Bergman films where people are wearing Santa hats. And in the one case where there’s nudity, I’ve found a way to cover her shame. Her beautiful, beautiful shame.

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