Spitball Army

–  Warren Miller’s Higher Ground  (2005)
The skiing footage in this sports documentary was terrific, as was the soundtrack. The frequent Grand Marnier and Jeep product placement shills were somewhat annoying, however. I had recently watched Surfing Hollow Days by Bruce Brown, and was struck by how similar in format this Warren Miller film was to Brown’s film(s)…and wonder if Miller has ever stated how Brown’s movies have influenced him.

–  In Search of Peace: Part 1: 1948-1967  (2001)
This documentary about the formation and struggles of Israel contains some stunning archival footage which, alone, makes it worthwhile viewing. I did feel that the narration could have been fleshed out more coherently, particularly in the earliest segments.

–  Wild Combination: A Portrait of Arthur Russell  (2008)
I have long been interested in the work and life of Arthur Russell, the avant-garde musical artist, but know little about him. Though this short film was lovingly made, it did little to fill in the missing details of this artist’s life.  He remains an enigma to me. The special feature showing current artists interpreting Russell’s music was fascinating.

–  Company  (2007)
A very enjoyable interpretation of the classic Sondheim musical, updated only slightly (there’s still that line about the Seagrams building) and with an intimate and elegantly simple set. Raul Esparza was on stage, front and center, for the duration of the play.  The performance seems to have been filmed in High Definition: I watched the Blu-ray disc (my first Blu-ray experience) and the picture detail and sound were astonishing!

–  The Innocents  (1961)
The Innocents maintains the languorous pace of Henry James’ The Turn of the Screw, its source material. Deborah Kerr carries the film, as she is in every scene. The black and white cinematography is lush and gothic – appropriate for what “may be” a ghost story. Be sure to watch the widescreen version instead of the standard 1.33:1 version – Director of Photography Freddie Francis makes full use of every inch of the frame.