Pretend you have a ballot for the 2012 edition of Sight & Sound's top 10 movies of all time list

http://www.tnr.com/article/film/102885/the-godfather-anniversary-restoration-cinemark-coppola

I stress the unity of the two films because later this year the British film magazine Sight & Sound will have its once-a-decade poll of film critics to find the ten best films ever made. It’s a game, of course, yet the poll has become a cultural standard because Citizen Kane has won five times now since 1962 and must be considered favorite to win again.

Fair enough, if that’s what people think, but maybe it leaves cinema looking a little passé if our dominant film is 71 years old. Has nothing come along as great since then, not even with all the technical plushness? But the editor of Sight & Sound, Nick James, has advised the electorate that every vote must go to an individual film. You can pick The Godfather and Part II but not as the two halves of one work. I regret that because I think it misses a quality in the work, and diminishes the chances of the total Godfather being voted best film—I’ll guess it’s the most likely threat to Kane.

― jungleous butterflies strange birds (Eric H.), Tuesday, 24 April 2012 11:17 (1 year ago) Permalink

Boo hoo.

― jungleous butterflies strange birds (Eric H.), Tuesday, 24 April 2012 11:17 (1 year ago) Permalink

The "total" Godfather now seems to willfully exclude Part III.

― World Congress of Itch (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 24 April 2012 11:34 (1 year ago) Permalink

fair enough tbh

― aboulia banks (Noodle Vague), Tuesday, 24 April 2012 12:22 (1 year ago) Permalink

they shd be 2 movies tho, to pretend they're 1 long movie is to ignore the way that the second undercuts and inverts the first

― aboulia banks (Noodle Vague), Tuesday, 24 April 2012 12:24 (1 year ago) Permalink

Thanks, MZS's FB feed, for distracting me with this ongoing geekery:

http://blogs.indiewire.com/pressplay/predictions-you-cant-refuse-previewing-the-sight-and-sound-greatest-films-poll-part-iii

― jungleous butterflies strange birds (Eric H.), Tuesday, 24 April 2012 13:50 (1 year ago) Permalink

my top candidates for #1 are all older than Kane.

― World Congress of Itch (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, 24 April 2012 13:56 (1 year ago) Permalink

but younger than Abel.

― Exile in lolville (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, 24 April 2012 13:58 (1 year ago) Permalink

#teamvertigo

― jungleous butterflies strange birds (Eric H.), Tuesday, 24 April 2012 14:05 (1 year ago) Permalink

Well, #teamrulesofthegame really, but let's be realistic.

― jungleous butterflies strange birds (Eric H.), Tuesday, 24 April 2012 14:05 (1 year ago) Permalink

I wonder what made S&S reverse course on The Godfathers? Pushback from voters? From readers? From the estates of various directors who fell back of the combined entry last time?

― clemenza, Tuesday, 24 April 2012 19:55 (1 year ago) Permalink

Because so many of them are still alive.

― jungleous butterflies strange birds (Eric H.), Tuesday, 24 April 2012 19:59 (1 year ago) Permalink

The more people I find out have ballots in this thing, the more I have hope that there will be major upheavals.

― jungleous butterflies strange birds (Eric H.), Wednesday, 25 April 2012 18:29 (1 year ago) Permalink

Why so invested? All this all-time polling crap, about films utterly opposite in style, historical context, and aims, is even more of a parlor game than year-to-year lists.

― World Congress of Itch (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 25 April 2012 18:33 (1 year ago) Permalink

"Major upheavals" would be just so much redecorating.

― World Congress of Itch (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 25 April 2012 18:34 (1 year ago) Permalink

my top candidates for #1 are all older than Kane.

― World Congress of Itch (Dr Morbius), Tuesday, April 24, 2012 2:56 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

but younger than Abel.

― Exile in lolville (Alfred, Lord Sotosyn), Tuesday, April 24, 2012 2:58 PM (Yesterday) Bookmark Flag Post Permalink

niche lols

― The term “hipster racism” from Carmen Van Kerckhove at Racialicious (nakhchivan), Wednesday, 25 April 2012 18:37 (1 year ago) Permalink

i for one am looking forward to finding out what the best film is later in the year

― The term “hipster racism” from Carmen Van Kerckhove at Racialicious (nakhchivan), Wednesday, 25 April 2012 18:38 (1 year ago) Permalink

it's definitely not king of new york because the original bad lieutenant is better

― The term “hipster racism” from Carmen Van Kerckhove at Racialicious (nakhchivan), Wednesday, 25 April 2012 18:38 (1 year ago) Permalink

Based on the coverage in S&S it seems that 'Beau Travail' and 'Mulholland Drive' are the most likely contemporary films to place.

― fun loving and xtremely tolrant (Billy Dods), Wednesday, 25 April 2012 18:38 (1 year ago) Permalink

got a kick out of lookin at the voting breakdown from 02. zizek voted for dune and some nazi kitsch that ive never heard of.

― these pretzels are makeing me horney (Hungry4Ass), Wednesday, 25 April 2012 18:42 (1 year ago) Permalink

james toback voted for get shorty

― these pretzels are makeing me horney (Hungry4Ass), Wednesday, 25 April 2012 18:43 (1 year ago) Permalink

I think younger critics are less apt to hold specific titles in esteem that older ones, or if they do, in a less herdlike manner (ie the voters this time for TP: Fire Walk with Me will get nowhere). So I wouldn't guarantee a ton of upheaval.

― World Congress of Itch (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 25 April 2012 18:47 (1 year ago) Permalink

i for one am looking forward to finding out what the best film is later in the year

lol

otoh when i was a teenager i def used the s&s list as viewing guide so idk

― Lamp, Wednesday, 25 April 2012 18:56 (1 year ago) Permalink

i would still but now i just watch youtubes

― Lamp, Wednesday, 25 April 2012 18:56 (1 year ago) Permalink

Why so invested?

Like I need to tell a baseball fan.

― jungleous butterflies strange birds (Eric H.), Wednesday, 25 April 2012 18:57 (1 year ago) Permalink

Plus, games are awesome, parlor or otherwise.

― jungleous butterflies strange birds (Eric H.), Wednesday, 25 April 2012 18:58 (1 year ago) Permalink

for younger crix the alogorithm is usually

1 x silent film that isnt potemkin sunrise or w/e
1 x bresson/dreyer
1 x japanese
1 x godard else maybe eustache or markers or suchlike
2 x ford/hawks/sirk/&c
2 x hitchcock/welles/kubrick
1 x tsai/breillat/&c antiseptic post 95 arthouse
1 x avantgarde

― The term “hipster racism” from Carmen Van Kerckhove at Racialicious (nakhchivan), Wednesday, 25 April 2012 18:59 (1 year ago) Permalink

Yeah but in baseball the best team actually wins most of the time!

xp

― World Congress of Itch (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 25 April 2012 18:59 (1 year ago) Permalink

also the '55 Dodgers don't play the '98 Yankees

― World Congress of Itch (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 25 April 2012 19:01 (1 year ago) Permalink

1 silent, preferably in which an elephant dies on camera
1 fruity early sound musical
1 first wave a-g
1 newer a-g, preferably a horror movie in disguise
1 golden age of horror
1 French 60s (maybe Bresson)
1 French 70s (maybe Bresson)
1 movie with men kissing, but they're actually killing each other unless one is underage
Satantango
2 girls, 1 cup reax YouTubes

― jungleous butterflies strange birds (Eric H.), Wednesday, 25 April 2012 19:04 (1 year ago) Permalink

^outlier

Reseeing it on Super Bowl Sunday, I found I have no particular affection for Satantango at all.

― World Congress of Itch (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 25 April 2012 19:17 (1 year ago) Permalink

Cold.

― jungleous butterflies strange birds (Eric H.), Wednesday, 25 April 2012 19:19 (1 year ago) Permalink

It is.

― World Congress of Itch (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 25 April 2012 19:20 (1 year ago) Permalink

It's so cold in the Dr

― jungleous butterflies strange birds (Eric H.), Wednesday, 25 April 2012 19:21 (1 year ago) Permalink

Tarkovsky would be my Tarr.

― World Congress of Itch (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 25 April 2012 19:24 (1 year ago) Permalink

Smacks of tarkonism.

― jungleous butterflies strange birds (Eric H.), Wednesday, 25 April 2012 19:25 (1 year ago) Permalink

tarrnished angels

― The term “hipster racism” from Carmen Van Kerckhove at Racialicious (nakhchivan), Wednesday, 25 April 2012 19:26 (1 year ago) Permalink

i was going to watch satantango last week, it's satantango kind of weather

― The term “hipster racism” from Carmen Van Kerckhove at Racialicious (nakhchivan), Wednesday, 25 April 2012 19:27 (1 year ago) Permalink

more ppl itt should post their pretend ballots

― Lamp, Wednesday, 25 April 2012 20:05 (1 year ago) Permalink

really don't care about the final list at all and kinda can't believe anyone really does (in fact i'm dreading the idea of 'kane' getting pushed off the top spot if only because of the completely pointless backlash/debate it'll generate) but i do always love browsing the individual lists.

― (The Other) J.D. (J.D.), Wednesday, 25 April 2012 20:29 (1 year ago) Permalink

yeah i would cosign that, i remember assiduously poring over the 2k2 top 10 ballots

― The term “hipster racism” from Carmen Van Kerckhove at Racialicious (nakhchivan), Wednesday, 25 April 2012 20:32 (1 year ago) Permalink

unless 8-1/2 counts, has a comedy by anyone except Chaplin ever made the top 10?

― World Congress of Itch (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 25 April 2012 20:35 (1 year ago) Permalink

surely 'the general' made it at some point?

― (The Other) J.D. (J.D.), Wednesday, 25 April 2012 20:48 (1 year ago) Permalink

It did, twice, yeah. Also Le Million and Singin' in the Rain if you count musicals.

― World Congress of Itch (Dr Morbius), Wednesday, 25 April 2012 20:55 (1 year ago) Permalink

i can't really rationalize my interest in these lists (other than, as said above, it was basically the start of my film education). but it's always fun to see what places around 50 and later.

― ryan, Wednesday, 25 April 2012 21:25 (1 year ago) Permalink

i feel a little bad admitting it but i basically have no desire ever to watch 'satantango.'

― (The Other) J.D. (J.D.), Thursday, 26 April 2012 01:57 (1 year ago) Permalink

Screw that noise, I obsess over every single-slot shift in the top 10 like a madman. Things that place below 10, much less 50, do not count.

― jungleous butterflies strange birds (Eric H.), Thursday, 26 April 2012 02:36 (1 year ago) Permalink

The movies that have been on more than one ballot itt so far.

2001: A Space Odyssey
Atalante, L'
Conversation, The
Godfather I & II, The
Mulholland Drive
Playtime
Rules of the Game, The
Samourai, Le
Seventh Seal, The
Showgirls
Taxi Driver
Thin Red Line, The
Touch of Evil
Zodiac

― jungleous butterflies strange birds (Eric H.), Thursday, 26 April 2012 12:05 (1 year ago) Permalink

Ebert

― GoT SPOILER ALERT (Gukbe), Thursday, 26 April 2012 16:18 (1 year ago) Permalink

Replacing just one movie? (also, bad form to reveal one's ballot early? I suspect others will leak too.)

― jungleous butterflies strange birds (Eric H.), Thursday, 26 April 2012 16:24 (1 year ago) Permalink